Skamokawa Swamp Opera

Skamokawa Swamp Opera

If you can’t quite wrap your head around the meaning of “swamp opera” and you aren’t sure how to pronounce Skamokawa… you should’ve been here.  Last night in our living room in Oysterville!  But wait!  You have another chance to see the exact same show.  Read on.

First of all, for those of you who don’t live nearby, according to Wikipedia Skamokawa (ska-MOCK-a-way) is an unincorporated community in Wahkiakum County.  Skamokawa is a Chinook term for smoke or fog on the water. Skamokawa rests on the banks of the Columbia River and on WA4.  The town includes a post office, restaurant, and general store, along with a nearby historical museum and covered bridge. It is a local center for kayaking and fishing.

Andrew Laying Down a Cello Track for New CD

Or to many of us Southwest Washington locals, Skamokawa is where Andrew Emlen lives (with his family on a small farm) and works (as a Kayak Guide and Roads Scholar Expert) and makes music as a composer, singer, and player of many, many instruments – cello, mandocello, banjo, guitar and  “Oh, darn.  I forgot my Jews Harp in F#,” he said at one point.  “Now that’s not a sentence you hear every day,” commented an audience member.

Andrew has a way of gathering other like-minded (serious, zany, talented, learned) musicians together and making music of infinite variety. His cohorts in the Swamp Opera are Kyleen Austin (guitarist, composer, and the opera connection), Erik Friend (multitalented percussionist, tenor, mandolin player) and Jillian Raye (banjo player, singer and dress-up princess extraordinaire). Their genre, according to their Face Book page, is Folk/Historical/Rock/Opera.  Last night we heard two operatic areas, a little bit of Motown hip-hop, some 19th century Voyageur songs and, not to forget some of local singer/songwriter Mary Garvey’s local history compositions.  A fabulous show!  We didn’t want it to end.

A Capella: “Going Down in the River to Pray”

But the good news is that on Sunday, February 5th, the SSO will be in Astoria at the Performing Arts Center “doing almost the exact same show,” according to Andrew.  Address:  588 16th Street.  Tickets are $15 at the door.  And the other good news: they have thirteen songs “in the can” says Andrew and it looks like an April release date for their new CD.  Stay tuned (as they say.)

3 Responses to “Skamokawa Swamp Opera”

  1. Sandy Nielson says:

    Those of us who have had the wonderful opportunity to hear Andrew Emlen’s “new” group signed on early to last Sunday’s concert and were once again rewarded with an afternoon of music that amazed and transported the listeners. Sydney and Nyel’s house was bulging at the seams with loyal fans who got what they came for—–beautifully crafted and performed music that spanned genres and centuries leaving the listener breathless at such virtuosity. There were 25 pieces performed (yes, I kept track!) and talking with Andrew today, I learned that the Feb. 5th concert in Astoria will feature about half of last Sunday’s group with the remainder to be new to loyal fans. Andrew hopes there will be dancing in the aisles….. I can hardly wait!

  2. Elsa Wooley says:

    We are interested in booking the Skamokawa Swamp Opera for our next season in Clatskanie at the Birkenfeld Theatre. The ideal date would be a Sunday afternoon in March, 2024. Please contact me at the email address above. Wondering what your artistic fee is.

    Thanks. Looking forward to hearing from you.

    Elsa
    Clatskanie Arts Commission

  3. Elsa Wooley says:

    Please connect with me about details of your upcoming performance in Clatskanie on March 10. Do you have a press release, tech requirements, hospitality needs.

    Thanks,

    Elsa

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