dances


Well we finally decided to take some tentative steps into the 21st century and you can now check out the latest news and band adventures at our "Contratopia 2.0" blog. You can find it at http://contratopia.blogspot.com/. We had a good time with the blog throughout the 2006/2007 so I think we'll keep it going for a while.


2008/2009 Season: When & Where

August 26, 2008 (w/Linda Breitag on fiddle)
Contra dance as part of the Nine Nights of Music at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN (6:30-8:00 p.m.)

January 23-25, 2009
8th Annual Wintergreen Dance Weekend in Bozeman, Montana (w/Randy Miller's Celticladda and Cis Hinkle calling!)

To help us remember where we've been we also have a History page that contains a list of what we've been up to for the last few years.


It's probably worth noting that, apart from Contratopia, Pat and Patrice can often be found supplying great dance music with other excellent musicians at Tapestry throughout the year. John and Erik are regularly heard with the Western Home String Band in Decorah, IA providing tunes for the monthly contra dances at either the fairgrounds in Decorah or the legendary Highlandville Schoolhouse.

Even if you have a hard time getting to hear us play live you can still enjoy our music on compact disc or by legally streaming or downloading our tracks from a number of e-music services (including iTunes, Rhapsody, eMusic, Napster, etc.). Check the CD page to learn more about the availability of "Hands Four", "Ballroom Echoes", "Smitten" or the "Contra Roots and Branches" compilation CD from Great Meadow Music.

Erik and John are still selling the Contratopia Tunebook, a collection of over 50 original reels, jigs, waltzes and airs. Almost all of the Goodin and Sessions tunes from Hands Four, most of the tunes from Smitten and four of the waltzes from Ballroom Echoes are included as well as many other tunes that the group plays at dances and concerts. The tunes are in standard notation with chord symbols included and the book is carefully assembled at home using a nifty hand-powered comb binding gizmo. These are available for $10 each plus $1 shipping for each book. Contact John at jgoodin@contratopia.com if you'd like to purchase a copy of the Tunebook.

home the blog the group the CDs contact us