Old Songs Festival 2001 - YES!: Part II

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Peg
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 11:35 PM

I say we camp around Barry and his family!

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Barry Finn
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 12:05 AM

Ok, we hope to be there some time early afternoon. I'm pretty easy (I heard that Kendall). Barry

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Hollowfox
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 10:35 AM

I plan to camp between the 'Chucks and the concert/crafts area, kind of near the pavilion where they have workshops (Area 3?). There'll be a dark blue minivan with Ohio plates, and we'll be getting in sometime Thursday. I tend to visit elsewhere more than sit at the campsite, but if I'm there, stop in!

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 06:33 PM

Bring (in no particular order):
Something to sit on
Flashlight and BATTERIES (won't need it for getting around, just finding stuff in your tent or car)
Bug stuff
Sunscreen
A hat would be good
Rain gear. Lots and lots of it.
Towel, washcloth, soap, shampoo, and all that sort of stuff
Enough sweaters or jackets.
Snacks for when you're hungry at 4AM, the food places are closed and you're not quite crazy enough to cook something.
Towlettes or baby wipes (those moistened thingies) can come in handy
Headache stuff/stomach stuff/prescription meds
A water bottle, or you can buy one and keep refilling
The thing I most consistently forget: hammer for tent spikes

I hope to get there early Fri afternoon. I'll probably forget to pack my clothes. ;-)

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Midchuck
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 07:26 PM

Two hats. One for sun and one for rain. Of course, a good, properly broken in cowboy type hat will do both.

P.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: kendall
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 07:34 PM

I always have a hammer Jeri, never go anywhere without my tool box.

Saw a button once that said IF I HAD A HAMMER THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY FOLKSINGERS

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 08:59 PM

If I had a hammer, I could solve every problem in the world, if it were a loose nail.

Sounds like you're all gearing up for some fun! However, I think I'll spend a nice quiet week-end at home, reaquainting myself with my wife who has been held hostage by the Maine legislature for the past six months. I expect a very detailed report by 8 AM, Monday morning!

Don't forget to look inside your sleeping bag BEFORE you leave for the festival, to determine what odd things you stored in there last time and forgot to remove after returning home.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Dharmabum
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 09:46 PM

Duct tape.......Duct tape.......duct tape.......

Camping tip, 1 gallon plastic milk jugs,fill with water,freeze,now you've got a block of ice for the cooler,as it melts you've got drinking water.

Arriving Thursday.

I'll be in the quiet at night section. Maroon minivan with a blue canopy next to it. Green/yellow tied dyed banner(old sheet actually)with the words DHARMABUMS across the bottom.

DB.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Midchuck
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 06:58 PM

I hope it's cooler than this, or I'll be hauled off to prison for nekkid.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 07:04 PM

Bring more food than you think you'll need. Dharmabum's water suggestion is great. Jeri's list is definitive.
I will look for the Finns and/or Dharmabum, whoever I find first. Unless I get there before you do- around 1 pm, probably. Sm white Subaru, packed to the gills, and since my last post I've acquired a second 12 year old girl!

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: bigchuck
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 07:15 PM

Glad to hear about the 12 year olds (shut up, Peter). My oldest granddaughter will be 12 next month and always likes to meet new friends. The Woodchuck compound will start to go up on Thursday as soon as they open the gates.
Sandy

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Jeri
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 07:48 PM

This crazy woman has been known to dump water over her head and most other parts in an effort to cool off. It works quite well, but wouldn't it be nice if they had sprinklers set up?

Midchuck, the next closest thing to nekkid is a lightweight cotton skirt. If you'd like to borrow one, let me know. (I have seen men wearing them at Old Songs, especially when dancing.)

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Midchuck
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 08:51 PM

That would do more harm to my public image than nekkid would!

P.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: MMario
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 08:55 PM

looks like I'll be one of the later ones there - probably 5-ish on friday....save me a spot! (tents only 4 x 6 so shouldn't be hard.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Peg
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 09:08 PM

men at pagan getherings wear skirts and sarongs all the time...rather sexy, like a kilt...

