West Coast Ragtime Society
Dedicated to the preservation and promtion of Ragtime and vintage American music.

This page updated 11/10/2011
Previous update 10/3/2011

2011 Festival XXV Information
November 18-20, 2011

NOTICE! Festival rooms at the Red Lion Hotel are Sold Out.
Additional festival lodging is available at the Best Western Expo Inn. Click here for information.

First A Little Fanfare The Society produces the world's premiere annual ragtime festival in Sacramento, California, the ragtime capital of the world! The Festival is the best and biggest ragtime festival in the world.  There's lots and lots of great music from the finest musicians and groups available spread over three days in convenient multiple venues, including dancing, at a very reasonable price.  It's well managed and financially sound. No other festival offers such a terrific program!

Expect A Great Time At The Festival Don't expect to wait around to hear ragtime! It begins Friday at noon and goes until 11 PM and continues Saturday from 9 AM to 11 PM and Sunday from 9 AM until 5 PM. And you can expect after-hours Ragtime Friday and Saturday nights from 11 PM to, well, let's say late.

You do have to make choices.  We have six venues all on the ground level with five of the venues in the same building. The sixth venue is less than a minute's walk from the main building. We run the venues at the same time. We rotate the closing of the venues for short periods to rest and tune the pianos. And open during the Festival is our Ragtime Store where you can purchase music and recordings of our performers.

Last Year's Festival For an idea of a West Coast Ragtime Festival, be sure to check information (e.g., performers, schedule, etc) on last year's Festival. Also check back and take a look at pictures from the Festival.

This Year's Festival The 25th annual West Coast Ragtime Festival will be  held November 18, 19, and 20, 2011 at the Red Lion Hotel Sacramento in Sacramento, California. The Festival begins at noon Friday November 18 and ends at 5 PM on Sunday November 20.  

Details On the Festival Click on the links below to obtain specific information.

Questions? Click here to email a request for Festival Information, We respond!

General The Festival is held at the Red Lion Hotel Sacramento. The Festival has become one of the premiere ragtime festivals in the world. It began in the mid 1980's in Fresno, California and enjoyed 10 successful years there before moving to Sacramento in 1997 where it has been a  great success.

The 2011 Festival will feature six comfortable venues, all inside and on the ground level, for listening and dancing to ragtime music on all three days, as well as seminars on all facets of ragtime. Five of the venues are in the same building and the sixth venue is less than a minute's walk from the main building.

The music begins at noon on Friday and continues until 11 PM, followed by after-hours.  Saturday is a full day from 9 AM to 11 PM, then after-hours,  and Sunday is 9 AM to 5 PM.  After-hours jam sessions Friday and Saturday are always the norm at the Festival.

To request information not found on this web site, you may contact Bub or Petra Sullivan at 1-866-RAG-WCRF (724-9273), or you may send an email by clicking here..

Pre Festival Warm-up We will again have a free, no-host pre-festival warm-up beginning at 7:30 PM on Thursday evening November 17, 2011 in the J.B.'s Lounge. While 7:30 PM is the official start time, J.B.'s will be open from 4:00 PM on, so, the party can start whenever people arrive. There will be no charge or badges required. Pianos will be provided.  It is open to all:  ragtime fans, the merely curious, musicians (of course),  and passers by.

 

Festival Volunteers

Volunteers are the backbone of the Society. We welcome volunteers to assist with the festival. Volunteer services are needed prior to, during, and after the Festival. Volunteer activities include Door Monitoring, Musician Hospitality, and Other. Volunteers who serve a minimum of 12 hours during the festival (or immediately before or after the Festival) will receive an All-Events pass to the festival. Those who cannot serve 12 hours may serve one 4 hour shift on any day of the Festival and receive free admission for that day.
The Volunteer Coordinator is Linda Kuk. To volunteer contact her by clicking here to email a request for Volunteering  Information, or sign up at the Registration Table, or drop us a note at WCRS – Attention: Volunteer Coordinator, P.O. Box 13346, Sacramento, California 95813. Include your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. Also, indicate the volunteer activity you prefer. You will be contacted to confirm your preference for the type of volunteer service you can do for the festival and to work out your schedule.

