Old Soles | Patio Stage

The Miners Foundry Cultural Center is pleased to present Old Soles, live on the Patio Stage on Saturday, August 26, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.  The Miners Foundry features a no host full bar and snacks available for purchase.  The Patio Stage offers mixed standing and cabaret table seating.  No Cover Charge.

Old Soles

Old Soles is the duo of Masha and Geff Crawford. With deep roots in both Appalachian and Irish music, the husband-and-wife duo like to keep things fun. “After all, that’s why they call it *playing* music!” In addition to traditional fiddle tunes and haunting, lyrical ballads, they’ve been known to sprinkle in selections from Bessie Smith, Kate Wolf, John Prine, the Grateful Dead, and Groucho Marx.

Masha Goodman Crawford began playing clawhammer banjo and Irish tinwhistle and calling contra and square dances in the 1970s. A two month European vacation turned into 14 years in England and Ireland, including several years living and traveling in a horse-drawn Romani wagon. Stories and songs from those days often feature in her performances. She has performed and taught at the University of Chicago Folk Festival, Eastbourne Folk Festival, Dún Laoghaire Fraochan Festival, Cheddar Folk Festival, and many more across the US and Europe. She was a founder of the Chicago Barn Dance Company and toured for 7 years with the Winter Night’s Yeow! show. With degrees in ethnomusicology and theatre, she loves to introduce newcomers to the delights of traditional music and dance.

Geff Crawford has been playing Old-Time fiddle for over 50 years, and banjo, guitar, ukulele & jaw harp, too. He lived for a time in England, becoming friends with Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger and guest hosting their renowned London Singers Club, and travels regularly to West Virginia, the PNW, and Ireland, all to play, study, and perform traditional fiddle music. Prior to joining Masha as the duo Old Soles, Geff performed with the Blarney Brothers and Orange Possum Special. A kindergarten and first grade teacher for 32 years, Geff plays school assemblies, teaches fiddle privately and at Music Camps, leads contra dance bands, and writes some very funny songs.

Geff and Masha have entertained together at venues from the Strawberry Music Festival (for 20+ years!), Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention, and the CBA Father’s Day Festival, to leading a barndance on a Seine river barge in Paris. They moved to Grass Valley in 2018 and are, in their own words, “beyond thrilled” to be part of the thriving and friendly music scene in Nevada County.

Contact Info

Please contact our Box Office at [email protected] with questions.