NEFFA 2007 --Who's going?

Subject: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: bbc
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 02:37 AM

Hi, folks,

The New England Folk Festival
will be held in less than 3 weeks--April 20-22. Will you be there--performer or audience? Hope to see you! Duane D & I will be staying at the Econo Lodge in Sharon, MA.

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: GUEST,Pamela in Ithaca
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 08:30 AM

Hi bbc,

I'll be there, performing on Friday night (late - 10pm)
and Saturday afternoon. I'll also be singing a couple
of ballads with John Roberts.

Looking forward to seeing lots of people.
Some great friends from "across the pond" will be there.
Don't miss Alison McMorland and Geordie McIntyre!
And Brian Peters!

cheers, Pamela

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 08:32 AM

I'll be there, helping Camsco music.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: GUEST,SINS at work
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 08:57 AM

Can't make it this year. Working for a living is a bitch.
Enjoy all.
SINS

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 09:22 AM

Dick and I will be there, at the CAMSCO booth.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: karen k
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 12:51 PM

I'll be there with Folk-Legacy, of course. Will also be doing a Gospel Round Robin on Sun. at 1pm in the Middle School with The Beans and Barbara and Frank Shaw.

karen

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 02:56 PM

Right, we will be there on Sunday. It's a new location this year, so check the website for directions. The middle school and high school are apparently right next to each other so the festival takes place in both schools. It's HUGE and WONDERFUL!

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 04:45 PM

I'll be there, but you knew that already, bbc. I'll be doing a solo set at 9pm Friday (directly before Pamela in Ithaca), and also playing on a few tunes with Jeff Davis at his Sunday set. In between, lots of playing and visiting and workshop attending. Can't wait!

CAMSCO, perhaps you could bring along the booklet for the "Just Another Saturday Night: Sussex 1960" CD I purchased at last year's NEFFA?!

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 05:21 PM

I'll be there on Sunday only- my daughter and I will be attending Accepted Students' Day at Hampshire College on Sat. Hope to see you then!
Allison

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: GUEST,ALF
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 09:10 PM

Hello,
I am going to be there Sat & Sun. Saturday I will be hosting a voice workshop.
Looking forward to seeing everyone!
Alison Lee Freeman

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 10:12 PM

Change of dates and location make it impossible this year. If the turn out is lighter than usual ... go back to the original.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 10:24 PM

If anyone wants a Mudcat Tee Shirt, please let me know in advance.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Songster Bob
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 10:35 PM

Jennifer (Woods, my wife) and I will be there, as will my Sidekick, Pete Kraemer. Pete and I have a Sidekicks set on Sunday (noon? 1:00?), followed immediately by my set with Jennifer. The set is based on some new approaches to several traditional songs, and the new approaches come from our work with our electric band, Last Gold Dollar. We're not bringing the amps, of course, but we're trying to use that "what if?" thinking that we use with Last Gold Dollar (as an example, we wondered what it would have sounded like if Dock Boggs played "Mole in the Ground," a Bascom Lamar Lunsford song; we're not sure we'll do it in the set -- it has to "hold together" better than it is so far, but that's the kind of thinking we do in the electric band).

My set with Jennifer is called, "As the Twig is Bent," and consists of songs we have learned from others in our lives, such as Helen Schneyer, Margaret MacArthur, Jon Eberhart, and Gus Meade, to name a few of our sources. We think it's an interesting approach to making a set of songs.

So we'll be there on Sunday, on-stage, but also "around" on Friday and all day Saturday, ready to play or sing or schmooze at the drop of a hat (and I'll bring the hat).

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 02:25 AM

It'll be great to see & hear all those that posted, plus the many that have yet to chime in. I'll be there Saturday & hopefully Sunday, maybe FRiday if I can figure out how, along with my partner Neil Downey as Finn & Haddie. Saturday we're starting the day off early at 11:00 am (whew) with a title that was cut short "Songs of Sailors" (of Color). We'll be doing maritime songs with choruses, as time permits, from the BWI, Bahamas, Georgia Sea Islands, Nantucket, the Gulf Ports & the Southern Alantic Seaboard. Singing along is not an option, it's mandatory. Then we'll be doing a "shanty blast" for all the die hards, starting at 10:00 pm till closing (11:30?). That should afford us a few shanties to start off with & enough time to get most of those that are willing to lead off the rest of the rowdy crowd.