Admission & Badges Admission to the performance venues is by use of Festival Badges (your badge is your ticket). A badge entitles the bearer to attend any function. Badges are not required for the Ragtime Store. Festival badges may be purchased for individual days or for the entire three days.

Badge Prices

All-Event Badge (Until Nov 1, 2011*) $90.00
All-Event Badge (After Nov 1, 2011) $95.00
Friday Only  Badge $40.00
Saturday Only  Badge $50.00
Sunday Only  Badge $30.00
Friday-Saturday  Badge $75.00
Saturday & Sunday  Badge $70.00
Late arrivals after 5 PM, badge prices are 1/2- price. Available at the registration table only. 
Children 16 and under may attend free (no badge required) when accompanied by a paying adult.
Day badges for adults bringing children under 16 are half price.  The half-price discount is available at the registration table only, and the child must be present at the time of purchase.

* Cutoff dates are by postmark.

Badges may be purchased any of four ways.

By Mail with personal check or money order

Click here for printable order form.

Online using PayPal
What is PayPal? To find out, click here.
Click here to order 2011 badges now with PayPal.
Don't have PayPal? Sign up during checkout.
By phone using your credit card. Visa and MasterCard only. Call 9 AM to 9 PM (PDT) 415-924-6834 or toll-free 1-866-724-9277
At the festival. Purchase your badge at the door. Cash or credit card accepted.
 Visa and MasterCard only.

 

LODGING
Red Lion
Red Lion Hotel festival rooms are SOLD OUT. However, arrangements have been made with nearby Best Western Expo Inn for additional festival lodging. See below for details.

The Red Lion Hotel Sacramento, 1401 Arden Way, is the official festival hotel for the 2011 Festival. They are offering a block of rooms at special rates if reserved prior to Nov 1, 2011.

Reservations phone number: 1-800-733-5466 (RED-LION) or 916-922-8041. Make sure you identify your reservations as being for the "West Coast Ragtime Festival" in order to get the special festival rate.

Room Size

Special Nightly Rate

Single or double occupancy

$99.00 - Sold Out

Triple or quadruple occupancy

$109.00 - Sold Out

ADDITIONAL FESTIVAL LODGING - Best Western Expo Inn
Festival lodging is available at the Best Western Expo Inn on nearby Howe Ave.
$89.00 room rate includes shuttle service to and from the festival.
Contact: Best Western Expo Inn
1413 Howe Ave.
Sacramento Ca 95825
916.922.9833
800.780.7234

Food Service

  • Garden Coffee Cafe 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
  • Bar service from 3:00 PM to 2:00 AM
  • A buffet will be located next to the restaurant. Open for breakfast 7-10, lunch 11- 3, and dinner 5-9.
  • A "Ragtime Cafe" will be located near the festival venues and will feature ready-made hot and cold items for cash sale.
  • A variety of restaurants is nearby, including several in the shopping mall adjacent to the hotel.

RV Parking Parking for recreational vehicles are available within the vicinity of the Red Lion Hotel Sacramento. Below are some of the available options which were available for the 2010 Festival. 

Red Lion Hotel Sacramento: On site dry DAY PARKING ONLY  for RV's is available at the east end of the parking lot. The fee is $25 for the Festival (fee is unconfirmed - check with hotel). You must register with the hotel (916) 922-8041 (local), .(800) 733-5466 toll free.

Cal Expo RV Park: RV parking is available on the grounds of the California State Exposition which is located about a five minute drive from the Festival. The nightly cost for a full hookup is $20 for a 30 amp hookup and $22 for a 50 amp hookup. To reach the park from the hotel, go east on Arden way to Ethan Way. (domed cinemas). Turn right to end of Ethan Way. Entrance is on the right. To contact the park, write to Cal Expo RV Park, PO Box 15649, 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95852. Or call (916) 263-3187 or toll free (877) 225-3976. Reservations are recommended. You may also visit their website at: http://www.calexpo.com/html/rv_park.asp

Elks Lodge - Carmichael: RV facilities are available for  Elks members at the Carmichael Elks Lodge located about 20 minutes from the hotel. Contact Elks Lodge, 5631 Cypress Ave., Carmichael, CA (916) 428-8296.

