NW Folklife/Seattle

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: johnross
Date: 08 May 08 - 10:04 PM

Those festivals in Berkeley, and similar events at the University of Chicago, Newport, San Diego and numerous other places over the last forty-plus years were great. And they still occur, not necessarily with the pantheon of performers Don describes. The National Folk Festival, which is coming this summer to Butte (first time in the West for decades), promises to be another good one. Those are all festivals where there are performers and there are audience. And most of the audience never gets close to the kind of parties that were a big part of Don's experience. Many of us have similar memories of great festivals. I know I do.

As a side note, that $15 admission in 1960 would be close to $100 in today's dollars (http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Calculators/Inflation_Rate_Calculator.asp).

But those festivals operate on a different set of guiding principles. There's some difference of opinion, but as I understand it, the Northwest Folklife Festival is a community barnraising, in which many communities share their traditions -- the music, dance and other activities that they do within the community -- with the larger public. Whether it's maritime singers or taiko drummers or contra dancers or any of dozens of other categories, it's a chance for outsiders to see and hear and participate in activities that otherwise take place in living rooms, community halls and church basements. There is, by design, a lot less separation between performers and audience.

And most of the audience doesn't come to see and hear specific performers, but to take in the "spectacle." The street performers, the dancing and group singing, and the "wander around and see what turns up" approach are all among the reasons that people come to the Folklife Festival, according to the vox pop interviews they do on the grounds every year. If (and I'm definitely not encouraging it) the professional and semi-professional musicians who also play at the festival chose to stay away, the crowds would still be as big, and the stages would still be filled.

Again, the usual discliamer: This is my opinion and does not reflect etc etc etc.

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Deckman
Date: 08 May 08 - 10:19 PM

Well, I feel compelled to jump in here. I thought both Don's comments and John's comments are very appropriate. In reading John's comments, I think he gave a real hint as to why I have been so "anti-seattle forklift festival" for the last say fifteen years. He says something like: "if the musicians stayed away ... the crowds would be the same." And I completly agree with his statement. What that tells me is that the festival is NO LONGER a folk music festival ... it's just another "specticle." And while I find that somewhat sad, it's just another reflection of the direction our society has gone. And I don't want any of it. I'll continue to seek out my musical satisfactions on small stages and at private hoots with fellow musicians. Bob Nelson

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: reggie miles
Date: 11 May 08 - 10:18 PM

I'll be there again this year at a somewhat smaller stage than the grand one I've had the privilege to play the last couple of years, Cafe Impromptu. I'll be at the Alki Court Stage at 2:15 on Saturday the 24th. I played this stage about three years ago on a windy damp Saturday afternoon.

I have some bad memories from that show. The wind gusted against the plastic tarp along the back of the stage. It, in turn, pushed against a piece of stage equipment that was being stored at the back of the stage. The equipment then fell onto one of my guitars that I had sitting on stands surrounding me on the small stage. My guitar fell over while I was in the middle of a song. I didn't notice that the equipment left a deep scar on the face of my vintage (1918ish) Knutsen Hawaiian guitar's lower bout until later, when I was packing up after the show. GRRRR! I know that nobody knows which way the wind blows but that's not the kind of memory that I'd like to repeat again. It's a very sweet sounding guitar but I think that I'll leave my Knutsen home this time.

I'm very pleased and excited to announce that this year I'll be hosting My 6th Annual How To Flex Razor Sharp Spring Steel Betwixt Your Knees, And Walk Away With All Your Appendages Still Intact Workshop (my, free, how to play music with a hand saw workshop). After several years of record attendance, my pleas for a larger space have finally been answered. This year the workshop has been moved to what I hope is a larger and more accommodating location, The Lopez Room. Look for me there on Saturday the 24th at 12 noon. (BYOS,B&B) Bring your own saws, bows and bandaids, if you've got 'em, but know that I will also be bringing extra saws, bows and bandaids for participants to use during the hands on portion of the workshop.