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: kendall
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 09:18 PM

I havn't worn a kilt since 1965, but, if they are all made of wool, forget it!

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 11:33 AM

If anyone is flying in (or passing by) Albany Airport, I have an old roommate who is coming to Old Songs, and wants to bum a ride from the airport to the Altamont Fairgrounds. He lands at 4:50 p.m. on Friday. If this is consonant with your travel plans, I'd be obliged if you could send me a personal message, and arrange for a passenger.

(I'm coming up from nether-Maryland, and my trip is so long that my arrival time in the Albany area is too unpredictable to schedule a pick-up.)

-Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Dharmabum
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 04:02 PM

There is a possibility I won't be able to leave for Old Songs until later in the day Thursday,4or5 pm. It's about a 4 hour drive for me,more if traffic's heavy.
How strict are they about not letting people into the campgrounds after 9 pm?
Should I just plan on Friday morning? Is there still plenty of space left,or is it the California gold rush?

DB.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Midchuck
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 04:17 PM

The California Gold Rush is Friday mid-to-late afternoon, peaking later in the evening, when the people who had to work a full day Friday and wouldn't take a vacation day for one reason or another, get there.

I'm not sure about the after-nine strictness issue.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Dharmabum
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 04:56 PM

Thanks Peter,

Sound like Friday morning is still a safe bet. If it comes to that.

Db.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Susan A-R
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:50 PM

We probably won't get there until 4 or 5 on Friday, so if someone in the quieter section of things could save us a spot it would be ggreat. I'm not sure what Pam drives. Something Maroon and small, I know, but what model is beyond me. I hope it's not this hot!! I have just spent the day frying Ethiopian flat bread, and feel kinda like a limp, moist morsel myslef. It's shower and bed time, but I'm beginning to dream of lots of music day and night, fiddle and singing, maybe even a bit of dancing . . .

Say MMario, next time you head to VT for something like that, PM me and I'll get my sorry self over to it.

Where IS that park anyway??

Susan

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: bigchuck
Date: 16 Jun 01 - 07:11 PM

Less than a week to go. OHBOYOBOYOBOYOBOY.HEHEHEHEHE.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Jun 01 - 12:25 AM

Well, hell. I thought I had posted to this thread. I saw Jeri and Karen K today and they informed me that I was expected to show up at Old Songs.

And that ain't gonna happen.

I have to be in Virginia this week. I'll have a brief visit home and then I'll be off to Pennsylvania for the next week. These are business trips and they cannot be avoided.

There seems to be some cosmic rule that everything has to happen at once, preferably on Old Songs Weekend.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Jun 01 - 11:34 AM

Dharmabum, I'm not sure about this. Maybe you'd be better off going to the Old Songs website and e-mailing them using the address there. I believe there is no one at the gate, and I believe they have one of those blocking arm thingies.

I don't know what sort of a set-up you'll have, but if it's mobile enough, you could always stay in the parking lot the first night. You can walk in and out of the gate, just not drive.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: GUEST,piglet
Date: 17 Jun 01 - 10:00 PM

Hi all,

okay- so I wsound like a newbie. I just came across the old songs festival information. My background is more early music ( recoarder) singing ( badly), english country dancing ( also badly-- but who cares,, its FUN, right?:)than folk music. And I didn't notice a really clear itinerary on the festival site. Can anyone who has been to the festival give me some idea what it is like? I am trying to figure out what would be good to attend, since I am not that far away, and don't know anyone who is attending-- so will likely commute it.

thanks

Teri, aka piglet [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Jun 01 - 10:32 PM

Piglet, you know people now! If you go, just stop by the Folk Legacy booth and mention Mudcat, or look for the t-shirts.

As for the festival, the schedule is a bit too complicated to post. There are 10 areas, not counting the scheduled jams and the Children's Corral. One area has dancing going on all day, both days. The dancing includes Playford dances, French and Breton dance, Swing dance, English Country dance (Sun, 110 - 12), and huge contra dances after the concert on Fri and Sat nights.

