T-Acadie

Artist Information

Biography

T-Acadie is a dance band and folk trio from Maine, part of the region including the Canadian maritime provinces known as Acadia ("T-Acadie" is Cajun French slang for "a little Acadia"). Pam, Jim and Bill have been playing together for more than twenty years, at first primarily for contradancing, and quickly discovered their common love for French Canadian and old time Southern dance tunes. As time went on they also discovered their common love for other French music, especially Cajun, and for singing in 3 part harmony. In the late 90's the folk trio, T-Acadie, was born. T-Acadie not only plays the French dance music from North America (Quebecois, Acadian and Cajun), but also New England, Maine, and Southern old-time tunes and songs, sea shanteys, and original tunes written by band "tunesmith", Pam Weeks, which range from sizzling reels and jigs to mesmerizing aires and sweet waltzes. T-Acadie is well-known for their close harmony vocals, unusual variety of instruments, and surprising versatility. Equally at home in a dance or a concert setting, the band has played concerts, community dances, festivals, contra and Cajun dances, town celebrations, weddings, and interactive dance and music residencies in schools (K-12). Pam Jim and Bill are all multi-instrumentalists. Pam is well known as one of the country's premier mountain dulcimer players and teachers. Bill is known nationwide as a contradance caller and choreographer and many of his dance compositions are called by callers all over the world.

Instrumentation

Pam Weeks - Vocals, Guitar, mandolin, Cello, Fiddle, mountain dulcimer
Jim Joseph - Banjo, Vocals, Percussion, mandolin, Fiddle, button accordion
Bill Olson - Vocals, Bass, Guitar, calling

Discography

"T-Acadie: By the Sea" 2010
(Available through the website or through CD Baby.)

Pam also has 2 recordings, "Waiting for the Perseids" (1999), and "The Trestle Bridge" (2002). Both feature Jim and Bill on various cuts and are available from CD Baby or directly from Pam's web page at www.pamweeks.com

Official Website

http://www.t-acadie.com

Links

• Facebook

Audio

• Winter Carnival
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• The Shuttle
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• Roll the Woodpile Down
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• New Railroad (Hang Me)
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• Deux Voyage
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• Murray River, Quadrille Bouchard, Sous Marin
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• I Will
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• Au Bord du Bayou
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• Sebec Lake Waltz
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Video

ONE MORE DAY, Skye Theater, Carthage, ME 2009

SIT DOWN DANCE, Bill learned from Glenn Bannerman

Photo Gallery

Press

• Noel Paul Stookey's daughter's wedding (Paul of Peter Paul and Mary) [+ Show ]
  

  "the music was joyous and real; earthy and accessible - just the kind of melodic and rhythmic en... "the music was joyous and real; earthy and accessible - just the kind of melodic and rhythmic energy we wanted - it celebrated kate & john's wedding effervescently, as bubbly in spirit as the champagne toasts. a wedding in maine is an awesome visual treat; thanks again for giving us the perfect musical counterpart!"
  
  Noel Paul Stookey
  (Peter, Paul, & Mary)
  (May 19, 2006)
  

• contradance [+ Show ]
  

  "They have frequently played here in the DC area because of their justified popularity. The raw ... "They have frequently played here in the DC area because of their justified popularity. The raw energy and clean playing of Pam Weeks on fiddle and the popping rhythmic playing of Jim Joseph on Acadian accordion, gives dancers goosebumps and is inspired and joyful. Their style draws heavily on traditional Quebequois music, but is not limited to the genre. Any step dancer could never keep their feet still. ( I sure can't!) Bill Olson, who doubles as both caller and guitarist, is a pleasure to learn from and dance to. His folksy New England whimsy is both charming and disarming. He makes the dances accessible and the dancers comfortable, while still maintaining a distinctive New England posture. His dances are famous - one commonly known is Eleanor's Reel and it often finishes many dance weekends, engendering the true community feeling of this aesthetic which we call contra dancing."
  
  David Shewmaker
  Dance Chair
  Folk Society of Greater Washington
  (Apr 10, 2006)
  

Setlist

Following are two typical concert set lists the first is a set of French tunes, called "Pardon our French" (none of us grew up speaking the language!) The second set we call "Potpourri, (a little of everything). After that we have listed two sets that we do in our school residencies; the first a participatory concert/dance about immigrant groups who came to Maine in the mid to late 19th century. After that is a school set we do about the music and dance of the American Civil War. Finally are typical sets we use for contradances...

