Actually this will be the 13th annual NOMAD Festival. The first one was in October 1988, and it was heavily oriented toward the dance communities - mostly contras, but also English, Scandinavian and various international dance forms. Only one workshop area was given over to music. Now there are 4 or 5.

NOMAD was able to expand its music offerings thanks in no small part to Mudcatters Sandy & Caroline Paton, who supplied the festival with contacts in the music field, and also to Joan (now, alas, in Vermont) for her work in putting the music portion of the festival together.

The location, Newtown High School, is easy to get to - a stone's throw from exit 11 off I-84, about 15 miles west of Danbury, CT and about 55 miles west of the New York State Thruway, Newburgh exit. From northern New England, it can be reached by taking the Mass. Pike, or I-91 to I-84, then east to exit 11.

The program schedule for 2000 is almost complete and should be posted in the next week or two to NOMAD's web site here.