TTN/NACO Members: RV facilities are available at  Lake Minden which is about a 30 minute drive from the festival. Contact them at Thousand Trails, 1256 Marcum Rd., Nicolaus, CA; 95659 (530) 656-2700 or (800) 656-5006; or visit their website.

Travel To The Festival

By Air: Several major air carriers serve the Sacramento International Airport and shuttle service (Super shuttle - the blue vans) to and from the hotel is available.

By Car: The festival site (Red Lion Hotel Sacramento) is located on Arden Way adjacent to the "Capital City Freeway" (business I-80). Use the "Arden Way" exit either from the north or south and go east. The Red Lion Hotel Sacramento is located on the north side of Arden Way next to the Arden Fair Shopping Mall. Click here for driving instructions.

Official Travel Agency: NOTICE: Miyamoto Travel Service is no longer available. A new travel agency has not yet been secured.

Venues The six performance venues and a general layout of the hotel are shown in the Venue Map below. The various venues are described to the below. Click on the map to open a larger, printable version..

The Martinique Room is the largest venue of the festival, seats approximately 400. Headline performances and special concerts are presented in this venue. Equipped with two grand pianos. Dance floor is 40 by 24 feet.

The Yosemite Room is another fine venue for featured players & groups .Equipped with one grand piano (Disklavier) or one upright piano. Seats approximately 100.

The Sierra Room is another fine venue for featured players. Equipped with two small grand pianos. Seats approximately 180.

The Comstock 3 Room is not as large as the other venues,  but some of the fine music and entertainment presented there in the past made it feel like a grand concert hall and often made it SRO. Sets are 30 minutes in this venue compared to the 45 minute to one  hour sets in the other venues. The room is also used for Open Piano Sessions. Equipped with two upright pianos. Seats approximately 80.

The Camellia Room is another large concert venue for music and special events.  Seminars will be presented Saturday and Sunday in this venue. Equipped with two pianos. Seats approximately 200.

The J.B.'s Lounge Seating at tables and individual chairs for approximately 250 people. Dance floor in front of the stage. Dancing permitted in this venue. Equipped with two pianos. This is the venue for Dancing Instruction and After Hours.

Comstock 1 & 2 – Ragtime Store During the Festival the Ragtime Store is open in the Comstock 1 & 2 Rooms. This is where you can purchase the recordings and music folios of the Festival performers. For a complete listing of vendor and store hours, click here.

Dining The hotel has a very nice Garden Coffee Cafe open from 6 AM to 10 PM daily, offering a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner items plus a convenient buffet during all three mealtimes. Additionally, a "Ragtime Cafe" will be located near the festival venues and will feature ready made hot and cold items for cash sale.  Also, there are many restaurants from "Fast Food" to "Fine Dining" within walking distance of the hotel.

Performers Check the 2011 Festival Performer Pictures Page, which has small pictures of the performers.  The page also provides links to biographies for the performers.  New performers will be announced throughout the year. The current list of performers that will appear at the Festival are below.  indicates that the entry has been added with this update.

Individual Performers

Meredith Axelrod
San Francisco, CA
Jeff Barnhart
Mystic, CT
Tom Bopp
Fish Camp, CA
Nan Bostick
Menlo Park, CA
Chris & Jack Bradshaw
Gilroy, CA
Tom Brier
Sacramento, CA
Bill Clark
Denver, CO
Jared DiBartolomeo
Pleasant Hill, CA
Neville Dickie
London, England
Richard Dowling 
New York, New York
Phillip Dyson
London, England
Marty Eggers
Oakland, CA
Ann Gibson
Oakland, CA
Gary Greenlund
Virginia City, NV
Rosemary Hallum
Alameda, California
Frederick Hodge
Berkeley, California
Brian Holland
Grapevine, TX
Martin Jaeger
Zurich, Switzerland
Morten Gunnar Larsen
Oslo, Norway
Carl Sonny Leyland
New Cuyama, California
Dave Majchrzak
St. Louis, MO
Larisa Migachyov
Palo Alto, CA
Jack Rummel
Niwot, CO
Christoph Schmetterer
Vienna, Austria
Squeek Steele
Virginia City, NV
Virginia Tichenor
Oakland, CA
Stephanie Trick
St. Louis, MO
Craig Ventresco
San Francisco, CA
Maurie Walker
Denver, CA
'Washboard' Kitty Wilson
Los Altos, CA
Tex Wyndham
Mendenhall, PA
 

