Notes from the Aisle Seat 2.15 - The ”Not Oppressively Formal” Edition

Welcome to Season 02 Episode 15 - the "Not Oppressively Formal" edition - of Notes from the Aisle Seat, a podcast featuring news and information about the arts in northern Chautauqua County NY, sponsored by the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Your host is Tom Loughlin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair Emeritus of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Fredonia.

This 90-minute special edition of NFTAS is dedicated entirely to the Concert for Carmen and Dick Gilman, which will take place on Sunday April 16, 2023, beginning at 2:00pm. The concert is being held to honor the contributions of Carmen and Dick Gilman, who have contributed so much to the life of the 1891 Opera House and the community of Fredonia-Dunkirk. They sponsor the "Folk in Fredonia" series, and have performed on the Opera House stage many times with the legendary Newton Street Irregulars. They were intimately involved with the restoration effort for the Opera House, and Dick Gilman served as the first Board President when the Opera House reopened. Carmen and Dick also created and ran the College Lodge Folk Weekends for many years, spawning the careers of several of this episode's guests.

This podcast features most of the performer who will part of Sunday's concert. They include Peggy Lynn, Dan Duggan, Chris Koldewey, Joy Bennett, and Dan Berggren. Janet Gilman, who is the daughter of Carmen and Dick, also shares some of her memories growing up in the Gilman household.

Time Stamps (Approximate):

• Peggy Lynn 2:25
• Dan Duggan 11:18
• Chris Koldewey/Joy Bennett 27:41
• Janet Gilman 50:12
• Dan Berggren 1:05:25

Artist links

• Peggy Lynn
• Dan Duggan
  • Jamcrackers
• Chris Koldewey
• Joy Bennett
  • The Johnson Girls
• Dan Berggren

Media Links

• "Track 02" (title unknown), The Comforts of Home, Carmen Gilman (year unknown)
• "April", Peggy Lynn (vocals/guitar), Dan Duggan (hammer dulcimer), recorded April 15, 2020; Peggy Lynn, composer, Quercus Music
• "Who Will Go WIth Me?", traditional sea shanty, Chris Koldewey (banjo), Joy Bennett (vocals), recorded at the Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs NY, Dec. 5, 2022
• "Trumpet Vine" (author unknown), The Newton Street Irregulars; Not Oppressively Formal, 1997; Carmen Gilman (vocals, hammer dulcimer)
• "What Will We Do With the Grape?" (author unknown), The Newton Street Irregulars, Not Oppressively Formal, 1997
• "When All Men Sing", English traditional ballad, live performance by the Newton Street Irregulars, 2006
• "A Little Bit of Cucumber" (author unknown), The Newton Street Irregulars, Not Oppressively Formal, 1997

The 1891 Run For the Opera House Information and Registration

Direct Link to the Registration Page

Dick and Carmen Gilman (photo courtesy of Joy Bennett)