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Schedule of Events

Wednesday, June 25

7 p.m.
Polka at the Lawrence Public Library featuring Brave Combo.

Opening Weekend Celebration—Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28

Friday, June 27

4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Bopaphonics—Robert Baker, Roger Holden and Barry Barnes featuring Langston Hughes poetry adapted in the musical Bopaphonic performance poetry style.
Watkins Museum, Community Room

5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The Alferd Packer Memorial String Band
A five multi-instrumentalists singing and playing fiddles, banjo, guitars, mandolin, hammered dulcimer, accordion, bass, shotgun and washboard. Their infectious good humor and high energy leaves no toe untapped.
In front of the Watkins Community Museum

7 p.m.
Presentation by Dr. Steven Kite, Assistant Professor of History at Fort Hays State University, entitled From There to Here: Origins of Appalachian Folk Music, explores the transition of folk ballads from the English Isles to America.
Watkins Museum, Community Room

Saturday, June 28

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Family Workshop with Allen Macfarlane entitled, Songs and Stories of the Kansas Plains—The Musical Heritage of the Kansas Frontier. Take a musical journey with Allen’s repertoire of American and European traditional folk music—much of which came to the plains with the settlers.
Watkins Museum, Community Room

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Barry Barnes
Poet, performance artist and musician—creates pieces that make people think and question as well as
have a good time. His quick wit and sense of humor make him a favorite with kids of all ages.
Watkins Museum, Community Room

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Bopaphonics
Robert Baker, Roger Holden and Barry Barnes—featuring Langston Hughes poetry adapted in the musical Bopaphonic performance poetry style.
Watkins Museum, Community Room

3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Zydeco Tougeau
Tommee Sherwood, Dalton Howard and Barry Barnes will perform music inspired by the Creole sounds of SW Louisiana and SE Texas
Japanese Garden adjacent to the Watkins Community Museum

7 p.m.
Who Says History Can’t Rock?
Live Music at the Bottleneck, featuring local bands of all genres. All ages show.
Bottleneck

Wednesday, July 2

8 p.m.
Lawrence City Band Summer Concert Series
A Star Spangled Spectacular
William Kelly Bandstand in historic South Park

Saturday, July 5

10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Tom Bottle-Man Krause
Jazz Americana
Watkins Community Museum, Gallery

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Family Workshop, Visualize Music in a Mixed-Media Collage
Hosted by Lora Jost. Bring the whole family for some hands-on creativity exploring music through the visual arts. While individuals are welcome to drop-in for the workshop, we would appreciate an RSVP for this event by July 2. Please call 785-841-4109 to RSVP.
Watkins Museum, Community Room

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Karl Ramberg
Jazz influenced improvisational music.
Watkins Museum, Community Room

Wednesday, July 9

8 p.m.
Lawrence City Band Summer Concert Series
"From Kansas City to New York to Vienna."
William Kelly Bandstand in historic South Park

Thursday, July 10

6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Dulcimer performance
Immerse yourself in the sounds of the dulcimer performed by Allen Macfarlane.
Japanese Garden adjacent to the Watkins Community Museum

7 p.m.
Presentation by Dr. Jim Hoy, Professor of English at Emporia State University and the Director of the Center for Great Plains Studies
Home on the Range: Kansas Folklore. Delve into the wealth of Kansas folklore and discover Kansas’
occupational, ethnic and regional cultures.
Watkins Museum, Community Room

Friday, July 11

7 p.m.
Sing Along Film Series—The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Lawrence Public Library, Library Auditorium

7 p.m.
Who Says History Can’t Rock?
Live Music at the Bottleneck, featuring local bands of all genres to support the Watkins Lawrence Music Archive. All ages show.
Bottleneck

Monday, July 14

7 p.m.
Lipbone Redding and the Lipbone Orchestra
Inventive voicestrumentalist, Lipbone Redding, creates original songs that effervesce with New Orleans swing, Memphis grooves and New York City style.
Lawrence Public Library, Library Auditorium

Wednesday, July 16

8 p.m.
Lawrence City Band Summer Concert Series
2008 Season’s Finale
William Kelly Bandstand in historic South Park

Friday, July 18

7 p.m.
Sing Along Film Series—The Music Man (1962)
Lawrence Public Library, Library Auditorium

Saturday, July 19

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Cindy Novelo
Traditional & contemporary folk music.
Watkins Museum, Community Room

Sunday, July 20

6 p.m.
Gospelaires at the First Southern Baptist Church
4300 W. Sixth Street, Lawrence

Friday, July 25

7 p.m.
Sing Along Film Series—Mary Poppins (1964)
Lawrence Public Library, Library Auditorium

Saturday , July 26

10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Ardys & Bradford
Immerse yourself in Blues, Ballad ,Bebop Jazz, Swing & More with Ardys Ramberg and Bradford Hoopes.
Watkins Museum, Community Room.

11 a.m. – Noon
Family Storytime with Linda Clay.
Calling kids of all ages! Be entertained with songs and stories surrounding a marionette puppet theatre show of Going to the Zoo.
Watkins Museum, Gallery

Thursday, July 31

7 p.m.
History of Lawrence Folk Music: 1970s --Present.
A panel discussion with Jim Baggett, Steve Mason and other “fixtures” of the Lawrence folk music scene.
Watkins Museum, Community Room

Friday, Aug. 1

7 p.m.
Sing Along Film Series—Grease (1978)
Lawrence Public Library, Library Auditorium

Saturday, Aug. 2

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Whistling in the Wind by Randy Lemmons
Learn the traditional process of making flutes and listen to Randy play some of his 70 manufactured flutes.
Watkins Museum, Community Room

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Behind-the-Scenes at Mass. Street Music
Drop-in and learn about instrument restoration, view restoration activities and new and historically significant musical instruments from the staff at Mass. Street Music.
1347 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence

Thursday, Aug. 7

7 p.m.
Presentation by Dr. Dennis Christilles, Associate Professor of Theatre & Film at the University of Kansas
‘To Live Outside the Law, You Must be Honest’: The Songs of Bob Dylan
Watkins Museum Community Room

Saturday, Aug. 9

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Maria Anthony and Megan Hurt
Celtic & original folk music.
Watkins Museum Community Room

Guided tours available
Call 785.841.4109 or email Helen Krische at helenk@watkinsmuseum.org for information.

  • New Harmonies has been made possible at the Watkins Community Museum of History by the Kansas Humanities Council.
  • New Harmonies is part of the Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.
  • The Douglas County Historical Society Board of Directors thank the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Lawrence Public Library, Spencer Museum of Art, Mass. Street Music, Ginger Chance and the local artists who so generously gave their support to this project.