While the folk music may not be the early music you're familiar with, the festival is FUN. There's always something going on, whether it's scheduled or folks just sit around talking and/or singing.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Midchuck
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 07:51 AM

...and, in some cases, drinking...and planning for the maximization of accessibility of sanitary facilities.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: kendall
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 12:09 PM

Look at it this way, there is nothing about the festival that is not good.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 12:18 PM

There is one thing that is not good. I won't be there.

(Be kind, guys...)

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Burke
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 01:59 PM

Piglet, when you go the concert Friday night & you'll get the whole schedule & short descriptions of all the groups. After the concert head to the dance area for some contras. A lot of EM people like shape note music so be back on Sat. morning at 9:00 for Peter Amidon's session in the sheep barn. Then look at the schedule for where & when groups will be that you heard Friday & want to hear again, or who you think you'll like based on the descriptions. I think there's almost always some English country dancing during the weekend as well.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: kendall
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 02:20 PM

That's a bummer Brett, you have my sympathy. Well, maybe I wont have a very good time, and, I'll tell you about it!

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 03:05 PM

We'll miss you, Brett!
My living room is full of camping gear, the weather forecast is not too bad (yet) and I'm getting ready!

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 03:06 PM

Go ahead and enjoy yourself as much as possible, Kendall. I'm not bitter about it. After all I am going to the Wedge Rally on Saturday, and next Tuesday I'll be visiting with Max at Mudcat Central.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Midchuck
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 04:01 PM

Tonight I blow up the new double air mattress to make sure it works - after the kittens have been put to bed for the night, behind a latched door.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 04:32 PM

Have a ball and sometime next month when you've recovered from post-festivities depression, tell us all about it.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: zoogma
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 04:42 PM

now zoogma formerly piglet- (a taken nickname).

thanks for the encouragement guys. of course, I wouldn't recognize any of you based on your postings...

how much are contra and early dancng alike? does anyone out there do both and have a comment?

Also, is there a grounds rule on pets? I could possibly camp over, if I didn't have a canine to worry about. Also, is there a good/safe place, away from theft/ heat to keep things? I wanted to bring my recorders- three very good ones, but worry about anything happening to them.

thanks all

Teri

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Hollowfox
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 04:53 PM

Hi, Zoogma. No pets allowed, I'm afraid. There might be an instrument check there, but if I can't be protected from the heat, then neither can your recorders. Do you have a carrying case? Will it fit in a knapsack or tote bag? Anyway, it will be good to meet you.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: zoogma
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 05:02 PM

hi hollowfox..

you mean you don't have your super duper infrared heat shield that comes in a box of crackerjacks? You can also get one if you save a gazillion box tops of chocolate frosted cocoa bombs. oh well:)

as for heat protection-- good places out of direct sun, provided it is under 90 degrees will probably keep safely.

bummer on the pets-- I know humans who should be kept leashed, but we let them wander around loose.

BTW- I don't suppose any of you are attending the Pinewoods events this summer? the early music and dance week, in particular...I am always on the lookout for anyone doing early music stuff-- even if well.. I do totally suck at it-- the one good thing about the early early stuff.. is there is no one left alive to tell you if you're getting it right or not.. like- who's gonna know?

Teri

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Burke
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 05:16 PM

Contra's pretty much a straight decendent from English Country. Generally it's faster & more energetic. Swinging instead of 2 hand turns. It's all longway's sets instead of some of the shorter 3-4 couple sets you have in early. The figures are similar but contra's are generally a bit simpler & not quite as many. Almost all the dances are walked through once or twice before the music starts. You shouldn't have any trouble picking it up. The floor is concrete so don't bring your good dancing shoes.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: zoogma
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 05:39 PM

hi again-

don't know if these links are redundant, but thought some of you might like them.

