FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 02:09 PM

Dag Nab it! Sounds like y'all had a great time!

A pyramiding combinations of unfortunate circumstances precluded me from attending, but wild(ing) horses won't keep me away from the maxi-fest, which usually happens sometime end of May-ish, beginning of June-ish. (Any word yet? Need Volunteers? (hah!!))

Wincing Devil
There is no such thing as an ugly cat (http://www.ILoveMySphynx.com

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 02:42 PM

well, it's been the 'mini-fest' for umpty-eight years. One day of intense music & dance in the middle of winter, so *shrug*...I doubt that the name keeps anyone away.Weather does, to some extent...but no real solution to that, it IS winter. It is not easy finding the perfect venue for a BIG indoor festival, and we have moved at least 6 times in 20 years...always some school...but The real problem with it is how to get volunteers to run it and MORE to miss a couple hours in order to keep it running. My biggest complaint?..I guess that the evening concert was not really 'comfortable' in terms of seating and acoustics, but in a middle-school, all you GET is gyms and cafeterias, so I put up with it. I do doubt that the crafts venue is worth the trouble, but some seem to like it, so.....

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: JedMarum
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 05:51 PM

momnopp AND Judy (Cook) is what I meant!

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: KathWestra
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 06:38 PM

As Bill D. said, it's been the Mini-Festival for its entire life -- a term that distinguishes it from the HUGE festival FSGW runs on the first weekend of June at Glen Echo Park, MD. That one's the Washington Folk Festival, and y'all should put it on your calendars. It features all Washington-area performers -- including representatives of about 20-30 different countries doing their various ethnic musics. It's all free. Lots of crafts. Loads of dancing. A storytelling stage. And at least five major stages full of music from noon to 11:00 p.m. on two days. You can see how a single afternoon and evening became "Mini..."

I'll second all the kudos so far, especially those to the volunteer organizers and staff. FSGW runs on volunteer power, and putting together one of these things is a MASSIVE commitment.

I had to leave before Jed/Liam's set, but got a chance to hear Roger in Baltimore, who did a terrific showcase. If you haven't heard RiB, you need to! LaMarca (and husband George Stephens) did a nifty showcase of Kipling songs that was also a highlight.

Until June....

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 08:36 PM

The "Mini-Fest" is a strange in-group kind of name, understandable only compared to the "MaxiFest" the first weekend in June (June 3-4, 2000, for those of you with calendars to write dates in). Perhaps we ought to call it the "WinterFest".

Whatever you call it, it was a wonderful day of much great music. I tried to hear a little of everything (except, of course, the hour I was performing), and I'm always in awe of how much talent there is in the area. (Jed/liam_devlin was the ONLY performer not from the immediate region, as far as I can figure out.--Glad you could make it and join in the musci-making, Jed). And given the horrible weather of today [Sunday], I am amazed that the MiniFest found a day of good weather in a very narrow window between winter storms.

It was wonderful finally getting to meet JeffP and liam_devlin. (The rest of you Mudcatters who were there I already know--there were at least a dozen of us locals!)

See y'all in June at the Washington Folk Festival, and then again in October at the Getaway. (Details of each are posted at www.fsgw.org as they develop.)

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 08:58 PM

and here are a few images of the day..I am trying one of those "free online photo albums" and this is the first time I have used it, so I was not sure how it would work. Turns out they automatically make thumbnails, without labels, then you click on a pic and see any labels..I did NOT label every pic, but relevant names and such are on enough of them to figure it all out..I'll get it arrainged better next time I do one of these. (and there were Mudcatters there that I simply didn't catch..it was BUSY)

go to FSGW Mini-Festival Pics

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 09:22 PM

Nice pix Bill....I think I might try that service myself. Everybody looked to be having a fine time.

Spaw

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: Ferrara
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:56 PM

Charlie B and Liz, I think "WinterFest" is a very good alternative to "MiniFest." Image is all.

It was lovely. RiB is getting to be a regular around here. Hope by this time next year we'll be able to say that about a lot more 'Catters! -- I heard an awful lot of complimentary comments about both RiB's and Liam Devlin's music during the day.

By the way -- Mudcatter Karen K, who is a good friend of the Patons as well as Kath Westra, was unable to come because she's been really ill for months. Kathy dedicated her last song of her set, "Total Strangers," to Karen. That felt really good.

- Rita F

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: momnopp
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 12:16 AM

Well, to Judy Cook and Jed, I told you my head was buzzing. . .sorry to have made assumptions and forgotten to remember that of COURSE there was another Judy. . .(I have a step mother AND a sister-out-law named Judy, too so I guess I should be used to it by now).

