Ti' Acadie
(It's pronounced "TEE ah kah DEE")

Pam and Jim and Bill have been playing traditional dance music together for over 15 years. They met when Pam and then Bill were asked to join the Maine contradance band, Scrod Pudding, in 1990.  Jim was already a Scrod Pudding member and the band mainly played old time tunes to accompany a clogging group. Pam was well known around New England as a mountain dulcimer player and dance fiddler, Jim was playing mandolin in the Howitzers Mandolin Orchestra and clawhammer style banjo in Scrod Pudding and *just* starting to learn button accordion. Bill was playing guitar and stand up bass and calling contradances mostly in New England.

In 1996, after a couple years of touring up and down the east coast,  Pam, Jim, and Bill put together a band for touring, school gigs, concerts and the like, and Ti' Acadie was born (actually they were PB&J at first, another "food band"!)  They specialize in old time tunes and songs with tight 3-part vocal harmonies, Quebecois dance tunes, New England contradance tunes and finally CAJUN MUSIC. In 1997 Pam and Jim attended Augusta Cajun week in West Virginia and were *hooked*, and in 1998 JimmyJo and the Jumbol'ayuhs was formed with Jim on accordion and Pam on fiddle. Bill joined the band as the guitarist shortly thereafter. Pam, Bill, and Jim have since journeyed several times to southwest Louisiana, to learn from the "masters" and to celebrate Cajun Mardi Gras.

There is a LOT of  anecdotal evidence of the connection between "Acadian" music from the Canadian maritime provinces and "Cajun" music from southwest Louisiana. After all, the Acadians are the ancestors, musically and otherwise, of the Cajun people. Since Acadia included parts of Maine as well, Ti' Acadie (French for "a little Acadia"), found themselves at one end of this great musical journey.  Did you know that Maine was the only state in the 48 mainland United States that is bordered by only ONE other state? Maine also borders on Quebec and New Brunswick and is a very short ferry ride from Nova Scotia, so it figures that the traditional music scene in Maine is full of French music from these three provinces AND Prince Edward Island. Many areas of the state were populated by French speaking people who emigrated from Quebec, New Brunswick, PEI, and Nova Scotia to work in the woods or in the textile mills. They brought their music and dance. Ti' Acadie has been playing this music for "evah" as we say here in Maine, but when they discovered Cajun music, they found a connection. Both musical forms are high in energy and highly percussive, coming from a people that worked hard and played hard. Pam and Jim and Bill are studying the relationship between the two musical forms and offer a concert, "the Acadian Connection" that demonstrates this.

And yet, sometimes they forget about all that Northern stuff and Jim will pick up the banjo, or Pam the mountain dulcimer and it's hoe-down time. Ti' Acadie's repertoire of old time southern Appalachian dance tunes and songs can fill up an evening or two all by itself! So come on out and take a listen to Ti' Acadie. These folks can put on a dance or concert that is true to the tradition and will make everyone want to get up and dance in the aisles!
 

Band members:

Pam Weeks plays many instruments; primarily fiddle, mountain dulcimer and singing with Ti’ Acadie, but also viola, Celtic harp, piano, guitar, mandolin, tenor sax, flute. Pam is well known as a contradance and Cajun fiddler in many ensembles and also as a solo mountain dulcimer performer. Pam has toured throughout the eastern U.S. with her bands, playing for contradances in 20 states and at festivals including NEFFA in MA, The Brattleboro Dawn Dance, The Folk Project music and dance weekend in NJ, the December Dance Delight in NC, and American Buffalo Dance Weekend at Buffalo Gap Camp in WV. She has taught and performed solo at CDSS Pinewoods Camp, the Lone Star State Dulcimer Festival in TX, and Dulcimore in OH, as well as other festivals. She is a juried member of the Maine Arts Roster (now called MaineArtistAccess), and gives performances and workshops in schools across Maine. Recently her love of Cajun music has her teaming up as fiddler with Ti’ Acadie members Bill Olson and Jim Joseph and others in Jimmyjo & the Jumbol’ayuhs, Maine’s premier and only Cajun dance band. Pam has made 3 recordings of her own: "Hear the Whippoorwill Sing" (1985), "Waiting for the Perseids" (1999), and "The Trestle Bridge" (2002), and has recorded one album with Scrod Pudding, "Food for Your Feet" (1995). She was also featured on the Boston Street Musicians recording, "Music in the Air" (1985), and on numerous recordings by other artists. Pam's recordings include many of her own compositions and clearly highlight her musical virtuosity and versatility. Her latest CD, "The Trestle Bridge", showcases her on mountain dulcimer playing Irish, Scandinavian, French Canadian, Old Timey, and original music. Pam is an accomplished tunesmith and has composed scores of tunes from lively jigs and reels, to entrancing airs and beautiful waltzes. Many of these tunes have been picked up by other musicians and are played throughout the U.S. and abroad. Her early musical influences and teachers include Alan Block (fiddle), Lorraine Hammond (mountain dulcimer), and Donna Hebert (fiddle). During the day Pam teaches music and voice in her studio at her home in Turner, ME, which she shares with a Border Collie named "Sadie" who often tours with the band, a cat, and several chickens (out by the garden!) For more info see Pam’s web page at www.pamweeks.com
 

