Hopedance

by Anne R. Allen

Once or twice a month, in cantankerous, controversy-plagued Los Osos, a friendly, joyful event pushes all the rancor aside. In a funky old barn near the Community Center, world class musicians perform for a wildly enthused crowd of oldsters, youngsters, in-betweeners and an assortment of mannerly dogs. Wine and beer are sold, but the atmosphere is more family picnic than barroom. During the potluck dinner hour before concert time, local musicians jam, neighbors share food and conversation, and community happens.

Everything is welcome but “politics, religion…and sewers.”

The mostly acoustic music ranges from foot-stomping old-time dance tunes to surf rock to ultra-cool jazz. Artists come from as far away as Ireland and Central America and as close as the next block. Some, like roots music diva Maria Muldaur and PBS Irish folklorist Mick Moloney, are world-famous. Others are less well known, but they all have one thing in common: excellence.

These concerts, usually held on Saturdays, start at 7 PM (potluck preceding at 6 PM) so everybody gets home by bedtime. And the evening costs only a $10 donation.

This all happens because of the inspiration, vision and drive of local musician and owner of Zap Gardening, Jonas Richardson. He and his wife Cammi, a kindergarten teacher at Baywood Elementary, are the sole organizers and promoters of the Red Barn Community Concert Series. And they don’t take one penny for their trouble. That’s right. They do all the work for free. Every penny of profit from donations and beverage sales goes directly to the musicians.

No wonder the series draws such top-notch talent.

The concerts began two years ago, when Jonas, a long-time denizen of the Central Coast traditional music scene, decided the area needed a concert “to show off our local traditional music. As well as have a great time.” He rented the old Red Barn in the Los Osos Community Park and put the word out to a few of the friends he’s met in his years playing banjo, mandolin, guitar, harmonica and bass in old-time bands like Spooner’s Cove and the Foggy Bay String Band. (He also plays in the Wednesday night Irish band at SLO’s Clubhouse.)

Forty musicians showed up.

The event was such a success, he decided to do it again. And again. The series schedule is now booked a year in advance.

I asked Jonas and Cammi if they ever feel they’ve taken on too much. “Never” they said. “The concerts have definitely enhanced our lives.”

They’ve enhanced mine, too. Although I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t start going until I was urged by Los Osos newcomers Lawson Schaller and Anne Normet. Lawson, having sold his Seattle business, chose Los Osos as the “ideal” town on the West Coast to relocate. He and Anne say the community spirit exemplified by the Red Barn concerts is part of what swayed their decision.

The building itself, a Los Osos landmark maintained by County Parks and Recreation, is open to the public and available for rentals throughout the year. And as Maria Muldaur commented during her spectacular standing-room-only concert last September, “It really is a barn!” There’s nothing fancy like heat or insulation, so audiences have to bundle up. A core of friends help the Richardsons set up and collect donations (in an old fish bucket) at the door. Afterwards, there’s a big clean-up job, but the audience pitches in. And Cammi and Jonas don’t mind the work. They say “the barn is easier to clean up than our home.”

The first concert got me hooked and I haven’t missed one since. Each experience is like time-traveling back to an era when communities got together to make their own entertainment – free of corporate mind-control messages or energy-consuming machinery.

Even the potluck dinners provide unique, quality food. It’s not the usual Lake-Woebegon-hotdish potluck fare. Healthy food abounds, with salads from backyard gardens, fresh produce and whole grain goodies. Many contributors bring cards identifying ingredients for the allergic or diet-conscious diner. Desserts range from seasonal fruits to a chocoholic’s fantasies. This doesn’t mean you have to be a five-star chef to participate. Your deli salad or Sara Lee cheesecake will be happily devoured.

February 2008 will be blessed with two great concerts. On February 19, legendary old- time musician and folklorist Tom Sauber will perform with his son Patrick and Mark Graham – “the world’s greatest Southern old-time harmonica player.” February 24 brings the return of Cascada de Flores, who wowed us last summer with their haunting, Afro-Hispanic folk music from Cuba and eastern Mexico. The quartet utilizes an impressive number of instruments from the marimbol (an African-related thumb piano) to Flamenco-style zapateado (percussive dance.) 
 
Come and share a fantastic musical experience and the community spirit generated by the Richardsons’ infectious sense of joy. Further information available at (805) 528-4530.

Anne R. Allen is a Los Osos-based freelance journalist. She’s the author of two novels published in the UK, The Best Revenge and Food of Love (Babash-Ryan) and writes the IN Her Own Write column for the writer’s e-zine Inkwell Newswatch.