Updated August, 2008

The 16th Annual North American Jew's Harp Festival August 1 and 2, 2008 Bay City Arts Center 5680 A Street Bay City, OR 97107 The Arts Center has lots of room indoors for workshops and a nice ballroom for the performances. NAJHF 2008 Schedule Print or download the schedule (.doc format) Print or download the schedule (.pdf format) NAJHF 2008 Publicity Flyer (8.5" x 14") Please print and distribute the publicity flyer (.pdf format)   Friday, August 1 1:00–2:00pm Meet-and-Greet 1:30pm Jew’s Harp Circle 2:00–2:45pm Workshop: Beginning Ukulele 2:45–3:30pm Workshop: Make a Washtub Bass 3:30–4:00pm Workshop: Intro to the Mouthbow 4:00–5:00pm Unusual instrument presentations and demonstrations Sign up for evening performances 5:00-7:00pm Dinner by Bay City Arts. 7:00–7:45pm Share Your Story: Harpist Hall of Fame 7:45–8:15pm Workshop: History of the Jew’s harp 8:15–10pm CONCERT: Unusual Instruments 10:00pm+ Acoustic Jam (open to all) NOTE FOR BOTH DAYS: All workshops are upstairs; during the workshop times, jams and other activities will be going on downstairs or outside. Saturday, August 2 10:00am Meet-and-Greet 10:15am Morning Harp Circle 10:30am Toast and Jam Sign up for evening performances and band scramble 11–11:45am Workshop: The Art of Jamming Workshop: Beginning Ukulele Brown bag lunch Noon Vending Booths Open Kids table: Make your own shakers 1–1:45pm Workshop: Beginning Jew’s Harp Workshop: Build a Washtub Bass Kids Table: Refrigerator Magnets 2–2:45pm Workshop: How to play Mouthbow Kids table: Make your own Jew’s Harp 2:45–3:30pm Workshop: Electrifying the Jew’s Harp 3:30–4:30pm Band scramble groups posted and practice time 4:30–5:30pm CONCERT: Band Scramble 6:00–7:30pm Dinner by Bay City Arts Center 7:30–10:00pm CONCERT: Jew’s Harp Headliners Raffle drawing betweem performances 10:00pm + Acoustic Jam at the Arts Center (open to all) or Dance at the Landing Bar with Curtis Chamberlain and band. Sunday Aug. 3rd 8.00-9.00am Breakfast at local diner 10.00am North American Jew’s Harp fest Annual meeting If you wish to perform or give a workshop at the festival, or have other questions, contact the Guild at: E-mail: newsletter@jewsharpguild.org   The Festival is free but donations to the Guild and the Bay City Arts Center are always needed. There will be many raffles to help support the Guild and festival production and we urge folks to become JHG members.

^ NAJHF 2008 T-shirt Design by Ingrid Berkhout and Gordon Frazier     The Bay City Arts Center Website   Google DIRECTIONS TO BAY CITY ARTS CENTER 5680 "A" Street Coming North on 101 from Tillamook Take a RIGHT on "C" Street LEFT on 5th RIGHT on "A" Street       Lodging and Food Information: Tillamook Chamber of Commerce (503) 842-7525. Bay City has a campground across the street from the Arts Center, available on a first come first served basis. Contact the City of Bay City regarding this option. See Bus Schedules from Portland to Tillamook (below)

History of the Festival - The Beginning

We have come a long way since 1991 when the festival was "born"
and each year the festival continues to grow and attract more
musicians and spectators.

     It all began with a meeting which took place in the fall of 1991. 
Gordon Frazier (of Seattle) who had recently returned from
attending the Second International Trump (Jew's Harp) Congress
that July in Yakutsk, Siberia, traveled down to Bill and Janet
Gohring's place in eastern Oregon.  Gordon's dad, Marvin (who
plays bones), and Bart Wood (a friend of the Gohring's) were also
there.

     It was the first time the Gohring's had met Gordon, but they
were long time friends with his Dad, Marvin.  Gordon had an
impressive Jew's Harp collection and he brought it along with
him.  Well, the music started shortly after Gordon arrived and
didn't stop until the next day.

     Early in that first evening, the idea came up about having a
Jew's Harp festival here in the northwest.  After all, Russia,
Japan, Scotland, Philippines, etc., all have one.  So, we
discussed the type of festival we wanted it to be (Free and Fun)
... with the Jew's Harp as the main theme.

     Well, it is much more than we ever anticipated it would be. 

     The atmosphere brings family unity closer together; it's the 
perfect chance to meet many new interesting people (Jew's Harpers 
are a bit "twangy"); the opportunity to listen and play a wide 
variety of music from around the world; become introduced to a 
variety of musical instruments (some one cannot even imagine!); 
and often people from foreign countries will attend and play their
own music.

     The festival was part of the inspiration behind Wayland
Harman's creation of the Clackamore .  It also inspired Bill
Gohring to create his own Jew's Harp design and start hand-making
them.  So, the festival is effecting many of us in a wonderful,
creative way.

     The atmosphere during the festival is open, friendly, a
willingness to share and learn, and great people who love to hear
those Jew's Harpers play.

     All in all, it's the place to be if you want to have a great
time, enjoy good music and learn to play the Jew's Harp (most
people learn in no time at all).

     Many of us enjoy the wide variety of Workshops held during
the festival.  You can learn everything about the ancient,
mystical little music instrument from present day back to
Neanderthal times.

     But beware!  Jew's Harps are addictive!  Once you start
playing, you won't be able to stop.

     
We have since moved to the Bay City Arts Center in Bay City Oregon
where the festival continues in the same spirit with which it began.

For more information :

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