Wild Hog 40th Anniversary Barn Dance
to
Olin Park 1156 Olin-Turville Court , Madison, Wisconsin 53713
press release: The Wild Hog in the Woods Coffeehouse is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a barn dance on Saturday, July 21, at Olin Park, Madison.
The Barn Dance will be held in the Olin Park Pavilion (Barn) starting with a potluck dinner at 5:00 PM, Saturday, July 21. The Hog will provide eating utensils, plates and napkins. At 6 PM all will gather around our memorial tree in the park to remember past members and folk artists and to share our Hog memories. Dance starts at 7:00 PM.
Live music to dance by will be performed by members of local old-time dance bands: Lakeview Ramblers, Rattletrap and Stone Soup. Calling will be by Roger Diggle and Mike Mossman. Admission to the dance is a suggested donation of $10. Souvenir t-shirts and mugs will be available for purchase.
“Who knew 40 years ago when we created the Wild Hog that it would still be providing a wide variety of folk music, singer/songwriters and dance,” said Jamie Poindexter, echoing the thoughts of several members.
Details are at www.wildhoginthewoods.org
Upcoming special anniversary events include:
- Irish Singer/Songwriter Aoife Scott on stage September 7
- Outdoor Concert for Wil-Mar Neighborhood Association’s Volunteer Celebration, September 21
- Anniversary/Birthday Concert in the Round, November 30
- Folk concerts are Fridays at 7:30pm, September through May, 953 Jenifer Street, Madison.
About the Wild Hog in the Woods Coffeehouse:
The Wild Hog in the Woods first opened on November 30, 1978. In the spring of 1978, several folk musicians began talking about possible outlets for folk music beyond their living rooms and record players. They wondered about finding a location which would be permanent and open to the public, a place where folks could go to hear or play folk music even if they did not know anyone in town. There weren’t many venues with small open stages where they could perform.
Posters were hung on street kiosks and store fronts around town to find other interested people. The consensus at the early meetings was that a new space was needed, and it should be an informal 1960s coffeehouse.
Later meetings led to our incorporation as a non-profit, non-stock organization and also to organize as a cooperative. With Madison’s strong cooperative community and with a healthy concern against ‘going in over our heads’ as a commercial venture, we determined that a cooperative would be the way to go, the safest economically, and the fairest socially.
“We really think cooperation is a good idea and we love to do it,” said Ben Doran, musician and volunteer.
“It’s been determined over and over again that a broad base of ideas and personal support is important for the operation and long life of the Wild Hog,” said Lisa Johnson, musician and volunteer.