Despite a very small number of attendees for this mostly free festival, it was a great time!

Saturday I went to the workshop on the "Naval Songs of the 18th Century" at the John Paul Jones house. It was a wonderful fun and informative program put on by Jerry Bryant.

The Friday night concert was outstanding, with Lou Killen, Danny and Joyce McCleod, Jeff Warner and Forebitter. I knew what to expect from Jeff and Lou, and they didn't disappoint - wonderful music from a couple of pros. The banter between them was very warm and funny, including many reference to speaking foriegn languages (Geordie) Well, there were three of them there!

The McCleods are outstanding singers with a repertoire of exraordinary old and new songs. They're former members of the group "Salt of the Earth" - bought the CD, love it - who sing with unaccompanied, with strong and true harmony. I got a chance to talk to both of them several times throughout the weekend, and came away feeling like I'd made a couple of new friends. They're incredibly warm and comfortable people to be around.

Forbitter just blew me away. Harmony, incredible energy, and voices to-die-for. They're the official Mystic Seaport singers, and they know their stuff.

Sunday was made up of free workshops in various locations. Jeff Warner had had the idea for this festival based on festivals in the UK, where events are held in various pubs and restaurants throughout a town. He got together with organizer Peter Constr...Costran...tino. (Well, I can't find any reference to him anywhere to check spelling, but he organised the whole thing!) I don't think many intentional listeners went to the events, but I was plopped in the sing-around for most of the day. We had a small but energetic group of singers, a few listeners, and a very good time.

Move on to the chanteyblast. The place it was held was outdoors. Earlier, I had a real problem because the stage was situated so the sun was directly in the eyes of the audience. Add traffic noise. (Naemanson mentioned the motorcyles on another thread.) By late early evening, the sun wasn't a problem, but the traffic (including the really annoying motorcycles) was still there. For some inexplicable reason, we had a B-17 flying in a pattern that brought it directly overhead. My personal opinion was, except for drowning out the traffic noise, there wasn't a real need to mic this event, or at least not as loudly as it was mic'ed. I love chantey singing when I can hear many voices, and I couldn't really hear anyone in the audience. It was a wonderful time anyway. The worst thing about it was it was far too short! (Next year, how about an hour or 3?)

And one last note (so to speak) Naemanson, where the hell were you?! I had my Mudcat T-shirt on, and thought I was standing right in front of you at one point, (did you talk to Jeff right before the chantey blast?) but figured if it was you, you'd see the shirt and say hi.