Eureka Folk Music Society

The Eureka Folk Music Society started up twenty-three years ago this November. In the early days they met in the basement of the Creative Arts Center (before the renovation) and Ray Jacobs would bring wood to get a fire going in the stove three hours before the other musicians showed up.

Finally everyone agreed it was just too difficult and too cold so they began to meet in people's houses. But the EFMS doesn't just get together to play twice a month in an easy going jam. They also provide music to the community in so many venues. Members play at the monthly square dances that the Sunburst Community Service Foundation sponsors. There are also musicians from the group that perform at Community Soup Nights at the senior center and summertime at the Farmers Market. Some of them even brave the cold to carol in town each December. Truly this is a group of musicians who not only love music but are willing to do whatever it takes to get music into the community. Ray Jacobs has led classes to teach people how to build a Rocky Mountain dulcimer. Sally Beal taught a song writing course that produced some great tunes. There are too many members to mention in a short article but the people who come to the Monday evening EFMS jams are surely memorable. Karin Lamb plays harmonica and sings an outrageously funny crow song. Shirley Jacobs has everyone mesmerized with her violin. Mike Connelley seems to know every song from the 60s that you can think of and there's Emerson Roberts on drums. Al McCurry gets everyone laughing with his bawdy ballads and crying when he sings the blues. Visitors to the Monday night music gathering wonder how there can be so much talent in one valley. Is it the water?