All attendees will learn the basics of this curious, true, folk art, a folk art 10,000 years in the making! That's right; you can learn to play beautiful music with a common hand saw! Finally, you too can annoy guests at folk parties. You can learn how to thrill, amaze and torture your friends and relatives with the eerie tones and subtle timbre of this hand tool! With your new found skill you'll be able to frighten neighborhood pets and wild life! There's no end to the fun you can have!!!

New this year, each attendee to this year's workshop will receive a valuable How-To instruction booklet that I've lovingly prepared, absolutely FREE. In it, I offer you all of my personal tips and strategies on how to make millions of dollars a year playing folk music with a hand tool. I reveal the secrets of this folk art in easy to understand language and photos, in this almost nearly fully (hardly) illustrated work. Yes, I've done all of the hard work, so, you won't have to. I've spent countless hours of mind numbing introspection to bring to you the benefits of my 15+ years as a pre-fessional sawplayer in this easy to read publication. I guarantee that if you're not fully satisfied, you will receive a full refund of the purchase price, (minus shipping and handling and a 15% restocking fee).

With my foolproof system anyone, yes, anyone, can learn, as I have, to produce a prodigious palate of pleasing panache in five minutes or less! Yes! I said five minutes or less! (Actual time may vary)

You too can proudly provide a vicarious vaudevillian daredevil bloodlust experience with each attempt to tame the unruly blade. In no time you'll gain the critically acclaimed capability to coolly coax complex collections of cutting edge, cornball curiosities and colorfully comical, crackpot compositions via the confidently controlled contortions of the cruelly capricious and cantankerously caterwauling crosscut in a cantabile cadence, or my name isn't Daredevil Reggie Miles! (Disclaimer: Many body parts don't grow back.)

Sawwwwwwwwwwwwww ya there!vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: GUEST,Jon Bartlett
Date: 17 May 08 - 01:52 AM

We'll be singing at the Utah Phillips session at the Fisgher Greeen stagwe at 7.20 on Friday eve, the Phil Thomas workshop and the Maritime Blowout on Saturday (plus the Drinking Songs in the Beer Garden after), and our own session on Sunday at the Alki

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: GUEST,Jon Bartlett
Date: 17 May 08 - 02:01 AM

Please ignore the last mispelled post. Rika and I will be singing at the Utah Phillips session at the Fisher Green stage at 7.20 on Friday eve, the Phil Thomas workshop at noon Saturday in the Shaw Room, the Maritime Blowout on Saturday at 3.30 pm at the Northwest Court (plus the Drinking Songs in the Beer Garden after), and our own session on Sunday at the Alki Court Stage at 1.40 pm. We understand the big singers' bash will be at the Northwest Seaport (next to the Wawona), and the regular Sunday night bash at McHugh's (which we might be able to make, given we're now retired!). We looking forward, as always, to singing in a big and friendly crowd of singers. We know Folklifers will give a warm welcome to Founder Mudcatters Dick Greenhaus and Susan Friedman at their first-ever Folklife.

Jon Bartlett

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Deckman
Date: 17 May 08 - 07:40 AM

Hi Jon, I'll be participating in the "55 YEARS OF FOLK SINGING IN SEATTLE" panel dicussion on Monday morning, 11:00 in the SHAW ROOM. There will be a bunch of us you will recognize: Don Firth, John Ashford, Nancy Quense, Stan James, and Stew Hendrickson will be the moderator. I understand that Susan and Dick will only be there Friday and Saturday, so I won't have a chance to meet them. CHEERS, Bob Nelson

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 19 May 08 - 12:50 AM

More news about the Saturday shanty sing, courtesy of Wayne Pallson:

"I have arranged for a venue for the after Folklife Shanty Party. The venue is Mulleady's Irish Pub on the east side of Magnolia, just off Dravus. I have booked the upstairs for a private party for after 7:30 pm on Saturday, May 24th. It's a really nice place--Phillip and I checked it out recently. It's even more conveniently located than last year's venue. Check it out at

http://www.mulleadyspub.com/index.htm

The address is 3055 21st Ave W

The directions are:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/3055+21st+Ave+W+Seattle+wA/


We were hoping to use NW Seaport's Woodshop at Lake Union Park, but the planning, permiting, costs, and logistics became too overwhelming for me at this time of year. I think you will enjoy the space, beer, and food at Mulleady's.

