Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival 2003

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 28 May 03 - 11:53 PM

XXL will be fine ... I will grow into it!!! :)

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 May 03 - 08:10 AM

Dick-

I'd like a patch! Maybe I'll staple it to my forehead...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 12:58 PM

So who's really coming?

Norris Dale and I are beating our way down from Maine to work as sound volunteers. Marc Bernier has graciously set us up to do a mini-concert at the Seamen's Inn, up at the north end of the Museum grounds, from 6 to 9 pm, on Friday evening. Anyone who is arriving early and would like to join in a few choruses and a brew or two at their pub would certainly be most welcome.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: MMario
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 01:53 PM

I'm driving out from upstate NY friday - should be there by then..

you're doing a mini concert overlapping the "unmooring" concert? \

any how - hop[e to meet you there!

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 03:57 PM

True, MMario, the "Unmooring Concert" at Lighthouse Point is scheduled to begin at 7 pm although it usually begins a little later than that.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 05:09 PM

we (Ferrara & I) will be arriving late Thursday (iffen de little car goes good)and will look for happenings on Friday...we will be doing some volunteer work during the festival, so don't know our exact schedule yet...

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 07:13 PM

I am a little unclear as to what is happening on Friday night. The website is a little vague.

I expect to be arriving around 7pm on Friday. Does anyone know what will be going on that night and where?

Ron

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Barry Finn
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 12:06 AM

Hi MMario, It'll be great to see ya again. Would you remind me I owe you at least 1 song (Sir Tristian) maybe 2.

Charlie, do you allow heckler's in the stands? I'll be by to catch you
you 2 whenever the Fri. meeting ends.

Hey Rita, it'll be so nice to see you again, alright, you too Bill.
Love Barry

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 08:33 AM

Barry, if you're at the Seamen's Inn Pub we may even dedicate a special verse just for you! ;~)

Ron, as I've said above the "Unmooring" Concert at Lighthouse Point is "scheduled" to begin at 7 pm, at least that's what was printed in the program flyer I received in late April. I expect the concert really won't begin before 7:15, depending on how many crew members are available and fully functional for warping out.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: GUEST,Ron Olesko
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 09:24 AM

Thanks Charley. I saw your post, but on the website they mention a "pub sing T.B.A." as well.   Any word on where that takes place?

Ron

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 01:31 PM

The Friday late night pub sing may be in the "Galley", the Museum restaurant, the dance hall across from the front gate of the Museum, or Trader Jack's Tavern in downtown Mystic. This event is open to the public, and the truly intrepid are welcome to lead a song; there is no "facilitator" and there are few pauses in the singing for shy ones to break in. I've watched many a fine singer self-destruct, having pitched his/her song several keys too high in their anxiety. What joy!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Skipper Jack
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 01:38 PM

We send our very best wishes for a very successful festival.

Baggyrinkle (Swansea Shantymen) Wales, UK.

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Susan of DT
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 05:56 PM

Dick and I will get there sometime Friday afternoon. Are people meeting at the Conrad at 5 on Friday and Saturday? The only problem with that is it interferes with such mundane matters as finding dinner.

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Barry Finn
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 07:25 PM

Hi Susan, the 5 pm meeting on Fri is a volunteer's meeting to iron out responsiblities & schedules. So I'd opt for diner in a New York second if you're not a volunteer. See you there. Have a great feast first then have a great time. See you soon. Barry

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Marc
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 09:27 PM

Fri night pub sing immediatly following the concert is across the street at the German Club. Sat eve pub sing immediatly following the concert is at the Galley.

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 06:58 AM

Three of us will be giving a presentation on Irish maritime and immigrant songs from the Flanders Ballad Collection on Saturday at 0900. Those of you who don't stay up late are most welcome to join us at the Symposium. Nancy-Jean Ballard, Bonnie and I will be playing some tapes of Flanders source singers and talking about the collection which comprises some 4500 musical items, virtually all collected in the 6 New England States.

