Dear R&O musicians, past, present, and future,
In case you haven't heard yet, Rum & Onions *is* happening again this fall!For those of you new to our community, R&O as it's affectionately known, is the name of the band which for many years now has formed and rehearsed for several weeks in the fall to play at a Halloween contra dance organized by Princeton Country Dancers. This will be R&O XXVI! We have been joined in the past by many musicians from near and far. Instruments of all kinds are welcome, melody, rhythm, percussion.
Michael Bell and Susie Lorand will be co-leading the band this year. The caller for the dance will be Kathy Anderson from Ohio who also called for R&O XXII in 2001. We had a great time then playing for her spirited dances.
The R&O Halloween dance this year is scheduled for Saturday, October 29, at a NEW location: the John Witherspoon Middle School in Princeton (it's across the street and down the block from Princeton High School where we played last year).
SIGNING UP
Please let one us know by August 31 if you'd like to join us so we can arrange to have enough music. Also tell us what instrument you play if we don't already know. (If you're not sure by then, a "maybe" answer is also helpful. If you're on vacation and get this message later, answer when you can.)
REHEARSALS
Dates - Sept 11, 18, Oct 2, 9, 16, 7-10 pm
Oct 23, 2-10 pm - the big rehearsal with a potluck supper in the middle
Locations - Sept 11, Oct 2, 9, and 23 - Suzanne Patterson Center, Princeton
Sept 18 and Oct 16 - Princeton Friends School
Directions to come in another message.
ATTENDANCE
Although we play tunes mainly from the contra dance repertoire, we always include a few surprises in tunes and special arrangements which is why we ask you attend most of the rehearsals; if you must miss one or two, let us know.
THE WARM-UP DANCE
By tradition, R&O also performs for the weekly contra dance in Princeton on the Wednesday immediately the Saturday event. This year this performance will be on October 26 8-10:30pm, once again at the Suzanne Patterson Center. You don't have to take part in this performance but it's fun too.
We do hope you can join us and look forward to working with you to make R&O XXVI fun for all involved!
Susie and Michael