Barry

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: bbc
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 02:52 AM

Thanks to all who've responded so far. It will be great to see you! I guess we will make the effort to get to the festival Friday pm, rather than waiting until Saturday am. Too many of you are performing Friday pm to miss! Barry, I wondered if Finn & Haddie was you!

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 08:00 AM

Alas, I think the further distance and the lack of time means Tom and I will have to give it a miss this year. I think we're aiming for the New Bedford festival instead.

Linn

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Midchuck
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 10:08 AM

We missed the performer sign-up deadline this year. We haven't yet gotten used to not having them send something to the prior year's performers to remind them of the deadline. What the heck. Putting it further south makes it a longer trip anyway. Maybe next year.

Peter.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Suffet
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 10:51 AM

Greetings:

NEFFA scheduled me for three events this year. The first one Folk City Interlude, is something I have been proposing for five years, and the program committee finally accepted it. It is a workshop of songs that I learned while hanging out on the fringes of the New York City folk music scene in the 1960s. I will not be doing any originals by Dylan, Ochs, Paxton, etc. Instead I will performing songs like Come Back, Baby; Stealing; Hesitation Blues; Railroad Bill; Don't Let Your Deal Go Down; Candy Man; and Baby, Let Me Follow You Down.

Folk City, as you likely know, was the famous (infamous?) bar at 11 West 4th Street in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. The Interlude, much less known but still very important, was a coffee house by Station Plaza in Kew Gardens, Queens. I will bring photos of both. Folk City Interlude will take place Friday at 7:00 PM in High School Room 103.

I will also be appearing as part of MacDougal Street Rent Party in two events. They are Songs of Struggle, which takes place Saturday at 9:00 PM in the High School Auditorium, and Kids Sing Freedom!, which takes place Sunday at 10:00 AM in Middle School Room 105/106. Both events are fully participatory, and Kids Sing Freedom! is intended for families with children. Joining us will be Sandy Pliskin of the New England Children's Music Network.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: GUEST,chooses to be anonymous
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 11:11 AM

Midchuck, you are not alone. A very good friend of ours who regularly appears at NEFFA also missed the deadline. When he told us of his misfortune, we asked Linda Leslie to add him to one of our performances. She said OK, and now this fellow will be on the program, but just barely. No, we won't say who he is. If he wants to reveal his identity, he can do so himself.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: MaineDog
Date: 09 Apr 07 - 01:39 PM

In the old days you could sign up for the festival orchestra at the door, with no prior notice, and get in free. Is this no longer so?
Anyway, it looks like I will miss it this year due mainly to medical problems, and perhaps also to let them learn the ropes in the new venue.
Hope to see everyone next year.
MD

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: GUEST,Brian Peters
Date: 09 Apr 07 - 02:34 PM

I'll be presenting "Folksongs of England" on the Sunday afternoon at 2.00, in Middle School 103/4. But get there an hour before to hear Jeff Davis. I'll be playing some with Jeff, and he with me - and great to hear Dave Ruch will be around too!

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: pitheris
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 02:17 PM

[quote]

In the old days you could sign up for the festival orchestra at the door, with no prior notice, and get in free. Is this no longer so?


They need lots of volunteers for various jobs. Each hour of volunteer work pays for a half-day. Even if you haven't signed up ahead of time, you could stop and ask at the volunteer table to see what is available.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: GUEST,Judy Cook
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 02:58 PM

Dennis & I will be there. I'll sing in Ballads of Storm & Fire with Sue West & Friends on Friday 9pm; in Songs of Women's Work with Suz Mrozak & Friends on Saturday Noon; Civil War Songs with Allen Hopkins Saturday evening 7pm; and in Songs of Women & The Sea on Sunday at Noon.

It will be great to see everyone there.

By the way, Diane Tiraz & I are singing at Branford CT on 4/14, and I'm giving my Multi-media CW program at Sunderland, MA on 4/19.