Youth Performers

Maurice Imhof
Zurich, Switzerland
Vincent Johnson
Sierra Madre, CA
Valerie Kazik
Zurich, Switzerland
Max Keenlyside
Charlottetown, P.E.I., CA
Frank Livolsi
Peace Dale, RI
Will Perkins
Riverbank, CA
John Reed-Torres
Los Angeles, CA
Adam Swanson
Shenandoah, Iowa
Groups
Cali-CO Ragtime Quartet
CA and CO
Big Mama Sue & Fast Eddie
Santa Cruz, CA
Crown Syncopators
Berkeley, CA
Ivory & Gold Trio
Mystic, CT
Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra
Pacifica, CA
Porcupine Ragtime Ensemble
Sacramento, CA
Ragnolia Ragtette
Gilroy, CA
Ragtime Skedaddlers
Albany, CA
Raspberry Jam Band
Auburn, CA
St. Louis Ragtimers
St. Louis, MO
Sullivans/Drivons
Sacramento, CA
 

Seminar Leaders & Topics
Click here for seminar descriptions.

Jeff Barnhart
"How Did We Get from Ragtime to Jazz?"
Stephen Kent Goodman
"Getting Published by Major Houses – What Every Ragtime Composer Needs to Know"
Carl Sonny Leyland
"History of Boogie-Woogie"
Will Perkins
"2nd Generation Stride Pianists"
Don Franz and the St. Louis Ragtimers
"History of the Goldenrod Showboat"
David Reffkin
"Highlights from 30 Years of 'The Ragtime Machine' Radio Broadcast"
Youth Master Class
Richard Dowling
Silent Movies
Click here for movie info.
Frederick Hodges
Dance Instructors & Accompanists
Bruce Mitchell
Cool, CA
Richard Duree
Costa Mesa, CA
Stanley Stern - Los Osos, CA and Marti Lindholm - San Luis Obispo, CA
(Piano Accompanists)

Special Shows (§) and Theme Sets () Click here for Times, Place, and Descriptions.

Annual Meeting  The Annual Meeting of the Society will be held on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 8:30 AM in the Yosemite Room. There will be an election of individual 2011 Directorships. Voting is by WCRS members only.
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Dance Instruction Dance instruction is held on all three days of the Festival in J.B.'s Lounge

Open Piano Open piano will be held throughout the Festival. Open Piano is a chance for ANYONE to get up and play--even if you only know one number!  To sign up, see the MC, who will take your name, tell you when it's your turn to play, and introduce you. The schedule will be announced later.

After Hours  After hour sessions, another festival tradition,  are held Friday and Saturday from 11 PM till the wee hours in the J.B.'s Lounge. All are welcome to play and socialize, with the only "rule" being to yield the stage after a reasonable time if someone else is waiting for a chance to play.

Ragtime Stores Visit the Ragtime Stores in Comstock 1 & 2 for all your ragtime music needs.  Performers’ recordings, folios and more are available will be available. For a complete listing of vendor and store hours, click here.

Friday Noon to 10:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Post-Festival Party and Dinner  A perfect way to wind-down with friends and performers is the post-festival party and dinner beginning 5:30 PM Sunday in the Coffee Garden Restaurant. Click here for more information.

More Information If you haven't found the festival information you were looking for, click here to email a request for Festival Information, You contact us by phone; the Sacramento area number is (916) 457-3324 or you may call toll-free at 1-866-724-9273. To contact us by postal mail, click here for the address on the Contact Us page.

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