Welcome to the
Santa Monica
Traditional Folk
Music Club!

Going strong since 1978.   2024— our 46th year!

GUESS WHAT?!!!!??? As of March 2024, we’re meeting IN-PERSON!!!
For all the details, scroll down to the bottom of this page.

On the first Saturday of each month,
somewhere between 20 and 70
folk musicians and singers gather in a circle at our club
to make that magic combination of music and words —
traditional folk music.

May the circle be unbroken.

The Santa Monica Traditional Folk Music Club invites you to join us
on the first Saturday of each month from 7-10pm for a sing-along/a hoot/a jam!

Bring a friend
          a song
          an instrument
or come to enjoy and to join in the chorus!

Children welcome!

$5 at the door, if you can afford it.

We may be holding our annual White Elephant Sale again this year ~
So collect your new or gently used treasures
of a ♪ ♫ musical nature once we’ve decided on the month.
and help us make a few months rent ~

2024 is is Our 46th Year…

edible instruments unite!

banjocake004

MONTHLY THEMES ~ many thanks to Janet Cornwell

~ the following song themes are suggestions only to get your musical juices flowing ~

December 2023

  • The colors silver & gold
  • Gifts & giving
  • Bells & chimes

THEMES FOR 2024

~ the following song themes are suggestions only to get your musical juices flowing ~

January 2024

  • Hard times
  • Soldiers
  • Hot food & drink

February 2024

  • Lost love
  • Babies & children
  • Preachers & other clerics

March 2024 ~ Our 46th Anniversary meeting!!!

  • Roads & Highways
  • Water birds
  • Police & firefighters

April 2024

  • Spoofs & parodies
  • Teenagers
  • Politicians & officials

May 2024

  • Flowers
  • Seduction
  • Industrial workers

June 2024

  • Good times
  • Cowboys & cowgirls
  • Snakes

July 2024

  • Parents
  • Sleep
  • Athletes & sports events

August 2024

  • Beaches, shores
  • Farmers & country folk
  • Laziness

September 2024

  • Dancers & dancing
  • Rocks (and rock!)
  • Field work, workers

October 2024

  • Philosophy/musings
  • Doctors & nurses
  • Roving & wandering

November 2024

  • Old age
  • Prisoners & criminals
  • Parties

December 2024

  • Trees
  • Musicians & singers
  • Paper, ribbons & bows

……………………………………………………………

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

THE SANTA MONICA TRADITIONAL FOLK MUSIC CLUB is once again in person!

We can’t wait to see you…especially since we’re celebrating our 46th birthday this month!

When?

Saturday, March 2nd, 7-10pm
We meet the first Saturday of each month.

Where?

The Church in Ocean Park
235 Hill St, Santa Monica, CA 90405 (The corner of 2nd Street and Hill Street.)

Note: We meet in the main room of the church, which can be reached via stairs or an elevator.

Cost of admission?

Our rent has gone up, but we still charge just $5 for a one-time admission, or $50 for the year.

  • Checks to: SMTFMC, mailed to SMTFMC 1097 Aviation Blvd, Hermosa Beach CA 90254
  • Paypal: @AprilWayland (write SMTFMC in comment section and if your name isn’t fully spelled out on your Paypal account, write your full name in the comments, too)
  • Venmo: @April-Wayland-1 (write SMTFMC in comment section and if your name isn’t fully spelled out on your Venmo account, write your full name in the comments, too)
  • We are a 501c3 non-profit; contributions are tax deductible.

Will it be on Zoom, too?

The Zoom option is not yet available…but it’s in the works!

Parking:

Able-bodied folks: please park  on side streets or, just two blocks toward the ocean, there are paid lots. (The church lot is just east of the church’s main building near the church-owned little cottage…but that’s only a few spaces. Please save those spaces for those who can’t walk far.)

Our themes for March 2024:

  • Roads & Highways
  • Water birds
  • Police & firefighters
  • bonus theme: Birthdays

If you have any questions, contact  aprilspencil [at] G Mail 

………………………………………………………….

Come play along and bring a song!

Click here for a snapshot of who we are, our mission, and our membership application.
(We encourage you to attend a meeting or two before becoming a member)

TO ALL BOOKING AGENTS AND PERFORMERS:
Please note that we are a group of friends who come together to make music. We do not put on concerts as a result of agent or performer solicitations.

If you’d like to join us in music and song on the first Saturday of the month, please contact us. But if you are contacting us in the hopes that we will put on a concert, please don’t.

*   *   *   *

The Beach Cities Folk Music Club (little sister to the SMTFMC) is just down the freeway–we get together on the third Tuesday of each month at a private home in Manhattan Beach.

So–if you’re in the L.A. area, join us on both the first Saturday or the third Tuesday of any month!

“When people ask, ‘Whatever happened to folk music? Do you think it will become popular again?’ I look at them dumbfoundedly and then I invite them to the Folk Club. I take great pride in being able to show them a place where traditional folk music lives in the hearts of ordinary people–strumming away and singing along.” ~ Ross Altman, full-time Folksinger/Songfighter & President of the Santa Monica Traditional Folk Music Club

Folk Links — in no particular order

For more information:
aprilspencil [at] G Mail [dot] com (founder & folk club Mom, April Halprin Wayland)
Santa Monica Traditional Folk Music Club
1097 Aviation Boulevard
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
FAX: (24 hours) (310) 379-4523

The Santa Monica Traditional Folk Music Club is a 501c3 non-profit # 33-0335698