GottaGetGonFestival
May 24-27, Memorial Day Weekend
Saratoga County Fairgrounds
Ballston Spa, NY.
www.caffelena.com/psg/GGG_festival2x.htm
After we published our first festival issue last year, we recieved an e-mail
from an organizer connected with the GottaGetGon Festival proclaiming its
merits and asking that we include it this year. Once we found out that it's held
at the Saratoga Fairgrounds, we got a clear picture of why this one gets high
praise. We've been there for a few jazz fests and know that it is indeed a beautiful
setting for any musical event. This one describes itself as a folk festival with an
old fashioned small town atmosphere.
Chris Shaw
Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem
Pete Watkinson
Wintergreen trio
Gail Griffith (dance caller)
and more…
Included at GottaGet… we're always happy to see this group.
A long-time favorite from the days of Salamander Crossing,
Rani Arbo and the members of Daisy Mayhem
14th annual Appel Farm
Arts & Music Festival
Saturday, June 1st
457 Shirley Rd. Elmer, NJ
www.appelfarm.org
Every year we hear about great performers at this festival, but other obligations continue to
prevent us from making this one. That doesn't have to be the case for our readers.
If Jackson Browne has a lick of sense, he'll find a way to get Kelly Joe Phelps to back him up
on a few songs. That goes for all the other performers as well. That would sure as hell make my day!
Web site info tells us to expect Acoustic folk and blues musicians on two stages.
The festival includes a Crafts Fair and a Children's Village.
Patty Blee
Entrain
Kelly Joe Phelps
Grey Eye Glances
Jackson Browne
4 Way Street
Da Vinci's Notebook
Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer
Guy Davis
Nerissa & Katryna Nields
Jonatha Brooke
Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival
June 15 & 16 10am-Dusk
Croton Point Park - Croton-on-Hudson, NY
On the Shores of the Hudson River
www.clearwater.org/festival.html
Into the storm
The 2001 Clearwater Festival began on a sunny Saturday afternoon, but, overnight,
the skies opened up. When we returned on Sunday afternoon, rain was still falling.
The campground got flooded as well as many basin-shaped areas of beautiful Croton Park.
While there's something nearly unstoppable about every folk festival, where weather
is concerned, there's a certain poignance to the way The Great Hudson River Revival
Festival, with it's environmental themes bounces back after a tempestuous outburst
by Mother Nature.
During the flood, some fireworks
One story that had people in stitches was the one relating how an unfortunate camper
tried to relieve himself through the front door tent flap at night during the storm, just
as a bolt of lightning struck. While he felt the jolt through pretty much through all parts
of his body, he emerged unhurt. Feel free to use your imagination here in exploring the
aftermath possibilities. Ouch!!
After the flood
Patient festival goers were rewarded. About 2pm on Sunday, the sky cleared and
Croton Park basked in a glorious golden glow. It was fun once again to peruse the
environmental exhibits -- home-grown ways to save energy. Also, once again, we
were sobered to see the displays of all the endangered or extinct species of wildlife
that are shown every year.
This festival is always a "don't miss" for us.
The juggling instruction area alongside the river always provides a picturesque
example of the freewheeling attitude of this joyous festival.
The kids always know how to make the best use of Mother Nature's gifts.
In addition to a children's playground, the storytelling area provides an additional
enticement for family festivalgoers
We're always inspired to see Pete Seeger moving through the concert grounds,
engaging in conversations with various people. Looking good, Pete!
The 2001 festival saw the continued emergence of Erin McKeown.
She continues to amaze audiences with her off-beat contemporary songwriting
and prodigious guitar chops. An avowed student, she has smoothly incorporated
a vintage 40's guitar style into her performances.
The impressive roster of stars this year includes:
Richie Havens, Maria Muldaur, John Hammond, Alvin Youngblood Hart,
Dar Williams, Pete Seeger, John Gorka, Tom Rush, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason,
Bread & Puppet Theater, Donna the Buffalo, The Nields, and many more.
Old Songs Festival
June 28, 29 & 30, 2002
Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, NY
www.oldsongs.org/festival.html
Each year here is a cornucopia of variety and this year is no different.
We're taking special note of this year's inclusion of the legendary
Tom Paxton, soulful Anne Hills, Italian flatpicking madman Beppe Gambetta,
and the deliriously funny poet, Les Barker.
The encapsulated description on their web site states that we get:
• Folk, Celtic & world music in a pleasant outdoor setting. Family-friendly!