The Folk-Legacy CD, "Irish Songs from Old New England: Traditional Irish-American Songs from the Flanders Ballad Collection," will be previewed also. The CD contains 16 songs sung by modern-day artists including 3 All-Ireland Champions (Frank Harte, Jim McFarland, Len Graham), some of North America's finest ballad singers (Gordon Bok, Ian Robb, Robbie O'Connell, Sandy Paton, Caroline Paton), 4 leaders of the Irish-American traditional song movement (Bonnie Milner & Deirdre Murtha of the Johnson Girls, Bob Conroy and myself), and 2 icons of Britain's folk song revival (Louis Killen, Martin Carthy). The CD will be available at the festival.

Bonnie and I do a ballad workshop with Dick Swain and Robbie O'Connell on Saturday at 1pm, a concert at 11am on Sunday at the Fishtown Chapel, and a workshop on the Flanders Collection at noon on Sunday. Look forward to seeing everyone. Mystic is just lovely!

All the best,
Dan Milner

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: MMario
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 09:02 AM

I can see already I am going to be going crazy trying to be in three or four places at once!

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: GUEST,Ron Olesko
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 10:10 AM

Dan, I'm salivating already!   I had not heard that this new CD was coming out! I can't wait to share it on my radio show.

I am really looking forward to this festival.   The weather report is iffy, but the music will make it perfect!

Ron

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Anglo
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 12:05 PM

Nice that some people have a workshop schedule. Is there one posted anywhere? I've not seen one yet, but then I suppose it is nearly three days away.

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 01:10 PM

There's always too much to try to see and hear, and participate in. As a Festival volunteer I'll be tied down to one site for 8 hours, sparing me the agony of difficult decisions. I'll certainly try to get to Don, Bonnie and Nancy's workshop, 9 am., on Saturday. After all it's such a hassle to go to sleep only to have to wake up two hours later.

The weather report doesn't look too bad to me, just some scattered showers on Saturday. I still remember the tropical monsoon we had a few years ago. Wasn't that a mighty storm!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Burke
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 05:12 PM

Reading this makes me want to go, but I have made no plans. What kind of shelter options for Fri & Sat might I have at this late date?

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Susan of DT
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 05:40 PM

Burke - People stay in motels. The ones in Mystic are horribly expensive, but try Groton, New London, Westerly RI, etc

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: karen k
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 12:05 AM

Plan to be there on Sat. and maybe part of Sunday. Look forward to seeing Mudcat friends.

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Ferrara
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 12:32 AM

Burke,

You can try the Comfort Inn in Mystic and mention that you're coming to the Sea Music Festival. If they have anything, you may be able to get a room there for just one arm, rather than an arm and a leg, because they have special rates for the festival.

Other than that, look at the Motel section of the Accommodations link from the Mystic web site. There are a lot of places listed and they won't all have filled up, I suspect. Groton is about half an hour away, not bad at all.

Far as I know they haven't posted the schedule and may not get to it this year. They sent a preliminary schedule to the volunteers, so people can plan the hours they'd like to work. (That's fine for selling programs, which is what we'll probably be doing.... People doing sound are on a different kind of schedule I think.)

Did anyone else notice the Fatal Flaw in the preliminary program -- they had scheduled Dan and Bonnie for two different sessions at the same time! I called and pointed it out, but I felt silly because I was sure they would have already caught it. Nope, they hadn't, and the programs were due at the printer's that very afternoon. Obviously they've got it rearranged now, thank goodness.

Karen, looking forward very much to seeing you. Actually, the closer it gets, the more I'm looking forward to seeing Everybody. Barry, I sent you a long PM.

Dick, I want a patch. Is there any chance you'll ever get self adhesive patches? I want to wear it NOW and knowing me, it will be at least a year and a half before I sew it on.

Rita

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: GUEST,Nancy-Jean
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 06:17 AM

This will be my first time at the festival. The Flanders symposium is going to be very exciting. This New England collection has been sorely neglected. Having listened to nearly all of the 4500 field recordings, I know that there are many, many songs waiting to be sung by this generation of singers. Many rare versions of known ballads and other fine songs.

Dan and I have been collaborating on this effort to showcase the Irish influence in the Flanders Collection. When people moved west or the men didn't return from the Civil War, there was a bid gap in the work force. The Irish came in waves and settled all over New England. They brought songs they knew and made up more to express their pioneer experience here.