--Judy Cook

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: GUEST,Cookieless Kathy Westra at the office
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 04:12 PM

I'll be doing a concert set called "Roots and Branches" on Sunday at 11 (just before Judy's "Women and the Sea," which I'm also involved in). Also "Songs of Women's Work" on Saturday at noon with Suzanne Mrozak.

Parking and driving sound like they're going to be "challenging"--especially on Saturday morning-to-midday when some of the main routes in town are going to be closed off (until 12:30) because of a parade. Be sure to visit the NEFFA website (linked by bbc in the first message of this thread) to get the scoop. They're urging folks to carpool if at all possible.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: GUEST,melinda
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 04:32 PM

I'll be there again! I'm looking forward to some of the sessions mentioned here, as well as the group singing events like rounds, west gallery, and the like.
It looks easier to get to this year, in spite of the parade, because the parking is closer. I always hated parking on the other side of town and spending all that time on the bus.

See you there!

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 06:08 PM

Thanks for the warning on the parade. It looks like one can catch the far end of East St from Route 106 Pratt St east of town and avoid town center.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 10:55 PM

Damn - just checked my calendar and I have two long standing listing appointments - one on Saturday and one on Sunday. It looks like it would be soooooooooooo much fun -- I'll see if it is not too far to drive for at least the Friday pm and Saturday am sessions......; Jacqui - are you driving? Assume you will stay the whole time? Or am I making a hideous faux pas and is this perhaps a performers only event with no casual hangers on allowed?

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: bbc
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 06:45 AM

No, TRUCRIT, it is certainly NOT performers only. I hope you can make it!

best,

bbc

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 10:35 PM

I'm going to try.....thanks for the words of encouragement!!!

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: GUEST,lamarca
Date: 12 Apr 07 - 05:58 PM

George (Stephens) and I will be doing a set on Saturday at 6PM in the "Acoustic" Middle School (I think the rooms in the High School have sound systems, and those in the Middle School don't...). We're going to do a set of some of our old favorites, and some new songs we've learned from our trip to Oz in 2005. There'll be a ballad or two, some Kipling and Lawson, and a lot of songs about work.

We're also going to sing a song in Suzanne Mrozak's "Women's Work" session, and in Judy Cook's "Women and the Sea" - both with good choruses, so come join in!

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 Apr 07 - 06:02 PM

Now, there's a very good reason for going! Looking forward to seeing you both, Mary and George.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: bbc
Date: 12 Apr 07 - 11:34 PM

I second that. It will be great to see you; it's been too long!

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 05:18 PM

refresh!

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Suffet
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 07:10 PM

Greetings:

I just learned today about another event that was added to the NEFFA program. As an emergency fill-in for a last minute cancellation, Linda Leslie asked Joel Landy to facilitate a humorous song swap on Sunday at 2:00 PM. Joel has been calling people and asking each to contribute one song. I said that I would, as did Paul Kaplan and Sol Weber. If you want to participate, show up on time and let Joel know you would like to do a song. He runs these things more like a singers' night in the UK than like an American style song circle.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 04:54 PM

Any survivors?

Lovely weather. I hope some of you got to enjoy it.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: bbc
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 10:18 PM

Yup, Charley, Duane D. & I survived, at least. In terms of the music, it was a really lovely weekend. Some issues with the new location, though. The most upsetting was too-low occupancy regulations about the rooms. Some folks were shut out of hearing sessions. Some of us left sessions early to try to make sure we could get into at least part of the next one we wanted to hear. It really hurt the karma of the weekend, in my opinion. School bells went off every 1/2 hour in some of the rooms--a bit disruptive, particularly of solo a cappella pieces. Food was good, but somewhat limited in selection or, occasionally, availability. Also, the Folk Legacy & Camsco booths were in a really lousy location, where they got little attention. If they can't sort out some of these issues, I suspect I won't go after next year.

I saw many people I value, both as friends & performers, & will try to post again. For now, I'd better get to bed. School starts early!

best,

bbc

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 10:30 PM

I'm in total agreement with you Barbara. While it was nice to have more space it was a bit of a walk between the two buildings, particularly for people like Sandy Paton, who was with Folk Legacy in the Gulag (back end of the Middle School) and was performimg in the High School.

