Dark of the Moon Contra-Band

Past performances

• Busking for Books, State Street, Madison, Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Earth Day Celebration, Madison
• Pancake breakfast, Maple Sugar Festival, MacKenzie Environmental Center, Poynette, Wisconsin
• University of Wisconsin Arboretum enrichment program
• Brooklyn (Wisconsin) Elementary School Pioneer Days
• Central Wisconsin Center, Madison
• Dane Co Friends of Ferals breakfast
• Kindergarten contra dancing, Monona, Wisconsin
• Westside Farmers' Market, Madison
• Luther Memorial Church dinner, Olbrich Gardens, Madison
• Harvest festival, Eplegaarden, Fitchburg, Wisconsin
• Barn Dance, Arena, Wisconsin
• Bean Sprouts Cafe, Middleton, Wisconsin
• Midsommar Festival, Vasa Park, South Elgin, Illinois
• Wisconsin Film Festival, "Fishin' for Tradition," Monona Terrace, Madison (soundtrack recording)
• Golden Options, St. Coletta Campus, Jefferson, Wisconsin
• St. Patrick's Day meal, Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, Madison
• Crossroads Coffee House, Cross Plains, Wisconsin
• The River Food Pantry, Madison
• Pancake breakfast, Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society, Madison
• Hilldale Farmers' Market, Madison
• Open mike, Indigo Coffee House, Verona, Wisconsin
• Wedding dance, Deerfield, Wisconsin


Bonnie, Rebecca, and Mary at Vilas Park

• Scandinavian Festival, Hales Corners Lutheran Church, Hales Corners, Wisconsin
• Hootenanny, MacKenzie Environmental Center, Poynette
• Neighborhood picnic, Marlboro Park, Madison
• Luther Memorial Church centennial picnic, Madison
• Quizno's, Hilldale Shopping Center, Madison
• Wild Hog in the Woods Coffeehouse, Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center
• Wedding dance, Devil's Lake State Park, Baraboo, Wisconsin
• Birthday party contra dance, Memorial Union, Madison
• Wild Welsh Weekend, Madison, Wisconsin
• Hurricane Katrina benefit at Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society, Madison
• Wedding dance, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
• Community Car picnic, Vilas Park, Madison

In a Wisconsin Public Radio studio: Arlene, Mary,
Rebecca, Inna, host Jonathan Overby, Ingrid, Bonnie
• Kaffe Stue, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
• Anniversary dance, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, area
• Higher Ground radio program, Wisconsin Public Radio
• Contra dances, Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society, Madison.
• St. Patrick's Day event, East Side Businessmen's Association, Madison
• Peacemakers' Ball, Union South, Madison, Wisconsin
• Singalong, Northern Highland/American Legion State Forest, near Woodruff, Wisconsin
• Old Time Fiddlers' Convention, Grundahl Park, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
• Hawthorne Playground Fundraiser at Harmony Bar, Madison
• Madison Senior Center
• Barn Dances at Hoofers Equestrian Center, Belleville, Wisconsin
• Wisconsin State Parks Centennial Kickoff, Capitol, Madison
• Uplands Old Time Music Jamboree, Mount Horeb
• Intergenerational parties, Prairie Unitarian-Universalist Church, Madison, Wisconsin
• Monroe Street Festival, Madison
• Wedding and reception, Madison
• Apple Festival sponsored by Northside Senior Coalition, Madison
• West Side Senior Center, Madison
• Atwood Summerfest, Madison, Wisconsin
• Prairie Gardens home, Sun Prairie
• Acewood Park, Madison, sponsored by Elvehjem Neighborhood Association

Maple Fest, MacKenzie Center, Poynette, Wisconsin
(Inna, Bonnie, Rebecca, and Mary)
• Contra dance, James Reeb Unitarian-Universalist Congregation, Madison
• Open Mike, Victor Allen's Coffee House, Monroe Street, Madison
• Skaalen Home, Stoughton, Wisconsin
• Private campout, Hillsboro, Wisconsin
• Birthday party, Hillpoint, Wisconsin
• Birthday party, Poynette
• Madison Marathon
• Border's Book Store (East), Madison
• Birthday party, Monona, Wisconsin
• Town of Dekorra Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Celebration
• Wisconsin Sesquicentennial square dancing, Capitol Square, Madison
• Community Shares campaign kickoff, Madison
• Dane County Farmer's Market, Capitol Square

History

Dark of the Moon Contra-Band grew out of the initiative of several women who were closely associated with Apple Island, Madison's women's space. One had attended a contradance in Paoli with a band including Mike Briggs and caller Norma Briggs and was so taken by the community feeling that comes with this kind of dancing that she thought there ought to be a women's contradance band and regular contradancing at Apple Island.

Eventually an ad was placed in Isthmus newspaper, and several women showed up for the first practice in January of 1995. The new band, as yet unnamed, played for a number of women's contradances at Apple Island. After Apple Island lost its lease, the band played for dances at places like Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center and Grace Episcopal Church and at various festivals and parties.

Original band members were: Myrtle Wilhite (fiddle), Peggy Lewis (oboe), Katjusa Cisar (recorder), Becky Leidner (guitar and banjo), Susie Grindrod (recorder), Anna Bose (fiddle), and Mary Mullen (guitar and harmonica).

Other women who have played in the band are: Ingrid Lind-Jahn (fiddle), Ann Pooler (guitar), Debra Amesqua (guitar), Marjorie Ward (mandolin, guitar), Mary Waller (fiddle, accordian), Jenn Wilgocki (fiddle), Karen Fischer (fiddle), Jennifer Parke (fiddle), Karen Steinle (fiddle), and Arlene Sykora (bass).

E-mail Mary Mullen and Bonnie Gruber for more information or to schedule a gig.
Last updated May 2, 2009
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