PARDON MY FRENCH:

Winter Carnival (Quebecois dance tune set (reels))
Deux Voyage (modern Cajun song - Pam and Jim sing)
Viva L'Amour (Quebecois - Chanson et Repondre - Jim sings lead)
Valse de Kennebec/Valse de Jubilee (original waltzes written by Pam in Cajun style)
The Shuttle (song in Quebecois style - Donna Hebert - Pam sings)
Reel de Joie (Cajun reel written by Dewey Balfa)
Bagels in the Bongo Bag/Blueberry Mountain Reel/ Evit Gabriel (dance tunes first 2 by Pam)
Savoy Family Song (A capella ballad 3 part harmony)
Une Ange Pour Tout de Louisianne (song - Cajun Waltz - Jim sings lead)
La Chandelle et Allumee (modern song - 2-step - Dirk Powell and Christine Balfa - Pam sings lead)
Sous Marin (Quebecois jig set)
Lapin dans Son Nique (Cajun 2-step - Anne Savoy - Pam sings)
La Bonne Vie/New Crowley 2-step ( Waltz (song) into 2-step - Pam sings on La Bon Vie)


POTPOURRI (selections we choose from - different every time!):

Waltz for Anda (original waltz written by Pam)
Big House Middle House Back House Barn (Maine song by Tom Rowe - Pam sings lead)
Fiddlers' Green (seafaring song)
Sam's Gone Away (Sea Chantey - acapella)
High on a Mountaintop (Old Time Song by Ola Belle Reed - 3 part harmony)
Sunny Road (Bill Staines - Pam sings)
Kindergarten Song (Funny kids' song by John McCutcheon - Bill sings lead)
Family Tree (kid's song by Tom Chapin- Pam sings lead)
Sweet Wyoming Home (by Bill Staines - Pam sings lead)
Sailor's Prayer (sea song a capella 3 part harmony)
Brandy's Winter Dream (original waltz by Pam)
Muffy's Revenge (Pam tune in old timey style)
Saucy Arabella (Chantey a capella - Bill sings lead)
The Wood Song (by Dillon Bustin)
Stormalong John (Chantey - a capella - pam sings lead)
Roll the Woodpile down (Chantey - a capella)
Strike the bell (Chantey - a capella)
Viva L'Amour (Quebecois Chanson et Repondre - Jim sings lead)
La Bon Vie/New Crowley 2-step (Cajun waltz- 2 step - Pam sings lead on La Bon Vie)
Winter Carnival set (Quebecois dance tunes - reels)
Deux Voyage (Modern Cajun - Dirk Powell - Pam and Jim sing)
Sous Marin jig set (Quebecois dance tunes - jigs)
Une Ange Pour Tout de Louisianne (Cajun waltz by Dirk Powell- Jim sings lead - twin fiddles)
La Chandelle et Allumee (Modern cajun song - Dirk Powell and Christine Balfa - Pam sings lead)
Savoy Family Song (a capella Cajun ballad - 3 part Harmony)
The Shuttle (modern song - Quebecois - Donna Hebert - Pam sings lead)
Bagels/Blueberry/Evit Gabriel (Dance tunes first 2 by Pam, traditional)
Valse de Kennebec/Valse de Jubilee (Waltzes written in Cajun style by Pam)
Lapin dans Son Nique (Cajun 2step sung by Pam - Ann Savoy)
Reel de Joie (Cajun reel - Dewey Balfa)
One More Day (Chantey - a capella - Jim sings lead)
My Barnyard (Old Timey song by Dillon Bustin)

MAINE IMMIGRANT SCHOOL PROGRAM:
Session is set in darkened room lit by (fake) candle light.

Quebecois Tune set as kids file in
talk about 1800's - no tv electricity etc..
talk about immigrant groups - mill workers, loggers, fisherman
Home made instruments - dance tune set with Limberjack demonstration (participatory)
Sam's Gone Away (Sea Chantey)
Frozen Logger (Funny logger (tough guy) song)
The Shuttle (French Canadian immigrant mill worker song)
talk about "Kitchen Junkets" pass out spoons - everyone learns to play along with the music by clicking spoons and tapping feet
Quebecois tune set
talk about Acadians

Basic Requirements

Calendar