Rick Fielding at Mariposa

Subject: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 09:56 AM

I can't say enough about what a wonderful job Rick did at Mariposa. He was determined to play traditional material - even though we all know he is a great songwriter in his own right- at the workshops and main stage concert, and he did so brilliantly! His guitar, dobro, autoharp playing was masterful (and he's got all the instruments rigged up for optimum quality sound as well) -I was very impressed along with his great voice, passion and enthusiasm for the music. Even though there were many great singer/songwriters at the festival, it is getting a little scary at the lack of traditional players and the background they provide, at some festivals in Canada these days. Mariposa was a huge success in the mix of music and talent they provided, an absolutely beautiful setting and amazing volunteer and staff - I didn't detect any real problems. And the sound techs were great! It was great to here Gordon Lightfoot again, and Moxy Fruvous last night- a reel hoot such fabulous and entertaining Canadian talent.

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 11:16 AM

Thanks, Arnie, we've all been hoping for a "live" report. So did you actually see him with the *tie* on? The one in the picture?**BG** See link in this thread.

Really wonderful to hear about this. Thanks, again,

kat

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Crowhugger
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 11:24 AM

Geez, sounds soooo wonderful, Arnie. Wish I had the money, not to mention the clones, to be everywhere and hear everything on my wish list. I haven't been to Mariposa since Centre Island, except once in Barrie which was fine music but lousy camping & facilities.

So glad to hear that Rick was in great form. I didn't notice the tie in the photo - Duckboots probably picked it out, right? *BG*

CH.

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Davey
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 12:44 PM

A small group of Toronto Song Circle people, myself included, had wonderful seats up front for the concert on Saturday night.

We were impressed with Rick's sticking to traditional material, and his explanation of his instruments to the audience. This approach was also evident in his workshop participation, at which he stuck to the intent of the workshop and 'played the game'. He also included others in his performances.

In contrast, some of the other workshop performers would preface their performance with a statement like "this song has nothing to do with.. (name of workshop)".

And I asked Rick about his tie.. He said he likes to wear one ocasionally as a joke, but maybe Rick himself can clarify that.

The entire evening performance was wonderful, although I was less impressed with Stacey Earle than with the others. Must be showing my age.

Davey (:>)

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: sophocleese
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 01:21 PM

How old are you Davey? I was not terribly impressed with Stacey Earle either, not my kind of music I guess.

Mariposa was a wonderful time. I heard some great music, chatted with interesting people and learned how to coil up a microphone cords neatly and efficiently (a little more practice and I'll also do it quickly). On Sunday night I joined friends at the back of the Main Stage (I was right behind Stephen Fearing, yow!) to sing Goodnight Irene with Oscar Brand leading us for the finale. Then I stayed up until 3:30 helping out and seeing how much work is involved in taking down the main stage and loading all the equipment into trucks, a lot of work.

I am now utterly exhausted and looking forward to a quiet couple of days to wind myself back down.

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 01:25 PM

Let's not forget Mudcatter and bloody nice woman Sophocleese who did double duty as sound "gal" and performer. I didn't get around to see you "soph" but the reports were super.

The "tie" was NOT chosen by Duckboots....although she had to put it on me!

Rick

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 01:53 PM

Rick,

The eye (and ear) witness accounts of your performances at Mariposa have all been great.

But how was Gordon Lightfoot? It must have been his first folk festival gig in about 30 years. Did he do workshops? Did he hang out? Was he accessible in a folk festival kind of way?

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 02:05 PM

He was superb Mike. Started off with "If You Could Read My Mind" and went into "Don Quixote" then "The Wreck of Ella Fitzgerald".

I spent some time with him earlier and he was relaxed, funny, and amazed at how few of the contemporary "folkies" he'd ever even heard of, let alone, seen. Other than swallowing enough mayflies to SINK the Edmund Fitzgerald, his performance went off without a hitch.

Rick

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Davey
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 02:40 PM

Lightfoot wasn't scheduled for any workshops, and our only sight of him came moments before he came on stage, and again briefly in his vehicle as we left the grounds late Saturday night.

I did have a chance to speak to several other performers who ventured on to the grounds and out of the cordoned off "Performers area", which is what I generally like about folk festivals, in that the performers are accessible. This wasn't the caase with Lightfoot. But, then again, we really didn't expect he would be, and if he had he might have been mobbed.

Sophocleese, I'm 56, and not too impressed with some of the younger singer-songwriters around these days. It seems they haven't been around long enough to have formed opinions and ideas that ring true for me, or haven't delved into the roots of the music they are supposedly a part of. Many, I suspect, are using acoustic music as a stepping stone for other things.

That having been said, however, they are bringing in younger audiences, who are being exposed to a wider range of music than they might otherwise hear, so that's not entirely a bad thing, just not 'MY' thing.

Davey (:>)

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 03:22 PM

I know what Davey's thinking when he talks about some of the new music. To me, Stacey Earle should have been at a modern country music fest -I have a hard time thinking of what they did as "folk"- but they were really great at what they did! But then it's funny - you can't really say Moxy Fruvous is "folk" either, but to me their act was like a modern day Smother's Brothers kind of entertainment that was thoroughly enjoyable, absolutely brilliant! Missing totally from Mariposa was a community folk dance area. I think this should be looked into for next year.

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 04:10 PM

I take it that this Mariposa is nowhere near Yosemite. Damn.

--seed

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 04:24 PM

Well Rick.....Once again you've "wowed" 'em and I couldn't be happier unless I was there. I am forever amazed at your talents, your generosity, and your friendship. Truth, partner!