Wayne Palsson
NW Seaport
206-412-4736"

Jon Bartlett

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: mg
Date: 19 May 08 - 01:13 AM

Does anyone know if Mary Benson will be able to make it this year given her medical situation? mg

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: johnross
Date: 21 May 08 - 05:29 PM

How to find other Mudcatters at the Folklife Festival: After you check in and get your Festival badge, go to the Festival Services desk in the lobby and ask for a "Mudcat Sticker." They will give you a green dot to stick on your staff or volunteer badge or participant's button.

If the person at the desk doesn't know what you're talking about, ask them to ask Beth or Mary.

I will also have some stickers in my pocket, so you can ask me for one if you don't get it from the desk.

When you see somebody else with a green dot on their badge, you'll know that they're One of Us (!).

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: artbrooks
Date: 21 May 08 - 05:48 PM

OK...I have printed out the schedule. I have marked all of the above thereupon. Now to get it into the suitcase...

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: KT
Date: 22 May 08 - 03:12 AM

great idea, Johnross! Thanks. See y'all there! the weather is promising to be perfect!!

KT

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Deckman
Date: 23 May 08 - 12:26 AM

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Genie
Date: 23 May 08 - 12:32 AM

John, thanks for letting us Catters know how to identifiy ourselves. (Otherwise, I might have been wondering who I was, y'know.) ; )

See y'all tomorrow.

Genie

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Susan of DT
Date: 23 May 08 - 10:29 AM

Of course, some ofuswillbewearing mudcat teeshirts...

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Deckman
Date: 23 May 08 - 10:36 AM

Is this too early to call you? Bob

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Genie
Date: 23 May 08 - 11:16 AM

Susan,
I'm hoping maybe you brought a couple extra Mudcat T-shirts with you for purchase.

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner to let you know size, etc., but if you have them with you, I'm interested.

If I can find my old one, I'll wear it at least part of the time.

Genie

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Deckman
Date: 23 May 08 - 11:44 AM

Genie ... You'd better keep your shirt on ALL the time today ... it's raining! CHEERS, Bob Nelson

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: GUEST,Artbrooks in Seattle
Date: 23 May 08 - 08:39 PM

Good first day at Folklife. Good music, good food, danced a couple of contras, ran across 3 Mudcatters. Back tomorrow.

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Deckman
Date: 23 May 08 - 10:40 PM

Did you get wet? Bob

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Haruo
Date: 24 May 08 - 04:25 AM

Mrs Haruo and I will probably be at the Maritime Showcase Saturday afternoon, interrupted long enough to take in the Sacred Cow Harmogenizers at 3:00, and we hope to be back Monday for the 55-year thing and the Bold Horizons gig. We'll doubtless take in at least a few other items, I know she's hoping to get me to dance...

Haruo

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Genie
Date: 24 May 08 - 09:44 AM

Such a smartass, Bob! ; )

Hope I run into some of you. I came up to Seattle last night but crashed instead of going to the Festival. I'm getting over a week-long bout with some sort of head and chest crud that's left me with laryingitis from violent coughing. I managed to control it with meds after a day or so but the vocal cord damage was done. Feeling much better now but still can't sing, and I'm afraid dancing will trigger the wheezing, so I'm gonna be mostly an observer this time.
I have my old Martin with me and can still do some pickin' and grinnin' but no singin' prob'ly.

I found my Mudcat T shirt but I think I managed to leave it on the bed. Aarrggh!

