Paul's Nisswa-stämman blotter is back and it's darn kuul! (okay.. so it's not that kuul but let's pretend)

Keep checking back here to this electrifying space for updates to Nisswa-stamman '08.


ALL UPDATED now updated for 2008!

1. Nisswa program performing schedule ...

2. Dance schedules Friday night and Saturday night schedules

3. Festival map See the layout of the Pioneer Village and note the musician's changing / instrument storage / bathroom location

4. Friday Night Concert Schedule Lutheran Church of the Cross

5. Friday Night Warm-up rooms Lutheran Church of the Cross

6. Instrument and Dance Workshop sign-ups - see who has signed up and locations...

7. Commonly played Allspel tunes help me remember more!

8. First Timers Read this if you haven't performed at Nisswa-stämma before. It gives you a good overview of what happens

9. Rainsite map Read info about the rainsite... Remember we actually may have to do this!!! (once so far in 8 years)

10. Sunday Brunch Info and directions to the great Sunday brunch

11. Volunteer staff schedules This schedule is not quite complete... we may need more help this year?


to download a pdf file of this schedule, just click on the schedule!

 



2008 Workshop signups

If you want to read more, go to the Workshop page

click here for directions to Bennett's house

 


Folks...here is the annual juggling act to try to fit everyone in to the dance schedule. I never succeed in pleasing everyone..I know that. I do try though. We will continue to do the 'in-between' musician thing this year...Be ready, have your instrument in tune and in your hands so you can start playing right away. It's very likely that in many cases you may have time for 2 tunes..... Paul

 


 


WARM UP ROOMS FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT

 


Here is a look at the festival set up for 2008. For those of you returning, nothing is new here. Please remember that the musician's changing room / storage center and bathroom is in the basement of the "History Center" building. Enter by the rear entrance. This area is reserved for musician's only.


 This is our rain site plan at the Nisswa Elementary School. We have only had to use it once in seven years. We will put a copy of this plan into your packet. (You know - one of those sheets of paper that you never look at.) Take NOTE: We have switched the Pine Grove and Summer Kitchen stages around from the 2005 arrangement. The Nisswa Elementary school is just a few blocks south and east of the Pioneer Village. Everybody needs to pitch in and be really helpful to make this work. "Accomodation" is the key word. You may have your performance shortened, or you may not get to perform at all...depending on when the 'grand rush' happens. Lets hope we don't have to do this for another seven years!

 


FIRST TIMER'S LETTER --

Hello folks,

I'm writing this info for all of you 'first timers' to Nisswa-stamman so you will know what will happen, (or, what's supposed to happen) and what to expect. You may want to print this out for reference later, when you will actually need it! Paul

Friday night is the opening concert at the Lutheran Church of the Cross. For those of you involved in the concert, you will want to arrive by 6 pm at the latest. We have volunteers staffing a "musician's packet room". Go to the room and pick up your performers packet. If you ordered any extra smorgasbord tickets, you should pay for them at that time. Put your performers badge on so the gate people will know that you are a musician and get in free. We will have rooms available for warming up. Our local spelmanslag, Skal Klubben does a warm up show for about a half hour before the concert begins. All of the performers for the evening sit in chairs set on either side of the stage, facing the audience. Try to be in these chairs by 6:50 pm so we can start promptly. Remember that we are on a very tight schedule Friday night. You have time for one tune. I know this stinks, but we just have to deal with it! The audience loves this concert because there is so much variety and they don't have to move their flippin' chairs!

Directions to the church (all of these directions are also available on our web site complete with maps)

The Lutheran Church of the Cross is 11.6 miles north of the intersection of Hwy 210 and Hwy 371 in Baxter, or1.6 miles south of Nisswa on Hwy 371. Turn east at Schaefers Market (Hwy 371 at County Roads 13 & 77).

After the concert is the dance at the Nisswa American Legion club. Even if you don't perform that night, it's a really neat event so you should try to make it!

Sat morning, the event begins with a musician's parade which starts from the south end of Nisswa (Nisswa Square) and goes about 4 blocks to the north end of Nisswa, ending at the Pioneer Village. You are all welcome to participate in the parade. Just attach yourself to a group that's walking and playing, or make up your own group. We start marching at approximately 10 am and get to the village by 10:15 am. Then there are a few speeches (very short) and we all play tunes together - an allspel. The allspel finishes about 10:45 or so and then people fan out to the various stages to get ready for the first sets which begin at 11 am. After that, things just go like clockwork all day long...It's important to quit your performance about 5 minutes before the end of your alloted time..be considerate of the group following you. As I mentioned in a previous email, we do have a changing room/instrument storage area on the grounds...see the site map.

The stamma ends with another allspel at 4:30 pm...you are all welcome to play in that as well. The smorgasbord starts at 5 pm. You will have tickets with times printed on the ticket. That's when you will eat. The Nisswa Community Center is within walking distance of the village.

The dance at the Legion starts at 7 pm. It's also within walking distance, but is a little farther away and most people drive a little closer. It's a long night of great music!

On Sunday morning, there is a Musician's and Volunteer brunch at Mary Anne and Don Bennett's house on North Long Lake. It starts at 10 am and you are all welcome and encouraged to come. It's a great way to wind down before heading off to the 'real world'.


You are cordially to the Nisswa-Stämman Appreciation Brunch ... with Relish!

Sunday, June 8, 10 am - rain or shine

Don and Mary Anne Bennett's, North Long Lake.

Please bring, if you wish: lawn chairs, beer, wine, (coffee, pop will be provided) swimsuits, towels.

Directions to Bennetts:

>From Nisswa:
Go south on highway 371, approximately 5 miles to Ojibwa Park Drive (just
after Round Lake) or Ojibwa Drive, depending on which sign you read. This
road is also 115, but note that there is the other end of 115 north of Round
Lake. That end is not called Ojibwa.
Turn left (east) on 115 and go 1.7 miles to fire number AR357. This road is now
officially named "Pheasant Trail". Turn right and go about 3000 feet to Bennett's.
Pass up the first driveway to the left. Park along the driveway or take the second
driveway to the left (gray house with green trim) or go down the hill and turn left to the yard.

>From Baxter:
Take 371 north 8 miles from the junction of Hwys 210 and 371to Ojibwa Park or
Ojibwa Drive, depending on which sign you read. This road is also 115.
This road is now officially named "Pheasant Trail".Turn right (east) on 115 and go
1.7 miles to fire number AR357. Turn right and go about 3000 feet to Bennett's.
Park along the driveway or take the second driveway to the left (gray house with green trim)
or go down the hill and turn left to the yard.

>From Merrifield:
Go west on 127 just north of Merrifield. When you get to 115, turn left and
go about 1/4 mile to AR357 and turn left. AR357 is notable by the mailbox construction - it has a telephone pole pointing toward the road at about 45 degrees.

If you get lost, call (218)963-4702.

Don and Mary Anne Bennett
20344 Pheasant Trail
Brainerd, Mn 56401
218 963 4702