Hope Hoffman -past performances

Events listed here are public venues such as festivals and restaurants; we also play often for weddings and private parties.

(For résumé of dance performance, choreography, production and studies, please click here.)

(For résumé of additional theater writing, directing, production and performance, please click here.)

"Free Fiddle Q&A" at local foods Productions' Studio in downtown Bowdoinham. Stop by with fiddle/violin-related questions for fiddle instructor Hope Hoffman. Bring an instrument if you'd like to drop in for a free 5-minute mini-lesson for fiddle/violin.

Acoustic fiddle and banjo music for the Labor Day Craft Show, at the Center for Maine Craft in West Gardiner, Maine. Hope's live Maine fiddle CDs, including newly composed dance tunes, will be for sale at the event, and are always available at the Center for Maine Craft.

Acoustic fiddle music at "Forever Farms" event at Erickson Farm in Rockport, Maine. (A local foods event).

Saturday, July 16 Appalachian music with Willie McElroy (fiddle, banjo, guitar), Jake Hoffman (guitar, banjo), Hope Hoffman (fiddle) for contradance at Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St, Portland, Maine from 8-11 p.m. Kathryn Larsen calling. All dances taught. No experience or partner needed. $7 admission. Info: (207) 615-3609, http://mayostreetarts.org/.

Wednesday, June 15 contra dance from 10:30 a.m.-noon with Hope Hoffman (fiddle), Willie McElroy (guitar and banjo) and Chrissy Fowler (caller). At Knights of Columbus Hall, 2 Columbus Drive in Brunswick, Maine. All are welcome. Organized by Spindleworks Art Center with funding from the Maine Arts Commission 's Celebrating Traditional Arts grant, which is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts' Folk and Traditional Arts program. [view poster] Free.

Wednesday, June 29 contra dance from 10:30 a.m.-noon with Hope Hoffman (fiddle), Willie McElroy (guitar and banjo) and Chrissy Fowler (caller). At Knights of Columbus Hall, 2 Columbus Drive in Brunswick, Maine. All are welcome. Organized by Spindleworks Art Center with funding from the Maine Arts Commission 's Celebrating Traditional Arts grant, which is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts' Folk and Traditional Arts program. [View poster] Free.

Contra dance at Colby College in Waterville, Maine with music by Hope Hoffman and Willie McElroy and calling by Richard Green.

Contradance At the Farmington Grange in Maine, with caller John McIntire. Hope Hoffman, fiddle; Willie McElroy, fiddle, guitar and banjo.

Fiddle and banjo music at Goranson Farm's Maple Weekend in Dresden, Maine. (A local foods event).

Concert of original and traditional tunes by Hope Hoffman (fiddle) and Willie McElroy (fiddle, guitar and banjo) at Knit-or-Not Night at Spindleworks Gallery in Brunswick, Maine.

Knit-or-Not with Live Fiddle Music series in Bowdoinham, Maine . Visit this cozy space to sit and knit or just drink tea and relax. Very informal, food and children welcome, tea cups and tea provided. At local foods Music Studio Bowdoinham, on Center St. at corner of Main St., behind Fox Real Estate. Directions are at www.hopehoffman.org. Free. [Link to upcoming dates]

Concert by fiddler Hope Hoffman and Jeff Trippe, from the duo's CD of popular Irish instrumentals, at Knit-or-Not Night at Spindleworks Gallery in Brunswick, Maine.

Concert of contra dance medleys in a banjo-fiddle duo with Putnam Smith, at Knit-or-Not Night at Spindleworks Gallery in Brunswick, Maine.

Concert of romantic waltzes and lively dance tunes at Lucid Stage. Hope Hoffman (fiddle), Larry Burkett (guitar) and Willie McElroy (banjo).

Strolling fiddle music, including tunes for a children's parade, at Celebrate Bowdoinham festival.

Concert of country duet songs & fiddling with Jim Tolles at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine, as part of the "Down Home at the Gardens" dinner and auction.

Accompaniment on fiddle and vocals, for Paul D'Alessio at Joyce's restaurant. Located at 192 Water Street in Hallowell, Maine; info at (207) 512-8433. [Link to audio]

Accompaniment for dance performance; Barn Dance by Merrymeeting Ballet Caravan at Merrymeeting Arts Center's Gala Fundraising Event. Hoffman's original fiddle tunes "Super-Insulated House," "8th of February," "Neofa Farewell" and "Sweet Pea" were all written while living on farms in Bowdoinham and each was inspired by a farmer or farm-related story. Hoffman's compositions are available online as sheet music, and as audio from her CDs.

Contra dance in Rockland with John McIntire calling, music by Hope Hoffman (fiddle) and Peter Proeller (banjo). [Link to directions and details]

Fiddle and banjo music for children at Round Top Farm in Damariscotta, Maine, as part of the Green Beginnings Spring Celebration, which includes information about garden-related skills, organizations and opportunities. (A local foods event). [Link to upcoming 2011 date]

Acoustic fiddle and banjo music by Hope Hoffman and Peter Proeller, at Goranson Farm's pancake breakfast.

