Well I have to add my two bits. I had great fun being back at the festival this year as a performer. I haven't been in 10 years having gone every year before that for about 7. I got a nice "welcome back" from many performers and audience members and it was really heart-warming to recieve such a reception. Saw lots of old friends, made new ones and sang many chestnuts, both in workshops and in pub sings. Most humorous moment was "stealing" Bonny Ship the Diamond out from under Don Sineti's nose. We were doing a Whaling Songs workshop and Don, Ken Sweeney, and Margeret Macarther all went before me singing Arctic Whaling songs. I had several songs I wanted to do and the Diamond was one I had a new arrangement to try out. (no pun) So I announced that I was going to do the Diamond but since we just had all these Arctic Whaling songs I'll sing something else and do the Diamond next time 'round. On Don's next turn he looked me in the eye and said..."Well, I was going to sing the Diamond but since you reserved it..." He doesn't miss a beat.
Had a fabulous squeezebox workshop with one button accordian and Jerry Epstein, Ken Sweeney, Bob Webb, John Roberts, and me all playing concertinas. We all played Leaving of Liverpool together and none of us could hear ourselves play but we think it sounded pretty cool.
Highlight for me was hearing Serre L'Ecoute in the final concert. I've listened to that song so many times even my 8 year old daughter is singing it in the shower, the car, the swing, school...
Next year I hope to get back with my keyboard/guitarist partner, Kent Allyn, and do some fuller arrangements.
Ciao for now,
David