The rules on room occupancy were restrictive and di lead to some problems with getting into the events wanted. For popular events you really had to leave somewhere else early to make sure you could get in.

The Folk Legacy and Camsco stalls were certainly in the wromg place - people had to know where to go to find them and there was no 'passing trade' as was the case last year. Sales were definitely affected.

It was good to meet up with friends and to hear new (to me) performers though.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 10:31 PM

Yes Charlie, many survivors. It was a lovely festival. The new place was just dandy, with the exception of the (?) rule allowing only as many people in to a workshop hall/room as there were chairs, no standing thought there was room for plenty more chairs at times, I'm sure there was a good reason. And the food choices were narrow compared to the past, so what! Otherwise there was some tought callings between which workshops to attend there was plenty of good ones to choose from, actually there were to many good performers & not enough time but there was plenty of space. I think there was enough for anyones' taste, there certinally was for me. Weather wise it was one of the best that I can remember. Though I couldn't do Friday night & missed some good folks, Saturday & Sunday made up for that. I'm not gonna give a running list of how whoever's workshops were cause I missed to many good ones & it'd be unfair to leave them out cause I couldn't be in 3 or 4 places at once, 2 places at the same time I can manage. I will say that I left with the taste of the last 2 workshops in my head. Jeff Davis had Brian Peters with him & had Erwin Bennet & Dave Ruch (who's guite a nice guy & player-sorry to have missed his Fri eve "Trad songs of NY" , heard it was great)sitting in with him & then followed by Brian Peters who had Jeff Davis with him, hell of a combo. Also it was nice to see old & new friends some who I haven't seen in many, many years (hi Ian), some mudcatters & some mudcatter lurkers who I han't known about. So, anyway after Jeff & Brian I went home after that well feasted on music & song, quite delighted with the whole short weekend.

Not being a dancer, I'll leave that to others.

Barry

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 08:20 AM

Next year I've got to make sure this is reserved on my calendar. What we were doing last weekend was interesting but some of it could have been scheduled on other weekends.

Barry-

Was Neil able to make it?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 09:54 AM

I wasn't that crazy about the new location, but I think they will work out some of the issues with time. There is certainly more space, with rooms at two side-by-side schools and the grounds surrounding them. Probably not a lot more parking, but the satellite parking is definitely miles closer than before.

The vendors such as Folk Legacy and Camsco were all lining a narrow hall, which made traffic difficult, and most of the traffic passing them at that point were dancers, who were apparently not the best market for their CDs. I didn't notice any big open central spaces for vendors in the middle school, but there was a large area in the high school where the craft bazaar was set up. Unfortunately, I never made it back over there after checking in at the performers' table!

We walked through the cafeteria, and the food looked great although there didn't seem to be as much variety as in previous years. But hey, I never met a calorie I didn't like...

Despite some drawbacks of the venue, it was nice to be at NEFFA again and fun to do the Gospel Round Robin with Karen K and The Beans. It's so refreshing for bluegrassers such as Frank and myself to be in a roomful of folkies where folks actually SING! You rarely hear that at a bluegrass performance.

Sunday was actually a quieter day to go (that's when we were scheduled) and we even got a parking spot right at the school complex. Problem was, two of the workshops I wanted to go to were at the same time as ours!!

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: GUEST,melinda
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 11:48 AM

I had a wonderful time. I thought the new location was much more spacious, although they seemed to have some bugs to work out with things; somone already mentioned the location of the vendors was not so great, which I thought too.
I thought the room-capacity 'issue' was overly strict, but maybe it will be better next time. I missed hearing the "Beans" because they had a 'sell-out' audience. My Boston friends said there was a rumor going around that some town official was being un-helpful.
I was able to do both shape-note and west gallery workshops - I LOVE west gallery music, and thought it was very good this year. I talked to the guy who leads it and he said there were lots of new faces, so he must have been pleased.
I don't always care for the shapenote "attitude" but this year's teacher was very good and taught the basics and not the affectations (say no more...).
I love the emphasis on traditional folk music; some festivals feature the more commercial stuff that I don't like as well. I spent too much money, ate too much, danced too much, and sang too much, so it must have been a good time. Now my feet hurt.