Jim Joseph is another multi-instrumentalist. In Ti’ Acadie Jim plays primarily button accordion and 5-string banjo, but you will see the percussionist side of Jim on “les pieds” (feet) during French Canadian tunes, and spoons, dumbek, snare drum, jaw harp, fiddlesticks just about any time. Jim played mandolin in the Maine Howitzers mandolin orchestra back in the ‘80’s and started out on 5-string banjo playing bluegrass in the 3-finger style. He quickly changed to clawhammer style when he started playing with Scrod Pudding to accompany a clogging group. Jim started playing button accordion in 1994 and became proficient very quickly (he now owns 5 accordions!) He plays straight New England style and Quebecois for contradances, family dances and concerts and, of course, Cajun style for Cajun dances. In Ti’ Acadie, Jim sings too, and does a GREAT Limberjack demonstration!
 

Bill Olson is probably best known at home and abroad as a contradance caller and choreographer. His dance compositions are known for their high “potential” energy and excellent “flow”, and are called by contradance callers all over the world. Bill has called for contradances and at dance weekends and festivals throughout the United States, including the “Vernal’s Equinox” dance weekend in Florida, and the Buffalo Gap, “American Buffalo Dance Weekend” in Capon Bridge, West Virginia. Bill also plays upright bass and guitar and a little bit of fiddle. In Ti’ Acadie, Bill plays guitar or bass, sings and calls. Bill started dancing in 1976, calling in 1985, playing guitar in 1958(!), and bass in 1993. He has been singing all his life. When he moved to Maine in 1984 he started playing in a band that occasionally did some contradances. One time the caller didn’t show up, sooooo… “Hey, I can do THAT!”… For more info check out Bill Olson's Contra Corner at www.megalink.net/~pweeks/billscorner.html

The Possibilities

Contradances: Ti’ Acadie can play hard-driving Quebecois and Old-time music as well as smooth, mesmerizing jigs and reels to get dancers “in the zone”. Their repertoire includes traditional tunes, and recently composed tunes including many original compositions of Pam’s. For couples dancing they have an extensive repertoire of Waltzes, Polkas, Hambos, and Cajun 2-steps. Bill has a clear, easy-going teaching and calling style and a sense of humor that keeps everyone smiling.

Dance Camps and Festivals: Ti’ Acadie can play for the dance portion of a dance camp weekend/week or dance festival as described above. They can play for contradancing and then “switch hats” and play for a Cajun dance. They can also offer a wide range of workshops. Bill has done callers’ workshops, both “sit down” and participatory. Pam (the professional teacher of the group) is a master mountain dulcimer player and fiddler and has done workshops on both these and other instruments at festivals and weekends around the country with students of all ages.  In addition, the band offers “band clinic” workshops as well as instrument workshops including percussion for contradances – (all the rage these days!) and any of the various instruments they play. Finally there are Cajun dance workshops covering the 2-step, waltz, and Cajun swing. Ti’ Acadie can also put on a fine concert performance with dance tunes, NON-dance tunes and songs in 3-part harmony. Pam, Bill and Jim don’t stop with what’s on the contract either. Always wanting to meet new people and learn new tunes, at festivals you can find them in the hallways participating in a jam session; at camps singing or playing around the camp fire!

Family/community dances: Ti’ Acadie has worked extensively with school/family/community groups of all ages. They have often played for community celebrations like Franco-American festivals, Town Bicentennials, or Old Home Days. The dance music could be contradance tunes, Cajun or BOTH! Bill has a large repertoire of easy dances that are fun for adults and kids alike. In a typical dance of this type, Ti’ Acadie will vary the program with dances, songs, and musical demonstrations, often with audience participation.

Cajun dances: Aieeeee! Ti’ Acadie can play for your Fais Do Do! Cajun music is meant for dancing and Pam, Bill and Jim can get everyone up on their feet. They can do a workshop on some of the basic steps beforehand and play as a trio or often will pick up a local triangle player or drummer and/or a bass player. Either way they have a vast repertoire of traditional and modern Cajun 2-steps, waltzes, & blues numbers!

Weddings, anniversary parties, special events: Ti’ Acadie can play for your wedding or special party. They can play for the wedding ceremony, play background music during dinner and then get everyone up dancing afterwards. The PA system is available for your group to use and Bill can even M.C. the evening!

Concerts: Ti’ Acadie does a wonderful job of  engaging the audience in a concert setting. They have played for large groups and small; young and old; in schools, at folk clubs, festivals, and resorts and always get folks smiling.
 

Booking:

Ti’ Acadie would like a chance to perform at your dance, festival, weekend or other event. For more information or a demo CD contact:

Pam Weeks
212 Upper St.
Turner, ME 04282
(207) 225-2117
pweeks@megalink.net
www.megalink.net/~pweeks/tiacadie.html