NOMAD, 2002, was wonderful!

Subject: NOMAD, 2002, was wonderful!
From: bbc
Date: 27 Oct 02 - 09:57 PM

I would highly recommend the NOMAD Festival for folk singers, dancers, & audience who can make it to Newtown, CT in October. We are just home from a very satisfying weekend! Many Mudcatters &/ D.C. folkies were there. Much hugging & singing resulted! My personal opinion is that the D.C.er's use NOMAD as post-GetAway afterglow, but I didn't mind at all. I'd like to say a sincere "Thank you!" to our D.C. area friends. It's clear to me that you formed a large percentage of the performers & that you worked hard. I appreciated hearing all of you! I don't mean to slight the other performers. I heard folks for the 1st time & renewed acquaintance w/ others; all were a pleasure! Kendall, you were missed & mentioned fondly in conversation many times. It took 2 men to replace you in the Hobo workshop! We love you. Thanks to Sandy & Caroline (Folk Legacy) & Dick & Susan (Camsco) for providing music to purchase & so many helpful comments on the music. Thanks to the organizers. My only complaint is that too many great things were scheduled for me to hear all of them! I hope others may post & fill in information on the weekend. Maybe next year we can see more Mudcatters here? Next stop is Branford, CT to hear Rick Fielding on Saturday, November 9th!

best,

bbc

P.S. to Rita--Thanks for that parting hug; Duane passed it along! :)

Subject: RE: NOMAD, 2002, was wonderful!
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 27 Oct 02 - 10:29 PM

Yes, it was indeed another wonderful festival. I always look forward to festivals to see old friends, and then when I'm leaving, I realize that I haven't seen half the people I was looking forward to seeing. Part of the problem is that the festival is continuing to grow... a nice problem. But, the more workshops there are that are going on simultaneously, the less likely it is that you're going to run into friends. The best solution is to see if you can get your friends in the same workshop with you. For the last five years, the Gospel Messengers have done a Gospel In Black And White workshop together. That's about the best of both worlds, as I did an album of white gospel music with the Beans, and The Messengers are working on a CD. It was great fun being together again. We backed the Beans when they did some of their songs, and they joined in with us on some of ours..
And we had everybody on their feet singing along and clapping when we finished with Trouble In My Way.

I can hardly wait until next year..

Jerry

Subject: RE: NOMAD, 2002, was wonderful!
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 28 Oct 02 - 09:03 PM

Didn't get to many of the programs because we got there late and had our own concert at 9. However, did get to hear a bit of Jerry Rasmussen's "Gospel Styles in Black & White" and Woodchucks' Revenge's "Do You Love Me?" from the doorways - both sounded great - and a few groups rehearsing in the hallways. Next year we have to get there early.

Subject: RE: NOMAD, 2002, was wonderful!
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Oct 02 - 07:16 PM

I just couldn't manage anymore time off from work after the Getaway. Kendall and Terry both suffered from miserable colds and had to cancel out at the last minute. I would love to hear more about it. How many attend? Workshops offered? Impromptu sing arounds? Details!

Subject: RE: NOMAD, 2002, was wonderful!
From: Ferrara
Date: 30 Oct 02 - 07:55 AM

Mary, there's a link to the NOMAD schedule grid in the previous "Who's coming to NOMAD" thread.

Impossibly full schedule. You could say that they hold two simultaneous festivals, one of music and one of dance. One of the joys of this festival is that you can see or participate in so many different kinds of dancing -- if you can tear yourself away from the music. And in the halls and in the cafeteria, you will see many folks in various kinds of dance costume as well as hearing people either jamming, or practicing for their next workshop or concert. It's very lively and visually beautiful as well as great music.

The D.C. contingent is indeed very noticeable, Barbara, but I think you'd find the same thing at any festival on the East Coast and at quite a few in the British Isles as well! Have often felt grateful to live in an area and be part of a community with so many wonderful folk musicians, who are so very knowledgeable and talented and willing to share.

Most of the workshops are NOT participatory, but Lorraine and I counted about six song swaps and there were several official jams and dozens of unofficial ones. There was a Shanty Blast led by "for all who can," which apparently meant that if you were a performer at NOMAD, were free at the scheduled time, and knew a few shanties, you could join the group leading it. And, they invited folks in the audience to lead a song.

The Sunday morning sing-around, led by Kathy Westra, was just as fine as could be. It was held in the cafeteria, which has nice resonant acoustics for chorus songs. Almost every song was a treat to hear and join in.

I tended to focus on workshops given by the Washington contingent and other friends this year although that was difficult when they were scheduled opposite each other as often happened.

In the workshops, my favorites were: The Patons with Dan Milner and special guest, Sandy Paton's hobo songs with special guests, and the Patons' concert.... Well, it's true. Each of these sessions was great from start to finish.

Dan Milner brought a friend named Jimmy McBride, who has been collecting songs in Donegal for about 30 years. He sang for us both in English and later in Gaelic. A very special treat. He's only in the U.S. for 2 weeks on this visit so we were quite lucky that he could drop in at NOMAD.

George Stephens and Keith Baldwin joined Sandy for the Hobo Songs on short notice and the mixture of styles, songs and reminiscences worked very well. Lots of fun and good sing-alongs, lots of stories.

Caroline and Sandy gave their concert on Sunday. I think it's the best I've ever heard them sound. They have so much understanding of the songs, and so much richness and control and expressiveness in their voices.

I certainly want to get back there. Hope this gives you a little idea of what it's like. As usual, I slept through much of the weekend.... Even fell asleep during the Shanty Blast. So I'm not really the best person to ask about what NOMAD is like.... but I still had a grand time.

Rita

Subject: NOMAD 2003 coming up
From: Suffet
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 06:31 PM

I've never been to NOMAD before, but I'll be there this year leading two workshops, both tentatively scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2003. The first will be a Woody Guthrie Jam Session and Song Swap, beginning at 10:00 AM. Bring voices, instruments, and your favorite Guthrie songs to share. I'll bring one or two of my own favorites, but I'll try to let as many people as possible lead or request songs of their choice.

The second workshop will be Woody Guthrie's Musical Evolution, beginning at 7:00 PM. It will explore the musical, biographical, and historical context of some of Woody's songs, including several of his lesser known songs. But don't fear; it is not a lecture, and there will be plenty of group singing.

Each workshop will run one NOMAD hour, which I believe means 55 minutes, maybe just 50 minutes. So come on time. And check the official schedule once it is published, because festivals tend to move events around.

Children are welcome at both workshops, but they will more likely find the morning Jam Session and Song Swap of interest to them.

This will be my first time performing at what I understand is a great little festival. I hope to say "hello" to many of you there.

--- Steve Suffet