Contra Carnivale
Contra Dance Weekend
January 16-18, 2026
San Luis Obispo, California
Registration Opens October 13, 2025!
(Learn about the 1/15/2026 Carnivale Appetizer dance)
The Bands
The RED CASE BAND plays textural and groovy folk tunes and original compositions from New England and beyond. Founded by upright Bass and Banjo player Stuart Kenney, this band weaves together banjo, lever harp, and accordion to facilitate a musical experience that will transcend the listener to greater depths, as well as combining fiddle, guitar, and bass for a more raucous good time. Along with Stuart Kenney, the band features Clara Stickney on fiddle and lever harp, Max Newman on guitar, Matt Kenney on percussion, and Alex Cumming on accordion and piano.
TOPSPIN
TOPSPIN is a new band made up of veteran dance musicians. Long-time collaborators Anna Patton and Owen Morrison (Elixir, The Figments) have teamed up with two of their favorite instrumentalists to create a dynamic contra dance experience. Emily Troll's (Anadama) powerful fiddling are adorned by Anna Patton's nimble and inventive clarinet. Owen Morrison's masterful guitar playing and Stefan Amidon's (The Sweetback Sisters) superb drumming combine for uniquely danceable rhythmic drive. While each band member is at home in many styles of music, a contra dance allows them to converse in their native language, providing a sonic tapestry in which dancers can interweave themselves.
THE DAM BEAVERS: Once upon a time there was a small rodent named Bevo who woke up suddenly one morning after having a really good dream. In this dream, he had seen dancers dancing and smiling together, all moving in sync to a three-piece band of beavers playing instruments. Bevo set out to find the musicians he had seen in his vision. He looked in rivers, lakes, and even ponds! To his dismay, he couldn't find any beavers that played music or even had any interest in playing an instrument. Since Bevo had already booked a contra dance weekend with his Beaver band, he called Ben Schreiber, Scotty Leach, and Ness Smith-Savedoff to fulfill his vision. Luckily, they all were super excited about Bevo's ideas. As Bevo hung up the phone, Scotty heard him exclaim, "Those Dam Beavers!!!" and that's how our name was born.