Genie

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Deckman
Date: 24 May 08 - 09:57 AM

Genie ... JEEZE KID ... you shouldn't give me those straight lines. Have fun today! Bob

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Stewart
Date: 24 May 08 - 12:13 PM

Day two at folklife is about to begin for me.
I will spend most of the time at the
Victory Music Booth - 11am - 3pm

Day one (Friday) was fun.
Checked in and then deposited my CDs at the Alki Room
and then to kill some time before my 3 pm performance
(not much going on then)
I did a warm-up set on the Alki stage (not yet occupied)
then over to the Bagley Lawn Acoustic Stage
for my 30 min performance.
It went very well I thought.
A totally acoustic stage - no mics or sound system,
and it worked very well, with freedom to move about,
interact with the audience, and the sound was good.
Good audience, met Dick Greenhaus and Susan
and other friends and new acquaintances.
Then back to the Alki Room with its open stage.
There was an open spot coming up, so I signed up
and did a 20 min impromptu set of fiddle tunes and songs.
Then I turned the stage over to Tania Opland
and listened to a delightful performance by her
on hammered dulcimer, fiddle w/song, guitar w/song, and whistle.
She then turned the stage over to Jim Hinde,
a regular Pike Place Market busker,
with his hard-hitting protest songs
and political/social commentary - a consummate street performer.
Jim then turned the stage over to David Michael and his wife
David is a Celtic harp player from Port Townsand
and his wife plays the bowed psaltery -
very beautiful music, two instruments blended very well.
I think this totally acoustic open stage is
one of the best mostly undiscovered (let's keep it that way)
features of Folklife. Anyone can sign up,
and you get to hear and meet some wonderful musicians
in a quiet, acoustic, small setting (sort of like a living room).
After that I had to leave, and walked across
the Seattle Center as it was just beginning to rain.
For me this was what Folklife should be (or maybe was) -
just people getting together without the high-powered sound
to share their music and make new friends.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Genie
Date: 25 May 08 - 01:39 AM

Well, Bob, I hafta admit I let that one slip ny me unnoticed. (Obviously you didn't.) *g*

I hung out today mostly at the participants' hospitality suite - working the soft drink stand, mostly - then went to the Seattle Folkmusic Society sing-along -- but I still couldn't sing.
The laryngitis just won't quit.

I'm planning to do the Band Scrambles Sunday and Monday, but it may be just instrumental.
I don't know when I'm going to get my voice back (beyond about a 6-note range [baritone]).

I ran into Reggie Miles early this afternoon and Art Brooks and Jenn at the SFS song circle. Jean Lepley (Robinia) was there too. I hope I can meet Dick and Susan and say hi to Don Firth and Bob (Smartass) Nelson too.

I finally got my little green Mudcat sticker, and I did have on my Mudcat t-shirt (Art and I were twins).   DK if I'll wear that t-shirt again tomorrow (Yes, Bob, I'll remember to wear some sort of shirt).

Genie

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Haruo
Date: 25 May 08 - 04:15 AM

Had a great time (though the weather was too good for my taste and my wife was missing for several hours - turned out to be a transit-system overbooking problem, not all the disasters I fantasized) at the Maritime Showcase and the Sacred Cow Harmogenizers, and later at the tail end of the Labor thing and at Café Impromptu (especially Dan Maher and Chris Roe) and finally at the offsite chantey sing at Mulleady's Pub in Interbay/Magnolia. Great grub there, too! The shooting was an unnerving inconvenience, but from news reports it sounds more bizarre than scary: one bullet, three possible victims, none badly injured, the shooter had a license for the gun and it was in an ankle holster... weird.

Question arose at the chantey sing about where is Mary Garvey when we sang her Willapa Bay song.

Haruo

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Genie
Date: 25 May 08 - 10:55 AM

Forgot to mention you, Fred. I'd forgotten you were a Mudcatter (in addition to SFS) till you reminded us at the SFS singalong Sat.
I wish I could have gone to the later singalong Sat., but the bod just wasn't cooperating. Hadda crash early again.   (Folklife is not the time to be sick, dang it!)

And yes, Haruo, mg (Mary Garvey) is missed this year.

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 May 08 - 12:54 PM

So how dd it go? I'm hoping more will jump in here. Some people from Juneau went down for it and they're due back today sometime. I hope everyone had a good time.

Here in Juneau, we're having bright, hot (70s) weather and some cruiseship tourists told me yesterday that Seattle has had the same kind of weather. I know some people who like those temperatures- me, I prefer sweet, cool misty air...

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Stewart
Date: 26 May 08 - 05:32 PM

I just got back from our workshop today (Monday)-
"55 Years of Folksinging in Seattle"
It went very well indeed, a good audience,
and the panel remembered quite a bit (amazing!)
I'll tell you more later.

