While we have enjoyed Bill Staines’ songs for decades, whether on recordings or by such people as Peter, Paul, and Mary, Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers, Nanci Griffith, Priscilla Herdman, Jerry Jeff Walker, and many others, he has seldom performed here in Southern California in recent years. Songs like All God’s Critters, The Roseville Fair, Child of Mine, and River, have become folk music classics. Composer David Amram once described Bill as “a modern day Stephen Foster. His music will be around a hundred years from now.”

After a few years of trying, we’re glad to announce that Bill will be making his Caltech debut at last! He mixes a few traditional and contemporary songs in with his outstanding originals, interspersing stories of the events and people that inspired these songs, as well as life on the road. Nanci Griffith once wrote, “Bill Staines has been my hero since 1977. He carries on where Woody (Guthrie) left off- carrying on the tradition of stories and characters you wish you knew.” The Washington Post wrote that he is “a craftsman who has cobbled together evocative details, pithy aphorisms and singalong melodies into a trunkful of unassuming, marvelous songs.” His fine guitar playing frames these songs perfectly. The consummate “musician on the road”, he continues to perform more than 175 shows a year and drives close to 70,000 miles getting to them. He is one of the most durable and beloved singers on the folk music scene today. Come and find out why. You just might find yourself singing along! His web site is www.acousticmusic.com/staines

Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for Caltech students and children. They can be purchased on the phone (626-395-4652) with a credit card (a service charge will be added per order), purchased at the Caltech Public Events Ticket Office in the Spalding Building (California Blvd. and Wilson Avenue) for face value (open Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 pm.), or purchased at the door for cash or check (no credit cards.) Online tickets can be purchased here (service charge will be added per ticket). Occasionally, a show will be sold out before the day of the show, so call the Ticket Office, if you are planning to buy tickets at the door. Better yet, join our mailing list and you’ll be informed about such situations ahead of time.

A bit more about parking if you haven’t been to one of our shows for awhile:  There will be the usual limited parking right behind the large Beckman Auditorium- It is OK to park in slots with names on weekends and evenings, but the lot may fill up, depending on what other events may be taking place on the Caltech campus.  This is the best place to park for the handicapped (try to come a little early- email us at [email protected] if you need help planning your visit). The parking lots between Michigan and Wilson have been  closed- a new building is rapidly rising at the southeast corner of Wilson and Del Mar.  The most reliable parking will be on Wilson Avenue, either on the street or in the two parking structures just south of Del Mar Avenue, across the street from Beckman Institute.   One structure is just north of the Institute at 341 S. Wilson Avenue, and the other, 405 S. Wilson, is just a bit south of the Institute.   Rest assured that after 5PM on weekdays, and all day on weekends, you can park for free in these structures, despite signs that allude to the more restricted parking rules during the day on weekdays.   You are permitted to park in slots that have names on them here as well.  From the structures, walk around the big lawn (much of which is currently fenced in for the building projet to the north) in front of Beckman Institute and you will recognize where to go.  On this map, we are suggesting that you park in structures #123 and #124 in the upper left.    Beckman Institute is building #74, just to the east (right).  If you need help figuring this out, try calling (626) 616-4559