Saturday Market tunes shake off winter blues Festivities begin Saturday with fiddler Chip Cohen, followed by a variety of bands and musicians Jacquelyn Lewis Pulse Editor Eugene residents can be sure win ter is on its way out when Saturday Market reappears each year. Down town emerges from its rain-induced slumber, the block surrounding Eighth Avenue and Oak Street comes alive with the voices of local vendors and shoppers mingling with the sweet aromas of international foods — all against a backdrop of lively music. This year’s market opens Satur day, with festivities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and an eclectic lineup of musicians is scheduled to kick off the season. Fiddler Chip Cohen will open, followed by the middle school Cal Young Big Band, gypsy jazz band Hot Club Sandwich, Ac cordions Anonymous, and marim ba group Jenaguru Marimba. Co median Reverend Chumleigh will also appear on stage. Saturday Market promotions manager Kim Still said there are six music slots every Saturday, and each musical group usually plays for about 45 minutes, save for the two “special” spots, which perform for an hour and a half — a chil dren’s performance at 11 a.m. and a dance band at 3 p.m. Still added . that all slots are currently booked through July. Still said music has been an inte gral part of Saturday Market since its inception in 1970. “Any place that people gather to hang out, there’s going to be some one with a musical instrument who wants to hang out, too,” she said. Musicians who want to play at the market have two options. They can either send Still a demo tape or CD requesting a spot on stage, or they can simply “busk” — find an empty spot or corner to perform for passersbys. Jenaguru Marimba band member Craig LaFollette said the market is an ideal place for new musicians to gain exposure. Jenaguru Marimba, a high-energy group with stylings based on traditional Zimbabwean Turn to Tunes, page 8 Market continued from page 1 manager Kim Still said, adding that she expects 6,000 to 10,000 people on Saturday. The market features various handmade crafts, unique foods and jgP|dF®^ 2003 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON Get Ready for Summer! Plan Your Classes Now! The UO Summer Session Catalog with Schedule of Classes is now available on campus. The catalog contains important information about courses and special programs offered this summer, registration, housing, and fees. Registration starts May 5. book XOVJR SUMMER Here Now! Pick Up iO Your Free Copy Today Pick up your copy today in the Summer Session office, 333 Oregon Hall, or at the UO Bookstore Telephone (541) 346-3475 entertainment all day. Vendors sell everything from jewelry, clothing, soap and pottery to musical instru ments such as the didgeridoo and services such as tarot readings. Still said anyone who wants to listen to music and experience something unique to Eugene should come. “It’s such a Eugene thing,” Still said. “People from all sections of so ciety come.” Vendor Bill Allord sold leather products at the market in the 70s, and after a break, he returned in 1995 to sell Venetian glass tiles, pho to frames and wall mirrors at his Shining Star Mosaic booth. “It’s a great meeting place for peo ple,” Allord said. Glenn Kreiss, who has sold fused glass at his glassdance booth since 1997, said he enjoys the no-pres sure environment of working only one day per week and meeting his customers in person instead of sell ing in a gallery. “I like to connect with people who buy my glass,” said Kreiss, whose product is similar to stained glass but is fused in several layers without seams between the panes. “It’s a festive environment — and there’s low overhead.” Kreiss added he enjoys the food and his vendor neighbors. “We’ve all become friends,” he said. “We cry on each others’ shoulders when we’ve had a bad day and celebrate when we’ve had a good day.” Kreiss said there are good deals, but that buyers must know several things: what they are looking for, and to take time to examine the quality. “There’s things that look very good but may fall apart,” he said. Still said that while the market opens at 10 a.m., people should come early to walk around and get a sense of what is being sold. The market is open until 5 p.m. every Saturday through Nov. 15. Contact the reporter atromangokhman@dailyemerald.com. OREGON UULYEMERAU) Your source for exclusive on-line polls Slllllil Him . %?!.: J aid M www.dailyemerald.com www.dailyemerald.com