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.
Great news for students!! BFMS is now waiving the admission cost to our regular dances for individuals under the age of 21 and students who present at the door with a valid student ID. Looking forward to dancing with you!!
With the end of the public health emergency, we are not currently requiring vaccinations or masks for our events. By participating you are agreeing to be mindful of the safety precautions that limit the spread of disease and to treat others with consideration and respect. Please do not attend if you are not feeling well and let us know if we should let attendees know about potential illness spread at our events..
We will still be requesting payment via the BFMS Website
We look forward to singing and dancing together! We once again welcome snack contributions for our dances and your help cleaning them up :-)
BFMS often has the need for people to fill one time or ongoing volunteer opportunities. Currently, volunteers are needed for the following: coordinate the 2nd Saturday Dances, serve on the Board as the Special Events Chair, help with sound for dances and concerts, write grants, gate coverage, and to work on flyers expanding our publicity. Please feel free to contact me at president@bfms.org.
Help spread the word, distribute our new dance flier. *Click Here*
Please download our Welcome Brochure
Virtual and Live Community Events
Wednesday, September 18 2024
Contra Dance
Janine Smith and Susan Taylor call to The Dead Sea Squirrels - Cathy Mason (fiddle), Craig Edwards (fiddle, banjo, and mandolin), and Henry Yoshimura (guitar). Intro lesson at 7:30pm. Dance starts at 8pm at Lovely Lane Church. Online payment only: https://bfms.org/contradancepay.php
Thursday, September 19 2024
BFMS Fall Picnic - Save the Date BelowPut the BFMS Fall Picnic on your calendar.
Sunday, October 13, 2024, 12pm to 4 pm - not the date above
Thanks to the generous donation of BFMS member Ellice Brahms, the almost annual BFMS picnic will return this Fall. We are pleased to announce that we are returning to the lovely pavilion at Lake Roland Park. Socializing, clothing swap, singing, jamming, games and hiking will be part of the fun. Stay tuned for more details.
Thursday, September 19 2024
Autumn Assembly - Save the Date BelowPut the BFMS Autumn Assembly on your calendar!
Saturday October 26 2024 (afternoon) - not the date above
Tickets are now available!
Monday, September 23 2024
4th Monday English Country Dance
English Country Dance 8-10:30 pm
Diane Schmit will call, and Jeffrey Steinberg, violin; Marty Taylor, whistles; and Janina O'Brien, piano will play the tunes
Location: The Church of the Nativity and Holy Comforter, 6112 York Rd, Baltimore, MD 21212.
Participants are welcome to bring snacks to share at the break.
Please pay on-line at www.bfms.org/englishcountrypay.php
Tuesday, September 24 2024
BFMS Song Swap
4th Tuesday BFMS zoom song swap. September 24, 7:30
https://yorku.zoom.us/j/99950379772
The 4th Tuesday BFMS zoom Song Swap is a place for folks to come together and share songs, community, and keep the live singing tradition thriving. While we have been getting together on zoom, the 4th Tuesday BFMS songswap has become transcontinental and international with participants from west, farther west, and north and northwest across the border. You can drop in on the zoom and meet (and hear / sing with) some nice folks we 're not likely to meet in person!
Tuesday, September 24 2024 (Member Sponsored)
Baltimore Shape Note Singing
7pm to 9:30pm. Four Hour Day Lutherie, 4305 Harford Rd. Baltimore, MD. Join us in America's oldest musical tradition! Experience the joy of singing a cappella choral music in four-part harmony. Shaped note heads aid sight reading. No experience needed, and loaner books are available. Attendance is free. All are welcome! More information https://baltimoreshapenote.org/, https://www.facebook.com/groups/bmoreshapenote
Monday, September 30 2024
English Country Dance
Monday English Country Dance 8:00 -- 10:30 pm
Christopher Field calling to the tunes of Liz Donaldson on piano, Becky Ross on fiddle/violin and Mark Vidor on accordion.
Location: The Church of the Natvity and Holy Comforter 6112 York Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21210
All are welcome to bring snacks to share at the break. Please pay on-line at
www.bfms.org/englishcountry.pay.php
Wednesday, October 02 2024
Contra Dance
Sargon de Jesus calls to music by Flamingo Sketches - Jared Kirkpatrick (piano, fiddle, mandolin, feet) and Tom Krumm (fiddle, mandolin). Intro lesson at 7:30pm. Dance starts at 8pm at Lovely Lane Church. Online payment only: https://bfms.org/contradancepay.php
Monday, October 07 2024
English Country Dance
Evening of English Country Dance 8:00 - 10:30 pm
Ann Fallon calls to playing by Marty Taylor on whistles, Ralph Barthine on guitar, and Janina O'Brien on piano, mostly.
Location: The Church of the Natvity and Holy Comforter, 6112 York Road, Baltimore, Maryland, 21210
All are welcome to bring snacks to share at the break. Please pay ahead, on-line at:
www.bfms.org/englishcountry.pay.php
Saturday, October 12 2024
2nd Saturday Dance
8-10:30 PM
Andrea Nettleton calling to Nova, a neo-trad trio hailing from New England featuring Kathleen Fownes on fiddle, Everest Witman on guitar and mandolin, and Guillaume Sparrow-Pepin on accordion and piano.
Dance lesson: 7:30
Admission is: Free for all (as part of Free Fall, sponsored by the Baltimore Office of Public Arts and BFMS).
Please pre-register. Online there will be an option to register for free. http://bfms.org/secondsatpay.php
Location: The Church of the Nativity and Holy Comforter, 6112 York Rd, Baltimore, MD 21212
Potluck snacks at the break.
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.
