Jon and I have been hearing about Mystic for decades and have always wanted to go. This year we finally got the chance and were blown away.

We arrived Friday to a warm welcome from everyone we met. During the concert the audience sang along like they knew the songs. It felt, in fact, like the people who come to Mystic are not really an audience; they are participants who merely happen to sit in front of the stage rather than on it. We�ve never sung to a more well-informed audience. We were really impressed that the Friday and Saturday evening singing sessions were open to anyone, unlike most festival where they�re restricted to performers and volunteers. And free beer all evening � what a treat!   We were amply lubricated for the singing, which was fabulous. For us these singing sessions are one of the main reasons we come to festivals; the other stuff is gravy. The venue was perfect � big enough to accommodate everyone but not too big, and the acoustics were great. The fact that it was right next door to Albion House where we were staying was a real bonus.

Having the symposium as part of the festival is a wonderful idea. It gives depth to the weekend and allows history geeks like us to do something we love. Again, we were impressed with how well-informed the people who came were and we could have kept jabbering all day if it weren�t for all the other interesting things happening.

We think what makes Mystic special is that it has a focus. The people who organize it care about the history and music of the sea, as do the people who come. This creates a community of interest, which is palpable when you�re there. At most music festivals the performers are performers and the audience consists of consumers who pay money come to watch them. At Mystic the content of the festival along with the site attracts people who are interested in maritime history, and if they�re not, the environment can�t help but spark an interest.

Anyway, enough burbling. Thank you to Craig and all the others who made it happen and we look forward to seeing you all again.

Rika Ruebsaat