2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: Claymore
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 03:56 PM

I got to spend the last couple of days at the Festival and enjoyed it all. Got to see Wayne Henderson since the last time at the
Festival when he represented Appalachia and Scotland was the western country. Also met Tommy Sands since the Leesburg, VA, Celtic Festival a couple of years ago.

And the folks at the Ulster Immigraton Center were excellent in tracking down some grave stone inscriptions, which further assisted my search for my Irish forebearer, by nailing down the family that stayed behind. One of the ladies actually remembered me from the 2004 Fourth of July celebrations I played at the Center just north of Omagh.

For thse who don't know, they have created an entire data base of all the cemetaries in the North and have the incriptions, word for word, with names and dates of those who stayed behind. This is in addition to the ships records, birth records and family letters and records in their data base.

The Norhtern Irish group also had an excellent idea of a free running session in a tent next to the food tent. They even had special youth sessions for local young musicians, and a pretty good number showed up, especially from the Silver Spring area of MD, just north of DC. Unfortunately, the Virginia exibition did not have a formal jam session area, though there was a couple of pick-up groups in the area.

I spent no time in the Mekong exhibition as the last time I was was there in person we were trading gunfire...

Most interesting moment: On Saturday they decided to have some sort of Earth Day/ Global Warming video deal at the Indian Musesum. As I was passing by, an Irish woman (by her accent) was talking with some of the Virginia Indians who were going to put on a show that they gave for the Queen of England who had visited Jamestown a couple of weeks earlier. She spotted my bodhran case and asked me to show them what it was, as their frame drums looked remarkabley similar. Big suprise! I have been using an American-made Shaman drum as a bodhran for some ten years, due to its rope and bead tuning and the ability to rapidly tune to the drone of any given tune. And since I use a tipper made of two kettle drum sticks, scarfed together by a dulcimer maker friend of mine, she was a bit taken back. However by showing the Indians how to hold their drums differently, and use the "thermometer" handhold to hold their beaters as a one-ended tipper, I left them doing 6/8 time...

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: karen k
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 12:22 AM

Tim Laycock is an amazing performer. Don't miss him.

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: fretless
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 05:18 PM

Visited the festival during lunch - heard No Speed Limit, a high octane bluegrass band from Galax, Virginia; bought three discounted Folkways CDs; and got back to the office only slightly late because of a sudden thunderstorm. More tomorrow.

And Sian, we had the same acronym problem when we organized the archaeological council of New York back in the 70s (ACNY). Ended up calling it Professional Archaeoloists of New York City instead.

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: sian, west wales
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 04:59 PM

HA! Yeh, you go for it b'bruce. I seriously doubt if he'll turn you down!

He is, BTW, the Traditional Arts Officer for Arts Council of Northern Ireland. (Who decided to call it that?????? ACNI????)

sian

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: beardedbruce
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 02:34 PM

sian,

Should I buy him a beer? 8-{E


I am the one selling beer at the participant hospitality party...

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: Blowzabella
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 02:30 PM

Thnks for the links, Bruce - the extract on Tim says:

Sonia Ritter and Tim Laycock,
    Kent, England
Ritter and Laycock wrote a play
about the Weald of Kent based
on the work of Vita Sackville-
West. Their acting troupe, The
Lion's Part, performs this play,
as well as traditional English
entertainments and seasonal
festivities. www.thelionspart.co.uk

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: sian, west wales
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:40 AM

Keep an eye out for Paul Flynn from N. Ireland Arts Council. Fiddler. Good guy.

sian

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: beardedbruce
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:39 AM

http://www.folklife.si.edu/festival/2007/Northern_Ireland/Participants/Music_and_Dance.html
http://www.folklife.si.edu/festival/2007/Virginia/Participants/Music_and_Performance.html

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: Blowzabella
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:26 AM

If I'm not mistaken, i think Tim laycock is going to be there from the UK. He is a wonderful performer (singer, folklorist, concertina-player extraordinaire and storyteller), so do try and get along to see him. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 09:53 PM

Geeta, Kiran and I are hoping to go on one of the cooler days this weekend - probably either Friday or Saturday, but we're trying to keep it flexible.

Dan Schatz

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: GUEST,Mike B.
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 09:44 PM

This is a great festival, albeit better in some years than others. Four or five years ago, they brought in some of the legendary fiddlers and banjo players from the Appalachian region. Jean Ritchie came down from New York with her family to do an evening concert and there was a salute to Scotland featuring Dougie McLean, the Battlefield Band and other musicians and dancers from that country.

Last year, Ian Tyson (of Ian & Sylvia fame) performed as part of a celebration of Alberta.

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: Greg B
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 12:52 PM

If you look at the Festival Map you will
observe that the Mekong seems to flow between Northern
Ireland and Virginia.

With a sense of geography like that, it's no wonder we
lost the bloody war.

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: fretless
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 09:48 AM

If you come, be prepared for hot weather -- it always bakes during the festival. And bring some extra cash -- there are always some good sales on folkways recordings in the Smithsonian tent.

Sian, feel free to PM me with insider questions you may have. And Dan, see your PMs for a message about your visit.

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: beardedbruce
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 08:10 AM

Festival starts this coming Wednesday.

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: Susan of DT
Date: 12 Apr 07 - 10:32 AM

We are thinking about coming.

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 12 Apr 07 - 10:22 AM

Yes. Liam's Sister-in-Law and I will go for a few days to hear some new sounds and spend a little time with our friends from Northern Ireland.

Subject: RE: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: sian, west wales
Date: 12 Apr 07 - 04:35 AM

I hope someone keeps us informed of how things go here. Wales has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to be a featured nation in 2009 and any 'insider knowledge' would be a big help!

sian

Subject: RE: BS: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: GUEST,Pamela from Ithaca
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 10:22 PM

Why is this in BS???

This always sounds like a great event, but
I havn't made it yet. Don't know about this year,
but it's good to have the nudge.

Subject: RE: BS: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: beardedbruce
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 04:18 PM

I will have my usual job, selling beer at the participant lounge in the evenings...

But I should get to the site a couple of days.

Anyone interested in working the Participant Lounge? Often some great jam sessions, and the work is not that hard- just keeping the munchies on the table, and providing sodas.

Subject: RE: BS: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: Severn
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 04:07 PM

Being an area resident, you're bound to run into me on a couple of days. Sounds like an excellant line up this year.

Subject: BS: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From: beardedbruce
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 03:58 PM

Anyone planning to come to DC for the Folklife Festival?

http://www.folklife.si.edu/festival/2007/index.html

41st Annual
Smithsonian Folklife Festival

on the National Mall

June 27-July 1 and July 4-8, 2007

Open daily 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Evening events 6 p.m.

   
Mekong River:
Connecting Cultures

Northern Ireland at the Smithsonian

Roots of Virginia Culture