Mudcatters Mary (mg) Garvey, Art Brooks, John Ross, Genie
and probably some others I forgot to mention were there.
Of course Bob (Deckman) Nelson, Don Firth were
there as part of the panel, in addition to
myself, John Ashford, Stan James, and Nancy Quense.

Today is a typical Seattle day
cloudy, about 60 deg, and it looks like rain is coming.
Not so many people there, probably because of the weather.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Deckman
Date: 26 May 08 - 06:45 PM

I agree with Stew that the panel discussion was a success. I felt honored to be part of that group, just as Nancy also mentioned. What good company. I just added all the ages of the panel members together and I hit 350 years! Take a few years away for childhoods, jail time, time spent out the country, time spent running from the law, etc., that's still quite a large number of years of experiences that that was on stage.

And we did cover the years from 1939 up to the present. I think several people were surprised to realize that there really was a LOT of folk music happenning in the Seattle area long before the Kingston Trio and Joan Baez.

So Stew, you succeeded in dragging me down to the "Seattle Forklift Festival" yet again. I hope that you give it up next year and concentrate on a younger generation ... after all ... just how many walkers and wheechairs can fit into the room! CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: GUEST,Artbrooks - still in Seattle
Date: 26 May 08 - 10:06 PM

Well, it was fun. Folklife is one of the few reasons I wish we still lived in Seattle, and it was good to see so many friends - both Mudcatters and old friends from our previous existence as pale-skinned moss people. Lots of singing, lots of dancing, good (expensive!) fair food and several new CDs (watch out for a young fiddle player named Rebecca Lomnicky) and four sore feet. The sad news of the death of Bruce (Utah) Phillips. One idiot upholding his right to keep and bear arms, and wounding a couple of bystanders (not badly) in the process. Lots of buskers playing bad music, and a few exceptions. Two hot and sunny days, and two that were neither. Crowds. We'll probably do it again in a few years.

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Don Firth
Date: 26 May 08 - 10:21 PM

Good discussion, I thought.

I was particularly fascinated by John Ashford's reminiscences about his father's activities collecting folk music around the Pacific Northwest early on, knowing people such as Ivar Haglund (local folk singer and later a noted restaurateur and self-made odd-ball) and James Stevens (collector of Paul Bunyan stories and writer of a number of songs, including "The Frozen Logger"), and of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger staying with his folks when he (John) was little older than a rug-rat.

I then did my party-piece, describing my falling in with questionable company in college and subsequently buying a guitar and starting to learn folk songs. Then, in 1953, a group of us sat around a table in "The Chalet," a restaurant in Seattle's University District, and organized the Pacific Northwest Folklore Society and the East 42nd Street Arts Association, and initiated a series of folk and arts festivals in the U. District. But disturbingly in all its implications, in late 1954, the PNW Folklore Society died from the effects of rampant paranoia when most of our mailing list asked to be taken off the list and then went to hide under their beds. The first nationally known performer we sponsored was Pete Seeger, and although we knew about his joust with the House Un-American Activities Committee, we didn't realize how many people were afraid of being associated with an organization that was associated with Pete in any way. Sheesh!!!   The PNW Folklore Society was strictly non-political. We just wanted to hear Pete sing and he was available at the time. Also, I might add that Pete's concert on the evening of October 5th 1954 in the Wesley House auditorium was also apolitical. A couple of labor songs maybe, mixed in with about two hours of love songs, lullabies, ballads, songs about Cumberland Mountain bear chases and foolish frogs, and oodles of sing-alongs.

I've always found it ironic that although the PNW Folklore Society was looked upon with suspicion after the Seeger concert, the East 42nd Street Arts Association—composed of exactly the same people—was deemed fine and dandy! The arts festivals (with folk music activity subsumed under the aegis of the Arts Association) continued on into the late Fifties.

But—although the Pacific Northwest Folklore Society essentially folded a year or two after it was born, it has been resurrected some five-plus decades later and, as of this writing, is showing signs of robust good health!