....uh.....the tie really sucks.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: sophocleese
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 04:50 PM

Gordon was more protected from people than most of the other performers. I was in the backstage area off and on throughout the weekend. Generally there was a fair bit of quiet chatting, eating, drinking etc. going on but when Gordon went on stage everyone sat quiet and watched.

Arnie, I danced La Bastringue in the children's area. It was fun but dangerous; the ground at Tudhope is not level.

Since I'm not supposed to be modest I'll let all mudcatters know that Brooks and Cooper thoroughly impressed thousands of new listeners. Okay, I'll moderate that, we played and sang well with a few mistakes (although I was shaking with nerves) to a modest (can I say it here?) audience. I even managed a tin whistle/recorder duet with Loretto Reid! She was on the main stage and I was on a side stage but I could hear her clearly; the sound man at main stage didn't realize there was still music going on elsewhere. Next year I'll see if I can organize it so that we play in the same key.

One of the new songwriters at the festival that I enjoyed listening to was Aengus Finnan. He writes songs in my style, sad ones about tragic happenings. He's got a good voice that will only get richer and better as he gets older and you can hear the words when he's singing.

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: p.j.
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 05:08 PM

Congratulations, Rick, it sounds like you had a great time. I wish Dave & I could have been there to hear/see you and Soph...maybe next year? What a talent you are, and what a sweetie. Let us know what's coming up next for you, I'd love to find a way to be in the audience one of these days.

Love PJ

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Jed at Work
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 05:57 PM

I want to add my congratulations too, Rick, and Sophocleese - wish I couldda been there!

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Dave Swan
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 06:00 PM

Rick,

I wish we had been able to catch the show. I'm still enjoying the memory of hearing you in a smaller venue.

Some where in all the talk of your cravat, there's a pun hiding.....scoreless tie, maybe? I'm hurting myself trying to find it. Where's Art when you need him?

Dave

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 08:21 AM

I have loved reading this thread. I have got to get to this festival. Hey.......Swanno & Peej.......Waddya say we do a reprise of your tour next year?????.....You come and stay here (this time we go out on the lake, and I provide you with a room with closets and everything)....and we head to that great land across the bridge and go to Mariposa......and hook up with a bunch of 'Catters and convoy to Mariposa......hell, maybe we can even get 'Spaw to come out of his hole and join us.......and we get east coasters to come too.......I am liking the sound of this........and we have a year to plan..

Big Mick

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Peter T.
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 09:33 AM

If he's coming by oxen Mick, he better start travelling now, forget the planning!!!
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 02:07 PM

...there were mayflies, but were there any butterflies (get it? butterflies? okay, sorry) at Mariposa?

So will there be a Rick, Live At Mariposa CD out soon?

Hoping Rick didn't have butterflies...

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: GUEST,guest, I guess
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 02:15 PM

In the 70s and early 80s Mariposa had quite a reputation for great acts that really were folk. Haven't heard much about the festival in the last few years. It sounds like it's making a comeback. More power to it. Do they just hire Canadians or are there performers from other places?

g.

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 02:21 PM

I believe Stacey Earle is American, I think she is Steve Earle's sister.

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Davey
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 02:22 PM

Performers included The Burns Sisters, Chris Smither, the aforementioned Stacey Earle, Oscar Brand.. those are a few that come to mind, and many Canadian artists as well.

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Dave Swan
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 08:14 PM

Mick,

Sounds like a great idea to me. Let's get us a big ol' RV and do 'er up right. I'll bring my internal combustion blender/weedeater and we can prepare many icy adult beverages. We can also use it to puree Catspaw's meals. You know the type. All bark.....

E.S.

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: flattop
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 09:15 PM

A big highlight of the festival for me was Rick playing Leadbelly runs on his twelve string on a Jazz song on Sunday afternoon. Most of the people had left, perhaps scared off by a few clouds, so I was able to get closer than I could on Saturday evening. Hearing Rick play Leadbelly's riffs over banks of speakers driven by thousands of watts took the top off my head. I don't remember my long lost Leadbelly album sounding that good. Thank you Rick. And don't leave so early next year you silly people.

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 09:48 PM

Davey: as a youngster of only 56, you are too young to remember that Oscar Brand was a Canadian until he came down to these parts some fifty years ago. Have you ever seen a fellow his age who looked better and younger than he does? Incredible!

Glad to see Rick sporting the cravat in a blatant bid to reach rustic respectability. Hope he continues to wear it when we gig together in Hyde Park, New York (Friends of Fiddlers Green), and Hartford, Connecticut (The Sounding Board) on the first and second of December, respectively. Any Mudcatters going to be able to make those shows?

In the meantime, Folk-Legacy's booth at Falcon Ridge will be a safe port in the storm of singer/songwriters again this year. Come by for a brief respite from omphaloscopy. We'll be near the dance stage -- the one place where you can hear traditional music almost all the time! Mariposa could do well to emulate that, apparently.

Well done, Rick, m'boy! Stick to your guns!

Sandy

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 12 Jul 00 - 12:41 AM

Guns? Guns? Sandy I'm Canajun eh? We defend until death the right of our Govt. to take away everyone of our assault rifles! Now if those Commie pinkos in the legislature start tryin' to restrict how many guitars we can own, I'm joinin' a militia! Hope you folks are well. Lookin' forward to the gigs.

Rick

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Jul 00 - 12:54 AM

So what kind of firepower do you Canadjun Militia boys get of say, an LS-09 Larrivee?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Rick Fielding at Mariposa
From: GUEST,I guess
Date: 12 Jul 00 - 03:52 PM

I'm glad to hear that Mariposa doesn't restrict itself to only hiring performers from Canada. That kind of "patriotism" may win political points, but it does nothing for the audience, or folk music in general. Thanks.

g