Welcome to the Baltimore Folk Music Society
The Baltimore Folk Music Society is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to preserving and promoting folk music, dance, and tradition. BFMS sponsors regular dances, concerts, family events, and related activities year-round. Members are eligible for discounts to Society events by showing their membership card.
BFMS is a member of the Country Dance & Song Society and shares reciprocity arrangements with the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the Annapolis Traditional Dance Society.
Upcoming events:
Thank you all for participating in the BFMS 50th Anniversary Celebration! You can still help us out by donating to the Society.
Michael Quitt memorial event - singing, pot-luck and dance Nov 1. Click here for details
Names and picture for many we have lost can be seen here
People under 21 and full-time students dance FREE at all regular BFMS dances!
We will still be requesting payment via the BFMS website.
With the end of the public health emergency, we are not currently requiring vaccinations or masks for our events. Please be mindful of others' safety and do not attend if you are not feeling well.
Volunteers power BFMS. Want to...
...learn sound engineering and meet some of the most talented folk musicians in the country?
...greet dancers at the door or bring snacks for the break?
...use your design or social media skills to help build the contra and English dance community in Baltimore?
Reach out! president@bfms.org
Keep up with the latest BFMS events in our Facebook group.
Virtual and Live Community Events
Wednesday, October 22 2025
Contra Dance
Janine Smith calls to the music of Dead Sea Squirrels: Cathy Mason (fiddle), Craig Edwards (fiddle, mandolin, and banjo), Henry Yoshimura (guitar). Intro lesson at 7:30pm. Dance starts at 8pm at Lovely Lane Church. Online payment only: https://bfms.org/contradancepay.php
Monday, October 27 2025
English Country Dance
Baltimore Freefall's English Country Dance Night with a touch of Halloweenness in the mix!! 8 pm to 10:30 pm
Dance-as-Costume/Costume-as-Dance....we will have a Contest for the Best costume of a dance chosen from the list below.
All (including musicians and caller) will vote; the winner having their dance danced in the 2nd half!
Pick your costume ideas from this list, if you please: any costume is welcome even if not dance-related.Autumn in Amherst
Autumn Moon
The Bishop
Bluebonnets
The Boatman
Candles in the Dark
Chocolate Round O
Cockleshells
The Drummer
Dusty Miller
East Indian
Female Saylor
Flying Sorceress
Greensleeves and Yellow Lace
Knives and Forks
Leslie's Valentine
Mad Robin
Mile of Smiles
Minor Spaniard
Money in both pockets
Muriel's Measure
Orange Nan
Orca
Red and All Red or Red House
Sapphire Sea
Whiskers
Wood Duck
Yellow Stockings
April Blum calls to the tunes provided by: Mark Vidor: accordion; Emily Aubrey: violin; Janina O'Brien: piano, usually.
Snacks are always welcome but not required!
Costumes and/or Snacks not required, only desired.
please register beforehand at: http://bfms.org/englishcountrypay.php
Wednesday, October 29 2025
Contra Dance
Greg Frock call to the music of The Baltimore Open Band. Intro lesson at 7:30pm. Dance starts at 8pm at Lovely Lane Church. This dance is FREE as part of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts' FREE FALL BALTIMORE! Please register for free online: https://bfms.org/contradancepay.php
Saturday, November 01 2025
2nd Saturday Dance
Memorial for Michael Quitt
Schedule:
2:30 Doors open, set up chairs for singing circle
3:00-5:00 Singing circle
5:00-5:30 Set up for pot luck
5:30-6:30 Pot luck dinner
6:30-7:00 Memorial for Michael Quitt
7:00-7:30 Clean up from pot luck
7:30-8:00 Dance lesson and sound check
8:00-10:30 Evening dance, Greg Frock calling to Wild Wombats of the Chesapeake: Carl Friedman (fiddle), Robin Wilson (flute, concertina, sax), Ralph Barthine (guitar), Janina O’Brien (piano, bodhran, accordion, whistle)
Location: The Church of the Nativity and Holy Comforter, 6112 York Rd, Baltimore, MD 21212
Free admission - Please register http://bfms.org/secondsatpay.php
Monday, November 03 2025
English Country Dance
English Country Dance from 8:00 -- 10:30 pm
Marty Taylor, on whistles, recorders and concertina; Carl Friedman on piano; and Becky Ross on violin will play the tunes to the dances called by Kappy Laning this evening!
Please register ahead of time:
http://bfms.org/englishcountrypay.php
Wednesday, November 05 2025
Contra Dance
Kappy Laning calls to the music of Ken Kolodner (hammered dulcimer, fiddle), Elke Baker (fiddle) and Liz Donaldson (piano). Intro lesson at 7:30pm. Dance starts at 8pm at Lovely Lane Church. Online payment only: https://bfms.org/contradancepay.php
Saturday, November 08 2025
2nd Saturday Dance
7-9:30 PM (winter start time is 1 hr earlier than summer)
Kim Forry calling to Baltimore Open Band lead by McGregor Yatsevitch
Dance lesson: 6:30
Online payment only. Pre-payment is encouraged, http://bfms.org/secondsatpay.php
Location: The Church of the Nativity and Holy Comforter, 6112 York Rd, Baltimore, MD 21212
Admission: $10 BFMS members & affiliates, $15 non-members. People under 21 and students with ID: free
Potluck snacks at the break.
Monday, November 10 2025
English Country Dance
English Country Dance 8 to 1030 pm.
Sharon McKinley calls to the playing of Carl Friedman, violin, Steven Epstein on clarinet and Janina O'Brien, on piano.
Snacks are always welcome but not required for admittance.
Please register:
http://bfms.org/englishcountrypay.php
Tuesday, November 11 2025
BFMS Song Swap
We are going live and in person at the 4 Hour a Day Lutherie in Lauraville, 4305 Harford Rd, Baltimore, MD 21214 Once a month on the 2nd Tuesday, 7:30-9:30 p.m. We're delighted to be singing in person! Bring a favorite folk-genre song or two to share with our community of singers. Chorus songs or repeated refrains are encouraged. You can lead a song, sing along, hum, listen, or add some accompaniment. No mic, no pressure, no performance. Just singing together in a friendly, supportive space! Free (pass-the-hat goodwill donation welcome)
REMEMBER: If you are sick, not feeling well, etc., please stay home.
Wednesday, November 12 2025
Contra Dance
Harris Bard Lapiroff calls to the music of Here on the Hill: Tory Horner (fiddle), Annie McDougall (fiddle), and Rosemary Powell (fiddle). Intro lesson at 7:30pm. Dance starts at 8pm at Lovely Lane Church. Online payment only: https://bfms.org/contradancepay.php
See our Events page for a complete listing of events and details.
Visit the BFMS Folk Events page for a list of some of the other folk events in the area.
www.bfms.org/folkeventsAttention BFMS Members
- Recently moved or changed your email address? Wondering why you aren't getting anything from BFMS? Please contact BFMS Membership (membership @ bfms.org) and update your contact information.
- If you have recently joined BFMS or renewed your membership and did not get anything in the mail (such as a membership Card) please contact the Membership Chair at membership @ bfms.org. Thank you.
How to Contact Us
By E-mail - use our Contact page.
We can also be reached by conventional mail at
Baltimore Folk Music Society, P.O. Box 65144, Baltimore, MD 21209.
Call the Baltimore Folk Music Society's Music & Dance Hotline! (888) 646-BFMS or (888)646-2367
or email president@bfms.org.
Membership expired? Renew on-line! See the Membership page for details.