Bob (Deckman) Nelson picked up with how he and some other folks organized the Seattle Folk Music Society in the mid-Fifties, dedicated to just getting together once a month and singing for the fun of it—sort of like the song circles that came into existence in recent decades. He also mentioned the paranoia aspect of the era when he learned that the F.B.I. had a dossier on him about the size of a New York City phone book, mostly because he had sung for various organizations like the Seattle Labor Council and others of a liberal or progressive bent ("Why did you sing for these organizations?" "Because they paid me five bucks and gave me a free spaghetti dinner!").

Coffeehouses first began opening in Seattle in summer of 1958, and Stan James gave a run-down on some of the more prominent ones. In fact, when the owner of The Place Next Door decided to sell and move on to other things, Stan and a friend bought it. The friend subsequently went to New York to seek his fortune, so Stan renamed it "The Corobboree" (Stan had a thing for Australia at the time) and ran it for a couple of years, hiring various Seattle singers including Nancy Quensé, Judy Flenniken, and myself, and initiated an open mike on Sunday evenings. He talked about several of the other coffeehouses, then how a call went out for singers to sing on Sunday afternoons at the United Nations Pavilion at the Seattle World's Fair in 1962. This proved to be such an attraction that the following year, the Seattle Center (formerly the fair grounds) initiated the Seattle Center Hootenannies in summer of 1963, which drew crowds of up to 15,000 (they actually paid the singers this time!). Stan was doing pretty well until he wound up lost in the Australian Outback, still looking for coffeehouses.

The lovely Nancy Quensé (who arrived in Seattle in 1961 and showed up at Pamir House, one of Seattle's smaller but better-known coffeehouses, carrying her Goya G-20 classic guitar in its hardshell case and looking very much like a young Audrey Hepburn [think "Breakfast at Tiffany's"]) went on to talk a bit more about the coffeehouse scene, and especially some of the social aspects, the friendliness and mutual support among a sizable group of people who shared an interest in the music.

Nancy sang a particularly lovely and somewhat unusual version of "Scarborough Fair." And we all sang a song or two, songs that were characteristic of those we heard in the times we were talking about.

Stewart Hendrickson MCed, guided, and moderated the discussion with a light hand. The scheduled event for the following hour had been cancelled. Paddy Graber, an Irish singer residing in Vancouver, B. C., was unable to make it. He had suffered a stroke a few weeks ago, and although he was recovering and doing well, his doctor had forbidden him to travel. So we were allowed to continue into Paddy's hour, and Stewart had to keep explaining to the folks who arrived during the second hour what had happened to Paddy and why he wouldn't be there. Paddy is an absolute encyclopedia of Irish songs and ballads, and the fervent prayer, in addition to that for Paddy's health, is that the stroke will not affect his memory. The man is a treasure-trove of song.

Genie was there, and said that although her voice is still not quite ship-shape, it's better, and she was actually able to take part in a few events. Good on ya' gal. But take it easy.

I had fun. I hope everybody else did too!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Stewart
Date: 26 May 08 - 11:05 PM

Thanks Don. I knew someone would summarize this much better than I,
and you were certainly the one.
And thanks for your generous contribution to this discussion,
and your rendition of The Frozen Logger - the Ballard version.
And thank you John, Bob, Stan, and Nancy for your contributions also.

Later as I drove my daughter and family to the Sea-Tac Airport
to fly back to California,
the sun came out (wonder of wonders!)
and the temperature got up to 70 deg.
Totally unpredictable Seattle weather,
and the end to a very nice day.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: johnross
Date: 27 May 08 - 01:46 AM

In more general terms, the Folklife Festival was what it has become in the last few years -- a huge gthering of the tribes, with too much interesting music, dance and other events for any one person to see and hear, tremendous crowds and overwhelming sensory inputs. It's too loud, there are too many people, and I'm getting too old for this kind of thing. And it's the best weekend of the year.

The big public news was that some idiot brought his pistol to the Festival (why???) and it went off. It's not clear if it was intentional or not, but inevitably, in a crowd of that size, two or maybe three people were injured (not life-threatening). The guy with the gun was tackled by bystanders who held him until the cops got to him within a couple of minutes. Most people on the grounds had no idea that this was happening. But of course, the newspapers and TV have been reporting it with varying levels of sensational play.