The CD is a treasure--a wonderful choice of songs and a great variety of singers representing Irish singing. I feel blessed not only that Dan is so interested in my grandmother's collection, but that he has all these great singers as friends. The lineup of folks on this CD is truly amazing...and also a testimony to the rich material in this collection.

Hope to see many of you!

Nancy-Jean Ballard (Seigel)

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: MMario
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 11:08 AM

Rita - that is why they make safety pins!

Hope to be there sometime Friday afternoon!

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 12:13 PM

Rita-

That's why we invented Duct-Tape!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Susan of DT
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 06:12 PM

and velcro

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Burke
Date: 13 Jun 03 - 02:25 PM

Thanks for the advice. I remember now why I had not planned to go. Maybe next year...

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 01:23 PM

Wow, it's really difficult to report in when the Mudcat's down; send MONEY TO MAX!!!

This is my short report. Norris Dale and I from Roll & Go had a wonderful 3 days working as sound volunteers. The weather turned out quite nice, with the exception of a few showers. And the music, the scheduled concerts and workshops, and the after hours shanty/chantey singing was just what we needed. I even managed to get 4 hours of sleep friday and saturday, turning in around 2 am each morning. And we managed to "coil down" all the sound accessories by 7 pm and were back in Maine by 11 pm on sunday.

Nor and I want to thank Marc B. again for setting us up for singing at the Seamen's Inn on friday; it really helped pay our expenses, and helped us acquire even more nautical CD's. What a nice time, and so great to see the South Street Sea Port NYC) gang there at the front table, and to hear their angelic voices rise in chorus. It really got us started on the right tack. We didn't know quite what to expect, whether our singing would be buried by pub chatter or people would respond to what we were singing, and it turned out so much better than than our worst fears. Still, 3 hours of singing did trim our sails for the late night singing at the German Club; we could barely squeak.

There were several Mudcatters in evidence including MMario, Barry Finn, Liam's Brother, Dick and Susan from DT, Ferrara, Marc, Anglo, Chantyranger, Rita, and Ron. I'm sure there were more.

Of the performers I was not familar with I was favorably impressed with the energy of the Midland, Michigan, group Hoolie (reminded me of Ontario's Tanglefoot) and Danny Spooner from OZ, a fine traditional style singer with maritime experience.

I was delighted to learn that John Roberts with Ye Mariners All had recorded another take on Hamish Maclaren's "Yangtse River Shanty," and he graciously credits me for providing a "musical setting" and a "more singable" set of lyrics. John's version is somewhere between what Roll & Go sings and what Barry Finn has been singing, with a few interesting word changes and adding back in one of the original verses. The important point is that this song has now acquired wings and is well out of the nest. What joy!

The Georgia South Sea Islanders, from the barrier islands off the Georgia coast, were a joy to see and hear. It's one thing to hear the re-released Lomax tapes and quite another to realize that this singing is still alive and well, and continuing to adapt while maintaining a full awareness of its roots.

Got to get back to work painting out an upstairs apartment. Someone else needs to start filling in.

Gosh, it was nice to sleep in my own bed...and without the 7 am wake-up call that we got on the Conrad!

What a Festival!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: GUEST,Ron Olesko
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 02:03 PM

What a great festival!   I'm sorry I missed the other 23!

My family and I had a great time. My son loved the Georgia Sea Island Singers childrens performance, but he was too shy to join in the turkey dance (he takes after his Dad!). The Georgia Sea Islanders were amazing. I loved the evening concert they gave - a great blend of education and entertainment! I was really moved.

I was most impressed with Don Sineti and very embarrased that I had not heard him before! The Morgans were wonderful.   I thought the Stan Rogers tribute was very tastefully done. Don Milner & crew were terrific - I can't wait to listen to the new CD. Watch for it! Tom Lewis, Danny Spooner, Geoff Kaufman, and so many others - simply wonderful!

We arrived much later than we expected on Friday and missed the concert.   I knew I was in trouble when I saw the electronic sign on 95 saying "Rush Hour delays - next 27 miles".   What normally should be a 2 hour drive took over 4 1/2 hours.

The "pub" sing on Saturday was wonderful.    Who was that young boy that stood up next to Barry?   Great spirit and hope for the future!