Silly me! ~turns red~

JudyO

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: GUEST,Skivee
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 12:45 AM

Thanks for all those kind words of support for the Pyrates Royale, as well as for the wonderful folks that we are pleased to play with at the Mini (Hi, George and Mary, etal) . The Mini is a great experience for us,due to the work of Judy and Dennis Cook and an army of volunteers. Bravo for another smooth and fun fest. To MMario and wincing devil: Yup, it would have been keen to see the both of you again. Maybe next time. Skivee PS please check my post about Renn Music, Thanks

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: MMario
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 10:48 AM

Skivee! What thread? can't find it! Help!

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: Fortunato
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 11:31 AM

The All Day Blues Jam made it possible for me to do country for almost two hours and blues for 3 more. Usually I have to choose. It was a great opportunity to take my blues stuff out for a walk with the Archie Edwards Barbershop crew, and I made some new friends there.

Now if we could have cajun danced, etc. at the same time, regards, Fortunato

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: JedMarum
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 12:02 PM

Bill D -

Great PICS, young man! What a great looking group of Mudcatters you captured! Too bad we couldn;t have captired some of the sound, also - maybe next year we can put out some MP3s or Real Audio files.

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: JedMarum
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 12:09 PM

Lotusland -

You were looking for feedback, and I have a few comments.

The name mini-fest? It's fine with me. Someone made the comment that it makes more sense to insiders; that mey be, but I think it works fine.

The organization was not just good; it was excellent. I knew where everything was, and when. There was always plenty to do, and I knew where and when everything happened. It went very smoothly. The events were well thought out and well placed. The presenters were all excellent.

The venue was OK, but a bit uncomfortable for the a 12 hour day (as some of us had) - no wonder so many school kids have ADD - it's hard to stay focused when yer butt's asleep! I am not sure what choice you'd have about these things though.

I think all in all it was a great show, well organized, and with great performers. GOOD JOB!

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: JedMarum
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 12:14 PM

... and Momnopp, no need to be turnin' red ... I left out a few names of folks I met, and wasn';t particularly clear in my message.

I must say I enjoyed meeting you, and enjoyed your sense of humor. Thanks for saying hello ... I went to Phoenix and had two Mudcatters show up and not identify themselves (though one turned out to be a brand new Mudcatter - the other was the nefarious Gargoyle). I look forward to more Mudcat gatherings.

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: Bill D
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 02:14 PM

ummm.., gg showed up and did not identify himself?? How did you know it was him?...by the stone head and toothy smile?

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: JedMarum
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 03:18 PM

hmm, he posted to the discussion several days later with comments that showed he was there ...

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 06:19 PM

I'm just geting back. Actually, I have been with Marge all week and therefore separated from my computer. This will happen very frequently now, so I will only log in once or twice a week (sob!).

I had a wonderful time at the minifest. I have lots of thank yous, and I will probably miss some. First, thanks to Charlie for letting the Mudcatters know about the Minifest. I want to thank Gail (I hope I've got the name right) who was the chair for the event. There were too many volunteers to thank. I want to thank Judy Cook for her support throughout.

As a performer, I felt it went smoothly for me. As a festival goer, there was more than I could take in. I enjoyed everything that I attended. Some was more interesting than others, but everything had real value.

Thanks to Bill D. for the pics. And Bill if you could run mine through Photoshop and slim me down a bit that would be great!

I think I met all of the Mudcatters mentioned except Fortunato. I'm sorry we didn't get introduced.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 04 Feb 00 - 12:09 AM

Thanks to everyone all around--but, Roger in Baltimore, it was Wincing Devil, not me, to thank for this thread; and Lotusland started the other MiniFest thread. I'm just the one who keeps you informed about the FSGW Getaway (Camp Ramblewood, Darlington, Maryland, October 20-22, 2000) and the Washington Folk Festival (Glen Echo N.P., Glen Echo, Maryland, June 3-4, 2000). Y'all come to those, too.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: FSGW Minifest, Silver Spring MD
From: JedMarum
Date: 04 Feb 00 - 04:54 PM

Roger - I think we all wish Bill D's camera could work a little magic on our figures! But alas, we appear in JPG much as we do in real life.

I second your comments about the organization. Gail and Judy, and the others had things running very smoothly, and as you say; there's was plenty of good stuff to see/hear/taste!

And now I personally know at least a hand full of Mudcatters! That was treat enough to make it all worthwhile.