• Pre-festival 2-hour Classes, Friday afternoon
• Friday & Saturday evening concerts followed by late-night contra dancing
• 9 performance areas feature mini-concerts, music sessions, participatory dancing,
learn-hows, storytelling & singing
• Crafts, great food, children's activity area with music, puppets, and "jesting"
New Bedford Summerfest
July 12 - 14
New Bedford, MA
www.ultranet.com/~koro/summfest.htm
Of all of our yearly crusades, Summerfest at New Bedford is always such an amazement.
The price is a ridiculously low $7 (up from it's original price of $5)! Accomodations range
from area hotels and inns to campgrounds (our choice).
This is one of those festivals where the food is almost as much a draw as the music. In the
cobbled streets of the National Whaling Historical Park sector, there are a slew of restaurants
and we've yet to find a bad one. Of course, the $7 button gains one access to the dockside
with its main attraction big tent & the bigger acts -- plus that's where to get the festival scallops
or fried fish dinner.
The showcase/workshop tents in the cobbled streets have no checkpoint, but only a curmudgeon
would fail to buy the button. Volunterr workers will ask politely if you've "gotten your button yet?"
The small tents consistently bring the intimacy of a coffeehouse to a festival that keeps growing bigger every year.
One of the workshops we'll be looking forward to is on Sunday afternoon from 4 to 5'oclock
at the Hiller Stage: "A Monday Night at Jack's Place: a singer/songwriter get together with
Jack Hardy, Lucy Kaplansky, Ellis Paul, Colleen Sexton and Susan Werner! See you at Jack's!
At the Custom House Stage early in the 2001 festival we got up close to two of the very best
in blues, Paul Geremia and Chris Smither, as they fine-tuned before a performance.
The pinnacle of each year's Summerfest, for us is the jaw-dropping, toe-tapping, gut-busting
comedic and inspired leadership by fiddler Johhny Cunningham at the gathering of all the
Celtic and Celtic-related (usually French Canadian) artists for a huge jam. With the command
of a symphony conductor, Johnny pulls artist after artist to the forefront of this always talent-packed
gathering. The comination of fiddlers with their jigs and reels is dizzying. It always leaves us feeling
elated and wishing that next year's festival was being held the following week.
At the grand finalé Celtic Extravaganza, members of Whirligig, Lisa Gutkin and Greg Anderson,
can be seen at left in this photo. Leader Johnny Cunningham is behind the mic.
Festival organizers Alan and Helene Korelenkos said last year that they'd eliminate the usual 4th
of July crush of prior years by holding their festival during "the 2nd weekend in July every year
from now on."
Joe da 'Luz and Michael Roussos agree that Summerfest is a "unique blend of music and cultures
and its workshops produce magical moments you can't find anywhere else. It's a tribute to the
Korelenkos that they've been able to build a national festival in what was a very depressed area."
Art Tebbets, host and performer: "It seems that each year I see a bunch of old friends and
I'm introduced to new talents."
My significant other, Viki, sits at our favorite spot in our favorite coffee shop, The Java Bean.
The coffee's great, the food is good and the service is fast and gracious.
For 2002:
Rory Block
Michael Cooney
Johnny Cunningham
Cliff Eberhardt
Vanida Gail Group
Jack Hardy Band
Lucy Kaplansky
The Kennedys
Patty Larkin
Matapat
Ellis Paul
Garnet Rogers
Richard Shindell
Livingston Taylor
April Verch Band
Susan Werner
Brooks Williams
and more!
2002 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
July 18, 19, 20, 21, 2002
Ancramdale, NY
On the Rothvoss Farm
www.greyfoxbluegrass.com/begin.cfm
One of the highlights of our first trip to Grey Fox was the sight of a wedding
that took place at the Festival, complete with its own tent, music, and formal wedding
party. Both bride and groom had been attending the festival for many years and decided
that it was the perfect place to get married. Sunset scenes of the bride and her wedding
party dancing together gave witness to an ecstatic delirium.
Last year was our first trip to this prestigious, hard-core bluegrass festival. We were able
to attend for only Saturday and Sunday of this four-day spectacle, but it confirmed its
status as a shining example of the genre.
When we got to the festival grounds, were were shown to the newly established lower
campground, just past the barn and silo at the entrance.
This lower campground remained fairly empty during our stay, while the upper campgrounds
surrounding the main festival area was "RV city," crowded to capacity with Winnebagos and Campervans.
We finally got to see the charismatic festival founder and leader Ron Thomason of Dry Branch
Fire Squad. While generally humorous throughout every performance, showing remarkable
comedic instints, Ron showed his serious side as well.