Contra dance in Farmington, with calling by Richard Green. Music by Hope Hoffman (fiddle) and Eric Johnson (guitar). [More info at www.starleft.org/dance]

Contra dance for students of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, with music by Hope Hoffman (fiddle) and Peter Proeller (banjo). More info at (401) 864-3032 and sghirsch [at] colby [dot] edu. [Link to video of Hope playing at the Colby College contra dance]

Waltz workshop taught by Marie Wendt in Rockland, original and traditional waltzes on fiddle with piano by Abraham Stimson.

Contra dance in downtown Rockland, fiddle and piano duo with Abraham Stimson. [Link to details]

Monthly series of acoustic dinner music programs through March 2010 at O'Naturals restaurant in Falmouth, Maine. [Link to upcoming dates]

Concert of fiddling and songs from bluegrass, country duet, Carter family and Appalachian folk heritage, plus roots-based originals, by Hope Hoffman & Jim Tolles at Rock City Books & Coffee in Rockland, Maine.

Solo concert of singing, storytelling and fiddle music at O'Naturals restaurant in Falmouth, Maine on O'Naturals' Community Night, raising funds for the Organization for Transformative Farming (www.OTF.org). (A local foods event)

Monthly series of acoustic dinner music programs at O'Naturals restaurant in Falmouth, Maine. [Link here to the series' 2010 dates]

Contra dances in Rockland with Abraham Stimson, and with Tamora Goltz and David Stimson; with caller Chrissy Fowler. [Link here for details]

Concerts with Tamora Goltz (fiddle) and David Stimson (guitar and concertina) at HeartSpeak Studio and at Blue in Portland, Maine.

Concert of fiddling and songs from bluegrass, country duet, Carter family and Appalachian folk heritage, plus roots-based originals, by Hope Hoffman & Jim Tolles at the Frontier Café in Fort Andross, Brunswick, Maine. [Link here to our repeat performance dates in 2010]

Live show and interview on WBOR 91.1 FM's show called "The Unified Field," Brunswick, Maine.

Solo concert of New Maine Fiddle Music, storytelling and the traditional tunes which inspire Hope's compositions, at Punkinfiddle festival in Wells, Maine.

Solo fiddle, and country duet/roots-based originals with singer and guitarist Jim Tolles at the Second Friday Artwalk in Brunswick, Maine.

Bowdoinham contra dance with the Cathance River Ramblers (Hope Hoffman, David Atcher, Greg Anderson and Susan Janssen).

Live radio performance on WMPG's "Local Motives" program; fiddling and songs from bluegrass, country duet, Carter family and Appalachian folk heritage, plus roots-based originals, by Hope Hoffman & Jim Tolles.

Acoustic Maine fiddle music for the Holiday Weekend Kick-off BBQ, at the Center for Maine Craft.

Concert in Bowdoinham's waterfront concert series; vocal and fiddle duo with Jim Tolles, featuring songs from the legacies of the Carter Family, bluegrass, country duet and Appalachian folk heritage, plus roots-based originals.

At the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Irish and Americana instrumentals with Jeff Trippe at the second annual "Cheers on the Kennebec" event.

Strolling fiddle music at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine, at the opening celebration for the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, as part of that weekend's Garden Fair.

Concert at Blue with Jim Tolles. Our vocal and fiddle duo features songs from the legacies of the Carter Family, bluegrass, country duet and Appalachian folk heritage, plus roots-based originals.

Live music for the Water Street Artists’ opening reception at the Stable Gallery in Damariscotta.

Solo fiddle and singing, plus some fiddle accompaniment for singer Mark Cool, at the Liquid Ship in Glasgow, UK; as part of the performance series The Free Candy Sessions. [Link to a brief, fun review]

Acoustic concert of fiddle tunes and songs from the legacies of the Carter Family, bluegrass, country duet and Appalachian folk heritage, plus roots-based originals as a duo with Jim Tolles; a "Tidbits Fiddle & Farm" program (local foods event).

Fiddle music and children's creative dancing at the "Green Beginnings" celebration with CONA and Rising Tide Community Market at Round Top Farm in Damariscotta (A local foods partnership).

Concert of fiddle tunes and songs from the legacies of the Carter Family, bluegrass, country duet and Appalachian folk heritage, plus roots-based originals, with Jim Tolles at the Downeast Country Dance Festival.

Concert at Blue in Portland, as a duo with Jeff Trippe featuring jigs, reels and hornpipes with a modern approach and fluid, detailed interpretations. Jeff also blends his lovely vocals with Hope's fiddle harmonies to create a lush, emotional texture in their British Isles songs.

Maine fiddle music at the town of Dresden's Winterfest, which included some great chowder!

Acoustic concert at HeartSpeak studio. Hope Hoffman and Jeff Trippe's fiddle, guitar and vocal duo presenting Irish and Americana tunes and songs with a modern approach and fluid, detailed interpretations. (A local foods event)

~ DANCES ~

Including original compositions of New England dance music

Solo fiddle and duo with guitar for several barn dances at the Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, ME.

Contra dances at the Trenton Grange and Somerset Grange with John McIntire calling.

Series of contra dances in Fairfield, Maine and Strong, Maine, with Jim Berrier on guitar and harmonica.