CDSS country dance and song society- dances include traditional dances (contras, New England and Appalachian squares, traditional English community dances, English and American step and clog dances); historical dances (English country dances from the 17th to 20th centuries and Early American country dances from the Revolutionary era); and seasonal display dances (morris, rapper, longsword and garland). folk music, ballads and songs; traditional and historical dance music; regional styles of vocal and instrumental music; and early music for period instruments and voice.

http://www.cdss.org/

early music america http://earlymusic.org/content/home.asp

http://www.amherstearlymusic.org/

and if any of you are in the Albany/ Saratoga area and do any early stuff-- and accept suckers, err, new participants-- holler!

Teri

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Burke
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 05:50 PM

When I was dancing a lot I wished I lived a little closer Albany. There is a lot of good dancing there. Look at the affiliated groups at the cdss site you listed. There should also be dance schedules at Old Songs.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 07:15 PM

Teri, like I said, introduce yourself at Folk Legacy. Whoever's in there will point out a Mudcatter or two, who will point out others. Some of us hang around together, some of us hang around with family and friends. Once you know us, you have friends all over the place - people to sit with, chat with, jam with or wander around with.

You can go to Mudcat Resources from Quick Links up at the top of this page to see what some of us look like before you meet us. I for one don't mind strangers approaching me and asking "Hey, are you a Mudcatter?" or "Do I know you?" Look for the Woodchuck's Revenge sign at their compound in the campground. If you can't find the sign, look for a porta-potty somewhere in the campground where it's not supposed to be.

Here's a photo from Old songs 99. Dick Greenhaus is in front holding a banjo. Look for T-shirts like the one he's wearing, with or without the button in the middle of the banjo.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Charmion
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 07:49 PM

CET, who *likes* camping and loves music, is counting the hours. Charmion, who loves music enough to that she is willing to tolerate camping when necessary, is mentally packing the car.

If all goes well on the Interstate, and if it isn't US Customs and Immigration day to harass middle-aged Canadian folkies, we will arrive at Old Songs at or around supper time on Thursday. Our car is an old white VW Golf with an Ontario licence plate and a Diesel engine that sounds like an ambitious sewing machine. We will settle in the campground wherever we can get good access to toilets and showers (Charmion is strange that way)--in the quiet end, we hope. We are bringing our favourite good coffee and the dreaded percolator.

We will be looking for Kendall, Jeri and Sinsull because we know we can recognize them even after a day on the road. Be warned!

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: kendall
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 08:30 PM

He who enters there is a stranger but once.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: bbc
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 09:16 PM

I'm getting excited! When I arrive, I will have just successfully completed the school year & be starting 10 weeks of r&r (minus being called for federal jury duty in NYC on July 9th!). Brett, we'll miss you. Hope to see you later in the summer in Maine, but my sister has just added a St. Bernard pup to the family & I don't know if we'll be welcome. Duane & I will be at Old Songs w/ tee shirts or buttons on!

love,

bbc

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Susan A-R
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 10:42 PM

SOON!!! Say, an air mattress is a great idea!! Another reason not to have cats.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Barry Finn
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 10:46 PM

Sorry we'll miss you Naemanson, I was planning on trying to keep you awake this time around. We should be arriving between 1:00 & 2:00 provided we don't turn a 4hr ride into 6 with the extra pit stops. We're planning on camping in the quite area hopefully around others Mudcatters, maybe I can convince the kids to make a banner of some type or use one of my Mudcat Tee shirts a as a site ID marker? I'm just about ready to pull out of the driveway now but my wife says that I gotta pack first & then get dressed & it'll take me at least 2 days to find everything. Geeze, I gased up the car & am singing up a storm what the hell do we need a tent & food for. See ya all there. Barry

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: Midchuck
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 11:32 PM

I just got sent a link for weather forecasts for the area.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Old Songs - YES!: Part II
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 11:55 PM

Geez Peter, that's not too bad! Moderate rain potential but not too high and pretty moderate tempertatures. Have a great time (no need to say that) and I'll be looking to read all the good stuff when its over. Some of you need to check in with the FAA 'cause you're already flyin' high!

Spaw