Relating an incident where a fellow "Christian" had spoken scathingly in regard to the gay
community, he delivered an inspiring message about acceptance, asking the audience to wonder
what kind of "Christian" would adhere to that intolerant attitude, considering that Christianity
itself began as a host of outsiders fighting intolerance. Dry Branch then performed a Gospel song
to complete the statement.
Ron Thomason, during some between-song patter, with Dry Branch Fire Squad
We also got to see Doc Watson, The Del McCrory Band, Tim O'Brien and Peter Rowan among
others.
If bluegrass is your thing, here in the northeast, this is the place to indulge in it.
Bluegrass Academy for Kids is an intensive four-day program that teaches kids (ages 5-17)
how to play, sing and perform bluegrass music. We got a taste of how seriously the kids
regard their participation Take a look at these faces!
We bumped into our friend Matt Winters (left), former manager of the
Postcrypt Coffeehouse, at Columbia University and still a DJ at the radio station there.
His dad, Steve, at right is the the host of the longest-running folk show in Connecticut:
"Profiles in Folk" on WSHU-FM, Fairfield. Together we reached the earth-shattering
conclusion that bluegrass doesn't get any better than The Del McCroury Band, below left.
Del and his boys were a highlight last year and will be back for Friday this year.
Orrin Starr, a national flatpicking champion demonstrated the roots of bluegrass picking at
the workshop tent.
At a jam featuring audience members, instruments of every variety were seen thoughout the hillside.
For 2002:
Hosted by Dry Branch Fire Squad (All 4 Days)
And featuring:
Ricky Skaggs &
Kentucky Thunder (Sat)
The Sam Bush Band (Fri)
Rice, Rice, Hillman
& Pedersen (Sat)
Nickel Creek (Thu)
The Del McCoury Band (Fri)
Seldom Scene (Sat)
Natalie MacMaster (Thu)
Tim O'Brien
with the Crossing (Fri)
Lonesome River Band (Sat)
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
July 26, 27, and 28
Long Hill Farm in Hillsdale, NY
www.FalconRidgeFolk.com
For us city-dwellers, the thing to remember about Falcon Ridge and its sister festival Winterhawk 2000,
is that they take place in the higher altitudes of the Berkshire Mountains. This means that the choice
of clothing taken to be worn must range from the shorts and t-shirts to deal with the heat of day and
ski wear for the plummeting temperatures at night. This varies year-to-year, but the entire temperature
range must be planned for. One year, after the evening concert ended, my wife and I rode around for an
hour, trying to get warmed up, using the heater in our car. We finally lay down in our tent, fully dressed,
under several blankets. The glory of the setting and the wealth of talent makes it all worthwhile.
Dining Around
Like just about everyone, we think the food on the festival grounds is quite good. The coffee (2 coffee bars!)
is first rate -- we love the pizza, the breakfast wraps, and the cajun dishes. Breakfast is served in the main food
tent and is in the "organic, healthy" style If you're staying off festival grounds and want a breakfast of the
standard sunnyside-up egg variety, we recommend the Dutch Treat about a mile west of the Long Hill Farm.
They're very friendly, the food is good and the service is prompt.
If you're lodging more toward Great Barrington, Mass., we like Union Bar & Grill (especially the Cuban Sandwich!)
at 293 Main Street in Great Barrington, and for a special treat, reserve a table at The Castle Street Cafe at
10 Castle Street (left at the junction of Rtes 23 & 7 - Main St. - left on Castle St. off Main.
Some of the most special moments occur on the workshop stage when artists combine their talents. Here,
John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, Vance Gilbert, and Christopher Willliams weave magic.
Don Semmens of Richmond, Virginia stopped by our booth and remarked:
" It took me eight hours to get here. Falcon Ridge is reallly special. There are other festivals nearer to where
I live but not like this. I hope to make it every year.
I really liked your showcase. Andy and Denise were great."
At an Acoustic Live workshop, in front of our booth, Chris Chandler delivered socio-political rap/poetry
in a blistering rant. The magnifying glass of truth he held over the habits and mores of American society
produced smoke trails from the ashes of our preconceived notions.
The Friday afternoon New Artist showcase introduces the audience to brilliance twenty-five times over.
One such light belongs to Keith Greeninger whose aching vocals find their mark in your heart.
In addition to the acts listed in the Falcon Ridge /Winterhawk ad in the monthly sponsor section,
our friends, the talent-laden "Live from New York" will be appearing with Edie Carey, Teddy Goldstein,
Andrew Kerr, Anne Heaton and Sam Shaber
Winterhawk 2000
August 2, 3, 4,
Long Hill Farm
Hillsdale, NY
www.Winterhawk2000.com
Some followers of these twin festivals, occuring on back to back weekends at the Long Hill farm in Hillsdale,
want to see them joined together as one big festival with their adjunct singer songwriter/roots-rock themes.
