Summer Solstice Folk Music And Dance Festival

Step, step, step, step. Master that, and you can dance to the joyous rhythms of Cajun music. "This is truly folk music and folk dance--done by regular folks--and you don't have to be a trained dancer to do it," says Tina Duree-Bevan of Garden Grove, who will teach basic Cajun dance on Sunday at the 12th annual Summer Solstice Folk Music and Dance Festival in Calabasas. The festival, which starts Friday, is one of the region's top folk events; 4,000 visitors are expected.

Elaine Weissman prepares for the Summer Solstice Folk Music, Dance & Storytelling Festival in Calabasas as if she were a general about to go to war. This year's festival, running Friday through Sunday, has been in the works for more than 18 months. Five thousand people are expected to attend the festival, the largest traditional music and arts fest on the West Coast, and the logistics are as complicated as a cat's cradle.

New England folk singer Bill Staines was the only performer Sunday at what used to be the Summer Solstice Festival, an annual event that for 17 years featured numerous concerts and workshops over a three-day period. But this year, while festival sponsors restructure their organization, Staines was one of only two acts presented. His fans didn't seem to mind. On stage, Staines joked about how his songs can cure a child's insomnia and about how some fans say his voice reminds them of Burl Ives.

New England folk singer Bill Staines was the only performer Sunday at what used to be the Summer Solstice Festival, an annual event that for 17 years featured numerous concerts and workshops over a three-day period. But this year, while festival sponsors restructure their organization, Staines was one of only two acts presented. His fans didn't seem to mind. On stage, Staines joked about how his songs can cure a child's insomnia and about how some fans say his voice reminds them of Burl Ives.

The California Traditional Music Society will present a Celtic music concert with Irish musicians Joe and Antoinette McKenna and Mary Bergin at 8 p.m. Saturday at Soka University in Calabasas. Joe McKenna performs on the uillean pipes, whistle and button accordion. His wife, Antoinette, performs on the harp, while her sister, Mary Bergin, is a renowned tin whistle player, having been named "All Ireland Champion" while still a teenager. All three also sing.

Over the years, the Summer Solstice Festival and the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest have survived recessions, rap music, even the L.A. riots. But a leadership vacuum may mean the end for these two major Valley-based cultural events. For the last 17 years, the Summer Solstice Festival was a regular event on the June calendar. Sponsored by the California Traditional Music Society, it was an annual three-day celebration of folk music and related arts.

Elaine Weissman prepares for the Summer Solstice Folk Music, Dance & Storytelling Festival in Calabasas as if she were a general about to go to war. This year's festival, running Friday through Sunday, has been in the works for more than 18 months. Five thousand people are expected to attend the festival, the largest traditional music and arts fest on the West Coast, and the logistics are as complicated as a cat's cradle.

Ten years ago, Elaine and Clark Weissman were two frustrated dulcimer fans in search of a festival. This week, Elaine is organizing the final details for the 9th annual Summer Solstice Folk Music and Dance Festival, an event that has grown from a one-day teaching workshop for dulcimer players to a three-day folk music and dance extravaganza that is 27 mini-festivals in one. "There was a huge need for a festival like this," Elaine said. "Most of the dulcimer players we knew 10 years ago were learning from books.

With events as airy as a dulcimer workshop and as earthy as a dirty-song sing-along, this weekend's folk festival at Cal State Northridge promises something for everyone. Called the Summer Solstice Folk Music and Dance Festival, the two-day, two-night show is in its 10th year and has attained a national reputation. The $20 daytime admission buys participation in a wide variety of workshops and browsing at crafts and food booths. There will be dozens of workshops Saturday and Sunday.

If you are looking for storytelling in Spanish; tales from African, Jewish or American Indian traditions, or stories where it's OK to wear pajamas, there's quite a bit for Southland youngsters this summer. Among the offerings: * "The Coyote, the Spirit and the Moon," a free multicultural storytelling festival by the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department's Folk Arts Program, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. today. Reservations suggested. Southwest Museum, 234 Museum Drive, Los Angeles; (213) 221-2163.

The California Traditional Music Society will present a Celtic music concert with Irish musicians Joe and Antoinette McKenna and Mary Bergin at 8 p.m. Saturday at Soka University in Calabasas. Joe McKenna performs on the uillean pipes, whistle and button accordion. His wife, Antoinette, performs on the harp, while her sister, Mary Bergin, is a renowned tin whistle player, having been named "All Ireland Champion" while still a teenager. All three also sing.

Over the years, the Summer Solstice Festival and the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest have survived recessions, rap music, even the L.A. riots. But a leadership vacuum may mean the end for these two major Valley-based cultural events. For the last 17 years, the Summer Solstice Festival was a regular event on the June calendar. Sponsored by the California Traditional Music Society, it was an annual three-day celebration of folk music and related arts.

Step, step, step, step. Master that, and you can dance to the joyous rhythms of Cajun music. "This is truly folk music and folk dance--done by regular folks--and you don't have to be a trained dancer to do it," says Tina Duree-Bevan of Garden Grove, who will teach basic Cajun dance on Sunday at the 12th annual Summer Solstice Folk Music and Dance Festival in Calabasas. The festival, which starts Friday, is one of the region's top folk events; 4,000 visitors are expected.

Dan Auerbach is stuck between the future and the past. By day he works on fiber-optic laser-guidance systems, his Trekkie profession as an engineer at Litton Guidance and Control in Canoga Park. In his off hours, however, the Thousand Oaks resident goes retro by a few hundred years.

Fourth of July celebrations aren't the only summertime festivities. There are a handful of festivals planned for the coming months. Here's a sample. * The 14th annual Summer Solstice Folk Music, Storytelling and Dance Festival, sponsored by the California Traditional Music Society, takes place this weekend at Soka University, 26800 W. Mulholland Highway, Calabasas. The event features performances, activities, more than 300 hands-on workshops, singing, dancing and storytelling.