Contra dance at Ossipee Valley Bluegrass Festival in Cornish, Maine, with dance caller Lisa Sieverts.

Contra dances in Brunswick, ME 2006 and 2007

Contra dance as part of a Family Fitness Festival, put on by the Auburn/Lewiston YMCA and L/A Trails.

Contra dance, Seeds of Peace International Camp.

Family contra dance at the Downeast Country Dance Festival.

~ MUSIC for THEATER ~

Fiddle and cello for Winter Solstice mummer's play at Portland Friends' Meeting.

Dancer and violinist, performance of new work choreographed by Marianela Boán and performed by students of the Bates Dance Festival, Lewiston, Maine.

Duets with Robert Earle on piano were the sound score for the musical "Quilters" at The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

Live music composition, arrangement and performance for Town Hall Theater Group performances in Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Bath, Farmington and Baily Island, Maine.

~ CONCERTS ~

CD release concert with Kittlish at One Longfellow Square (formerly the Center for Cultural Exchange), Portland, ME.

House concert of Hope's original fiddle tunes with Kittlish at The Two Echo Common House, Brunswick, Maine.

Concert of original tunes with Kittlish trio at the Common Ground Fair, Unity, Maine.

Concert of old chestnuts and original Maine dance tunes with Fred White on guitar, at the Downeast Country Dance Festival, Topsham, Maine.

Concerts of original tunes on viola and fiddle with Kittlish at the Rockland Public Library.

Several concerts of original and traditional fiddle tunes with Kittlish at Blue in Portland, Maine.

Concert of original and traditional tunes and ballads with Kittlish at Rock City Books & Coffee, Rockland, Maine.

Concerts of original fiddle tunes at Johnny D's club in Somerville, MA with Larry Burkett and Doug Protsik in 2006, and with Kittlish in 2007.

With guitarist Larry Burkett as part of the Waldo County Fiddlers' Showcase, a benefit for the Maine Fiddle Camp scholarship fund, at the Blue Goose dance hall in Northport.

Old-time fiddle and some singing as part of performances by Ken Waldman, the Alaskan fiddling poet, at Johnny D's in Somerville, MA, The Living Room in Manhattan, and at the Puffin Cultural Forum in New Jersey.

~ COMMUNITY EVENTS, FESTIVALS & RESTAURANTS ~

Dinner music for the Samoset Resort's member's banquet; Main Street Bath gala fundraiser event; Maine Downtown Center's conference.

Dinner music/concert for the town of Bowdoinham's Chicken BBQ at the Bowdoinham Community School; and wandering minstrels at Celebrate Bowdoinham festivals and at the annual Bowdoinham Plant Sale.

Acoustic string band music on the sidewalks downtown, as part of Bath Heritage Days.And, acoustic music for a few years at the downtown sidewalk art sales in Freeport, Maine, organized by Freeport Merchants Marketing Association, and also for the Camden, Maine sidewalk arts festival.

Festive acoustic music at the Crystal Springs farmer's market in Brunswick, Maine; Rocky Ridge Orchard in Bowdoin, Maine; the outdoor Bowdoinham Farmer's Markets; and a local foods festival at the Morris Farm.

Concert as part of the Barn Party, potluck and live music fundraiser for Goranson Farm.

Solo fiddle/violin at opening receptions for art exhibits at Eleven Pleasant Street Center for the Arts, Brunswick, Maine and Bowdoinham Gallery of Fine Artisans opening reception. Solo fiddle for Rotary Club International Dessert and Silent Auction, Brunswick; and at an open house at Quarry Hill in Camden, Maine.

Wandering minstrel-style solo fiddle for the Fourth of July celebration, at Old Fort Western historical center in Augusta, Maine.

String band music at the Brunswick Family Arts Festival, and in later years as part of Arts Downtown and All Around, in Brunswick and Bath, Maine.

Series of evening music performances at the Manic Cafe in Lewiston, Maine and at the Blackhawk Tavern in Wiscasset; series of lunch music at Cafe Creme in Bath, Maine; series of dinner music for the Vegetarian Delight Dinner at the Swedenborgian Church, Portland, Maine. And, St. Patrick's Day music at Freedom Café & Publick House at the Causeway in Naples, Maine.

~ CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS ~

Dance workshops and performances with live music for parents and children at the Long Island Children's Museum.

Workshop in creative movement and folk dancing with live fiddle and banjo music, Amhi Lodge, North Windham, Maine.

Traditional acoustic music and childrens' music and movement activities at the Old Port Festival in Portland, Maine.

Solo fiddle and narrative presentation for Upward Bound students, at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.

Family music workshop of creative movement and songs with fiddle and guitar at the Downeast Country Dance Festival, Topsham, Maine.

Concert at Family Arts Festival in Brunswick, Maine.

Old-time fiddling and some singing as part of children's performances by Ken Waldman in Manhattan at The Living Room, and in NY at the Long Island Children's Museum.

Series of Kids' Dance Parties (live fiddle and guitar music and an informal session of games, creative movement and simple traditional dances) at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick and the Children's Museum of Maine in Portland, Maine.