Perhaps a day or two of rest in the middle of the week. Last year, some of the highlights of this more roots-rock
oriented festival included Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men (my god, can he rock!)., Steve Forbert, aiding
Greg Brown on a Rolling Stones cover, and Guy Clark, reducing an audience (and some performers) to tears
and a standing ovation when he sang "The Randall Knife" at the workshop stage.
He only seems bigger than life, but he's just like you and me,
and don't tell him otherwise because he's not into adulation.
After a brief hiatus from the Falcon Ridge Festival, fan favorite
Greg Brown returned to Long Hill Farm in 2001 via Winterhawk.
And he's back playing Falcon Ridge this year.
Brooklynite Don Duggan danced with his daughter during a Commander Cody set
after winning our first-ever tee shirt raffle at last year's Winterhawk 2000 Festival.
This year, we'll be holding raffles (free) at both Falcon Ridge and Winterhawk announcing
a winner each day. Look for the Acoustic Live booth and enter!
Dave Alvin and his band, The Guilty Men provided the pinnacle of roots rock. Although the night was chilly,
Dave rocked hard enough to sweat right through his denim shirt.
The legendary Guy Clark appeared skeptical while participating in a "workshop." Maybe he thought it was
too much like a showcase. His "Randall Knife" blew everyone away, just the same.
Philadelphia Folk Festival
August 23,24, 25
Old Pool Farm
near Schwenksville, PA
www.folkfest.org
This year marks the 41st anniversary of this venerable event. This is the only festival that we go to that features
closed circuit TV with large screen projection on both sides of the stage. At night, everyone on the big hillside
gets a close-up look at the performers, at times, right down to which fret the lead player is fingering!
Our second trip to the annual Philadelphia Folk Festival as reporters for Acoustic Live saw a continuance of a
now-favorite trip through the festival campground and we hope to make this pilgrimage every year.
"Theme Camping" is a Philly tradition
The line-up is aways filled with the very best in folk-- trad or contemporary.
Arlo Guthrie, shown here with his daughter Sarah (his son, Abe performed as well), during his set on Saturday.
Arlo often shares memories of what was the most fun of the 1960's era and he's always inspiring.
Chris Thile of the white-hot trio known as Nickel Creek, really pours himself into a number, giving us a
graphic look at what it feels like to make a joyous sound.
Charles Nolan, on the right, here with his son, David, said,
"This is my first Philly Folk Festival. I'm Camping with the Azzoles.
It's the best late-night jam in the place --70 tents --
about 8,000 guitar players, dulcimers …you name it. "
Geoff Opresnick and Mike Thornton added:
"This place is run better than any military operation."
"I enjoy the people, the peace of mind."
5th Annual Rythmn & Roots Festival
August 30,31, Sept 1
Ninigret Park/Charlsetown, RI
www.rhythmandroots.com
Spread the word.
Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll has been replaced by Food, Dancing and Rythmn and Roots.!
(Well… there's bound to be a little sex thrown in, of course). Cajun and Zydeco music have a way
of leading to… other things…
Labor day weekend. This year. Again.
Time to party!
Every year that we attend R&R, we find ourselves riveted by the sight of a tall man in western boots
and a stetson, moving more gracefully than anyone else, to the syncopation of the Zydeco beat.
It's Murphy Matthews, who lives in Corona California, but is originally from Louisiana.
His mother taught him how at the Church halls when they held dances. he says that in the "old days,"
people danced together to a "3-step" version but at some point, they "turned it loose," and began dancing
apart, to the now, more popular "2-step" version. Murphy has melded his initial discipline into his own
version of the 2-step.
He knew Franklin Jowaski, the promoter of the Cajun & Bluegrass Festival,
the precursor to Rhythm & Roots. (That festival was held in Escoheag, RI., at the Stepping Stone Ranch.
When Franklin stopped doing that festival, Chuck Wentworth, who had done the booking for
Franklin for many years, along with a partner, Mary Doub, started Rhythm & Roots.
They held it the first year at the Stepping Stone Ranch and then moved it to Ninigret Park)
Murphy attended the festival at Escoheag for 7 or 8 years before the the evolution of the new festival
(more roots-style music added ) which moved to Ninigret Park.
Murphy attends 5 or 6 festivals each year, including the one in Sparks, Nevada. He also organizes one in
San Diego, California.
Appearing:
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
Balfa Toujours
Delbert McClinton
The Radiators
Beausoleil
The Iguanas
David Bromberg
Jay Ungar &
Molly Mason
and many more!