What kind of paraphernalia is required for the Old Songs Festival? Depends on what you're going to do...

At a minimum, bring something for rain (a rain-jacket, or perhaps an umbrella) and something to sit on (a blanket, or outdoor seat-cushions, or sand chair, or lawn chair, though where you sit at the main stage depends on what kind of seating you've brought--high chairs to the right, sand chairs slightly to the left, blankets to the very left of the area before the main stage.

If you're going to dance, bring dancing shoes. If you're going to jam, bring an instrument (unless, of course, you're primarily an a cappella singer, of which there are many at Old Songs). If you're going to camp, bring a tent (or an RV, if you've got one).

Bring either food or money to buy food.

Bring clothing suitable for the weather. (There's a weather forecast available on the old songs webpage, and if you click it, it'll give you a forecast for a few days ahead.) Bring a sweater if it's going to be cold, sunscreen if it's going to be sunny, and a rainjacket if it's going to rain (but of course it's going to rain sometime over the course of the weekend for sure.)

It looks like there could be two or three dozen Mudcatters in attendance (maybe more!?!). If you're looking for other Mudcatters, go to the booth where Folk Legacy and Camsco will be selling records in immediate proximity to one another. It's a small enough Festival that you'll find it with little trouble. In past years, it's been to the right of the mainstage (as you face the stage), just up the hill on the other side of the information booth from the Dancing Area. There you'll meet Sandy and Caroline Paton of Folk Legacy and Dick Greenhaus and Susan Friedman of Camsco. They will introduce you to everyone else at the festival, whether they are Mudcatters or not. Like as not, some jamming will take place behind the sales booth. A lot of jamming will take place elsewhere, too. The Patons are leading the song-swap in the Dutch Barn on Friday night.

Oh yeah--the other thing that's required is to bring your willingness to share your music. That, and a smile.

--Charlie Baum (see you there!)