Washington Folk Festival?

Subject: Washington Folk Festival?
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 28 May 99 - 08:35 AM

Next Weekend (June 5 and 6) is the Washington Folk Festival at Glen Echo Park.

It seems that there are a lot of Mudcatters in the D.C. and Baltimore area. With kids scouts, sports, etc. I don't have a chance to get to many of the Folklore Society of Greater Washington (FSGW) events, but I do get to the folk festival every year. Is anyone else going?

I usually bring my gutbucket and try to join some of the jams under the trees. If you see me walking around say hi (my gutbucket has a cross brace so the pole does not have to be supported from the rim) I'd love to meet some of you.

JAB

Subject: RE: Washington Folk Festival?
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 28 May 99 - 11:15 AM

I might go, JAB. If I do I'll certainly wear my Mudcat T-shirt. Have you gotten yours yet?

For all of you impecunious Mudcatters out there I should note that for some Godforsaken reason this festival is FREE! Don't ask me why. I think that is entirely unreasonable.

And what do you get for all this money? Some of the best folk music and dancing that the Metro-Washington area has to offer. Usually three or four stages running simultaneously and in addition some smaller topic driven workshops.

You ain't gonna see no Joan Baez or some such folk giant, but there are many damn good musicians in this area. Many are full-time folk artists, many are working professionally at folk-music part-time.

This year, however, it is graduation weekend for my youngest son and family duties call me away on Saturday for sure and maybe on Sunday as well. I have to play it by ear.

Bring your sun tan lotion!!!

Big RiB

Subject: RE: Washington Folk Festival?
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 28 May 99 - 01:41 PM

Details about the festival are available at: http://www.fsgw.org/wff.htm

Among the Mudcatting performers:

Sidekicks with Lisa Null features SongBob, George Stephens (LaMarca's SO), and Lisa Null (Charlie Baum's SO)

Ferrara is singing in the Civil War Songs Workshop on Sunday.

Bill D is up to his ears (or other anatomical parts) managing the crafts.

Charlie Baum (that's me) is on the program committee and hosting a workshop in Vocal Styles of the World on Saturday afternoon.

I've probably left out others on the schedule, and there's LOTS of jamming space under the trees if you just want to make music. There are some moderately "big names" including Joe Hickerson and Ed Trickett. One of the limiting factors is that you can't perform unless you live and/or work in the Greater DC area.

--Charlie Baum (not totally disinterested, since he's on the program committee of this thing!)

Subject: RE: Washington Folk Festival?
From: Bill D
Date: 28 May 99 - 08:52 PM

that festival is gonna be here...at Glen Echo Park ...22 years now...more music, dance, storytelling, crafts, than you can shake a stick at!..(and sometimes we have Morris Dancers trying)...

come join us...

Subject: RE: Washington Folk Festival?
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 29 May 99 - 10:24 AM

Refresh!

Big RiB

Subject: RE: Washington Folk Festival?
From: Ferrara
Date: 29 May 99 - 02:36 PM

Truly, it's a splended two days of fun. The audience is huge, in the tens of thousands, mostly smiling and looking very relaxed. Lots of strollers and kids, lots of guitars, fiddles, always at least one hurdy-gurdy -- and that's just in the picnic area under the trees! You never know what you'll find on the stages, but there will be the Japanese Koto Society for sure. Some years there are alpine horns.

The scheduled music is mostly under tents, but spills out onto the grass so Roger is so right about the sun lotion.

Part of the Glen Echo parking lot collapsed into the creek about 10 years back, so those who get there after about noon have to park in satellite parking at the Defense mapping Agency (I forget its new name) and take the free shuttle buses. The carousel runs all day for the kids and there is a family stage and a playground.

There will be music and dance from Tibet, Ghana, Lithuania, Paraguay, Japan, and things too fierce to mention. Judy Cook, who isn't a Mudcatter but ought to be, will be singing. Bluegrass and country jams under the trees, Morris dancing wherever they can clear a space -- it's a grand good time.