We did a concert for Utah Phillips on Firday evening to celebrate his work and sing some of his songs and others that are consistent with his work and his messages, with a bunch of his friends (including Mike Marker and Larry Hanks, Jim Page, Linda Allen and her daughters, and Utah's son Brendan with his band, Fast Rattler among others). We finished at about 9:30, about two hours before Utah died in California. I'd like to think the love and good wishes that came out of that concert somehow reached him in his final hours.

And as always, those of us within the organization have ideas about changes and improvements for the future.

I have no information yet about the financial picture. I try to stay as far away from that side of things as possible. But considering the great weather and huge crowds (especially Saturday), I'm guessing that we did okay in donations, sales of t-shirts and souvenirs, commissions and so forth.

If anybody reading this wants to offer comments, complaints or other observations, I will be happy to relay them to the people who actually run things. Please send them to [e-mail].

Disclaimer: I am not speaking here or elsewhere as a representative of Northwest Folklife. All opinions are my own, etc etc.

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: johnross
Date: 27 May 08 - 01:58 AM

Oh, and it was great to see old friends among the Mudcat crew and to attach faces to their online personnas of those I hadn't met offline before. Dick and Susan, Mary Garvey (who finally showed up on Sunday),Phillip Morgan, Genie (who got to judge an uncontested Band Scramble Monday afternoon), Stewart, Deckman and Don at the "History" workshop, Jon Bartlett and many others whose names are lost in my sleep-deprived brain. I promise that I will not inflict my Freshwater Coast Guard Chantey on you again for at least another year (unless you ask...)

The green dot thing seemed to have worked pretty well, although the dots could have been bigger. But bigger dots cost about twice as much, and I'm a cheapskate.

I think there are about 372 dot stickers left on the roll in the Festival Services storage box, so we have more than enough to use them again next year.

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: reggie miles
Date: 27 May 08 - 03:24 AM

I just got back from three nonstop days and evenings with too little sleep and too little voice left after sharing of my stories and songs. Other than catching sight of Stewart at my stage show on Saturday, Genie is the only other confirmed Mudcat sighting that I sawwwwed whilst there. She was volunteering in the Hospitaltality Room loading soft drinks into the coolers.

My musical saw workshop, though 30 minutes shorter than in previous years, was allotted a much more accommodating location this year, in the Lopez Room. It was another capacity audience of folks all wanting to learn the secrets of this most unusual folk art, the art of flexing razor sharp spring steel betwixt your knees and walking away with all your appendages still intact. With my workshop 'cut' short, I didn't have time to include the question and answer period. Instead, I launched right into the Hands On (or if things don't go well) the Hands Off part of my presentation.

This year I offered all of the attendees the next best thing to the Q&A part, a free copy of my new publication, How To Play A Saw In 5 Minutes Or Less. Everyone was eager to to get a copy of my How-To booklet. In it, I organized seven pages of tips and instruction, everything that I ususally present during my workshops. Unfortunately, due to my underestimating the overwhelming attendance to this year's event, I didn't have enough to go around.

About 100 folks showed up. It was great to see such enthusiasm and interest in saw playing. The age range was quite wide. Kids that looked as though they were perhaps in elementary school were there accompanied by parents and folks old enough to be grandparents attended. Previous students came by to show me their progress and a couple of folks wanted private lessons.

Most of the rest of my time at Folklife this year was spent either sawing along with friends during their sets or trying to coax my voice into functioning well enough to spend some time busking on the grounds with my handtool and my homemade Nobro resophonic. I also scheduled several sets at the acoustic stage in the Alki Room.

It was surprising to find that there was a mic available to use at that stage this year. It fed the sound throughout the room via a series of permanently mounted speakers. I wish that I would have checked to see that it was working the last time I played a set there. DOH! My tired vocals could have used the help.

Thanks to all who came

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: reggie miles
Date: 27 May 08 - 12:32 PM

I must have passed out during that last sentence. I was pretty tuckered out while trying to write. I wanted to share what a fun time I had and thank all of those who caught my performances and my workshop.

