Thanks for the kind words, Dharmabum (and yes, my cold is in its final stages now!). It was a pleasure meeting you as well. I haven't gotten my father's guitar out of the closet to look at the model number yet, but I'll get to it sometime this week and contact you about it.

I attended the Fest on Sunday afternoon only (I skipped the evening show in the interests of trying to shake this cold). The music was enjoyable but, as mentioned previously in this thread, folk music was under-represented there! I agree entirely with "Janice in NJ" 's review of Full Frontal Folk; I was wincing in pain at some of their unharmonious harmonies. Finest Kind was great, and of course Frank Malley with his terrific repertoire was singing the folkiest folk I heard that day. John Flynn surprised me by performing some traditional songs I'd never heard him do before. Robin & Linda Williams did indeed have a "fine group" and put on a slick, polished performance (Robin got a bit verbose with his introductions to songs, though – I'd rather hear the song than hear the long story behind it!).

I have to disagree with Janice's assessment of Da Vinci's Notebook; their humor was too over-the-top for me (my feeling is that if you're going to put on a funny performance, be funny, but don't get in my face and try to tell me you're funny... ya know what I mean?). Heard the last couple of songs of the Dave Carter tribute, enough to convince me that I'd like to hear more of his music, and saw a lot of grieving faces in the audience so a lot of people were indeed moved by the experience.

Was it all worth $35 for one afternoon (plus the price-gouging at the food booths)? I dunno, I suppose so, but I came away feeling less than sated musically. I also came away coughing heavily because I exited the Fest grounds through the craft area (a new option this year) and there was a craftswoman demonstrating her "magic wands" – ornate bubble-blowing wands – making so many bubbles that the air was heavy with detergent and I couldn't breathe!!