- melinda from albany who still hasn't bothered to become a member here.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Jacob B
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 05:41 PM

The restrictions on the number of people in each room were imposed by the town's Fire Marshall.

I ran into the committee head who organized the Folk Music section of the Festival while she was standing in the hallway wishing she could get into the Jeff Davis and Brian Peters concert. She talked to me briefly about how the room capacity issue didn't come up until it was too late to change the program, and about what she will do differently next year to try to alleviate the problem.

Everyone who was there should go to the NEFFA website and fill out an Evaluation Form! NEFFA would like to know what they can do better next year.

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: pitheris
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 06:02 PM

I have been going for 25 yrs and (along with my family) a long time volunteer.


One thing that I noticed that nobody else mentioned, is the increase in young people (teens & 20s) dancing and jamming!.

There were also a couple sessions that were filled up that I wanted to attend.

BTW, the fire marshall at the old site was always complaining about the room capacity. The fire dept of Mansfield are doing their job. We need to figure out how to make it work with their rules.

I was amazed (with the exception of the above probs) at how NEFFA could move to a new site & still look almost the same.

Thanks to all the volunteers and organizers!

Got any ideas about how things should be moved around?

As Jacob B said, fill out the evaluation form.


Bob

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 06:07 PM

Your right Bob, there were loads of young'ngs playing about & most were damn good too.

Barry

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Songster Bob
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 12:51 AM

Other'n that my two sets didn't get much of an audience (perhaps it's my breath mint?), I enjoyed the festival.

The fire marshall problem is partly due to the formula they use for capacity for a room -- if they used a formula that didn't presuppose school desks, there'd be room for more chairs and thus larger audiences. How to get them to use a different formula, though...

The two-school thing did get a bit much, but at least we got exercise, going from one to the other, so that's not so bad. The lousy location for some vendors was, well, lousy, and needs fixing.

All I can say is, thank God for loverly weather. And thank God the next generation suddenly showed up. Kids all over the place, jamming and jamming and otherwise playing music (when they weren't jamming). Now we'll have to compete with those kids, when they decide to send in suggestions for workshops/concerts/etc.


Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: bigchuck
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 07:51 AM

Well, this was my first NEFFA as audience rather than performer, and I had a wonderful time. I was bothered by some of the issues mentioned previously, but very aware that the first time in a new location must have caused lots of unanticipated problems. The magnificent weather made for a lot more opportunities for jamming, which is always one of my favorite activities. I even enjoyed the walking. Also, having shuttle bus service from the door of the motel was great. I'll certainly be back.

Sandy

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Midchuck
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 10:11 AM

The fire marshall problem is partly due to the formula they use for capacity for a room -- if they used a formula that didn't presuppose school desks, there'd be room for more chairs and thus larger audiences. How to get them to use a different formula, though...

Hey, it's Massachusetts. The answer is obvious.

Peter

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: MMario
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 10:34 AM

It's Massachusetts - the answer is obvious

sure - wait 200 years and then ignore it as a "Blue Law"

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 08:05 PM

To be honest, I would have been a bit concerned about being in a room jammed full of people with only one exit. Some classrooms have 2 doors, and those presumably could have a high capacity. Maybe the NEFFA folks will find larger spaces within the 2 schools that can be utilized. The practice rooms at the middle school seemed to be much larger than the workshop rooms that were used for concerts and had interconnecting doors, but they were a longer walk to get to. It's always something...

Subject: RE: NEFFA--Who's going?
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 08:32 PM

I had a great time all weekend. It's amazing to me how many different "pockets" of musicians are there (same for singers and dancers..). One corner of the hallway has folks playing northern contradance tunes, then you stumble on an Irish session, then old-time southern stuff, and that's all outside of the scheduled sessions!

As for the various scheduled musics, I enjoyed just about every session I made it to, which included Pamela Goddard on Friday night, Drew Smith/Mike Resnick/Susan Sterngold & co doing Carter Family songs, David Jones (great!!), John Roberts, Randy Miller & Celticlada, Ken Sweeney & Craig Edwards doing Southern Mt Music, Drew Smith & Robbie Wedeen, Jeff Davis, Brian Peters, etc etc.