After a reasonable amount of rest last night, I almost feel ready to take on the weeds that have grown used to this rainy spring we've been having and have grown far too tall in the process. Well, okay, maybe I'm not quite that energetic yet. Give me another day of rest to bounce back. I think they said it was going to rain on us some more in the next few days.

I'm almost ready to go with astroturf if this yardfull of green vermin doesn't quit trying to be a jungle. I can actually walk out into my back yard and watch it grow before my eyes. There's only so much extra exercise and cardio vascular activity a guy can handle.

I'm starting to feel another song coming on.

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Deckman
Date: 27 May 08 - 12:34 PM

OH NO ... NOT ANOTHER SONG!!! You know Reg, modern medicine an do wonders today ... maybe they've got a pill now that will help dispell errant song writing! Bob

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Haruo
Date: 27 May 08 - 12:48 PM

We couldn't find the instrument-makers' showroom. Was it canceled this year? Used to be one of the more interesting permanent exhibits, everything from oudhs and pennywhistles to dulcimers and didgeridoos.

I missed the 55-year thing because I thought it was at noon so I went to the Shape Note beginners' singing at 11 and then discovered my error. (But the Sacred Cow stuff was absolutely wonderful, and I needed to sing.)

Haruo

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 May 08 - 01:09 PM

Thanks for the great descriptions of the events!

SRS

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: Stewart
Date: 27 May 08 - 01:26 PM

Yes, the demise of the instrument-makers' showroom
is another example of Folklife going the wrong way.
We did get a few more rooms for workshops - that was good -
but I missed the opportunity to see new instruments,
talk to the makers and try out some instruments.
Isn't that an integral part of a folk music festival?

The instrument makers were told
they could set up outdoor booths.
A few did, but most didn't want to
expose their instruments to the elements.
And the outdoor noise would make it hard
to demonstrate and try out new instruments,
and there was little security to lock up booths
with expensive instruments overnight.

So another nice part of Folklife is gone, sigh.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: johnross
Date: 27 May 08 - 01:38 PM

As it was explained to me, there was no instrument showcase this year because the number of instrument makers has been dropping (I remember a somewhat full room, but I could be mistaken), and the space in those Northwest Rooms was better used for workshops and exhibits. Since the Vera Project took over some of that space, there's less for other activities during the festival.

I heard a lot of people asking about the Instrument Showcase, so maybe the planning folks will reconsider.

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: GUEST
Date: 27 May 08 - 04:28 PM

All criticism (warrented or otherwise) aside, I am sorry not to have been able to travel to this event. On balance, though I am sure the event has become something of a "happening" unto itself, it still affords the opportunity to see and interact with those who have lived the "folk music life" and produced the music we all enjoy so much.

A friend, noting the absence of luthiers, et al, from the event, suggested that the reason might be that many of those who fondled the goodies couldn't really afford to buy what they fell in love with. I would certainly have been among those, in my earlier days.

Subject: RE: NW Folklife/Seattle
From: mg
Date: 28 May 08 - 02:20 AM

Geeze..can't you guys have a festival without me? Probably not. I was there after Sunday afternoon. ..my niece got married on Saturday..

Had a great time..it was quite mellow..smaller crowds than usual..perhaps because of the shooting...I saw lots of people..went in and out of the panel discussion thinking sooner or later they would sing..didn't realize it was meant to be a discussion..just thought they were exceptionally long-winded, going on about their coffee pots etc. Good information but not as enticing as the music was. Heard this Serbian Kapla group that was fantastic..at the last minute..I was just heading out.

Missed the Saturday bar sing but went to McHugh's on Sunday (I went to college with McHugh himself) and it was quite good, especially toward the very end when the women sang more....

saw some great teenage fiddlers as usual...heard a great women's group..3-D Divas or some such thing...heard some group singing in Swedish..like Octoberfest for Swedes...never had heard them do group singing before...very pretty...I am a Swede at heart when it comes to music...you can actually make out what the tune is, which I appreciate tremendously...

Well, it was very nice as usual. mg