My only regret is that I didn't get to meet many Mudcatters. I still don't know what everybody looks like and I did not see any Mudcat T-shirts. I didn't run into Dick Greenhaus at Mystic so I didn't get to pickup my shirt.   Will you be at Old Songs?    I will be there, a heavyset guy with a ponytail wearing glasses and probably my loud Hawaiian shirt.

I'm marking my calendar for next year's Mystic fest!

Ron

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: GUEST,Ron Olesko
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 05:13 PM

I was also impressed by Hooley!

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 05:40 PM

Nancy King was there, who kindly provided me the lyrics to "Sheep in the Deep" in an "Animals at Sea " thread. Of course I was on another mission and missed talking with her...

Don Sineti, the big fellow, is certainly one of my favorite singers. What a powerful voice!

A high point of the saturday night "Galley Sing" has to be Barry's intripid young friend who belted out 37 verses of "While Working on the Railway."

I arrived late for prime seating at the Galley but fortunately was invited by Press Room friends to join their table next to a WALL. What a relief to have something to project from in that environment of chaos. I have to admit once a strong singer got going people generally quieted down and then joined in with the chorus or refrain of the appropriate song. But you really have to be a strong singer and pick the right key or you'll soon find yourself experiencing "The impervious horrors of a leeward shore."

Ron, I saw at least two Mudcatters tastefully attired in Mudcat T-Shirts.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: MMario
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 08:45 PM

I saw at least four mudcatters in mudcat t-shirts! Saturday night after hours was great - I only lasted about 15 minutes on friday night...

The symposium was worth getting up early to attend, the Stan Rogers tribute, ALL the concerts - lovely chats with Nancy King; good to see Dick and Susan again; match names to faces for a lot of others ---I only introduced myself to Charlie -(but he forgot me anyway. *sob*) because everyone seemed so BUSY! getting to almost meet Jim Rockwell - but hey, I got his signature on a shops company CD! Spent WAY too much money on CD's - glad I camped instead of a hotel. Heck - didn't spend much time at the campground - money would have been wasted on a hotel room.

VERY nice visit with Rita and BillD. BTW- for future reference - I have a STRONG recomendation of the 'Little Kitchen' from someone who is pretty particular about their food.

Ran into Barry Finn a couple of times - he taped a song for me I wanted to get from him last October - Thanks Barry!

And I finally got to hear Tom Lewis - have never even heard a CD of his before - though I know a lot of his songs...but most importantly - finally got to hear Nex Tradition!!!!!

I had to stop watching Hoolie - 'Stompin' Nick' was making me exhausted just looking at him. (But kept within earshot)

The only problem I had with the weekend was that EVERY hour I had to skip something I wanted to see in order to watch something else! EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!! (and you can only do the run between two sesssions bit so many times a day. Besides , I've always felt it was rude.)

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Wotcha
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 09:08 PM

Twas a fine festival ... my highlight was getting a handshake from Tom Lewis who recognized a West Country accent during Friday's sing. Lots of regulars were there; in addition to Ferrara, MMario and Bill D were there too. The after hours sings were a little shorter this year but nevertheless great experiences. A good number of DC area folks came up this year and a member of The Ships Company helped balance some of their chanties ... next stop, a chantey sing in San Diego ...

Cheers,

Brian

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 09:36 PM

Brian-

It was nice to meet you and hear you sing.

MMario-

I still can see and hear Hoolie doing their bailing song!

The captain says, "Bail, bail, bail or the ship goes down!"

Now why they didn't just drill a hole beneath the waterline to let the water out is really the question.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Barry Finn
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 11:11 PM

What a fantistic time & one hell of a festival. I really like the fact that there were no "money drawing" headliners not connected with sea music but certainly there were headliners. The dancer (Nick) from Hoolie is an increbile master of footwork. I would've sworn that he & Tim (the bones player) had practiced those routines before the Fri night sing, Tim said nope, they just went for it which to me seems all the more amazing.


I can't remember the youngster's name singing beside me standing on the chair. I've seen his mother & father at festivals for years (he's been going to Mystic since birth). Recently (April) at the NEFFA festival I saw them at a sea music singing jam, he had no trouble getting himself of the floor (3 or 4 times he's got a fair number of songs for a kid his age 11 yrs old maybe?) & being heard. He was a good bit to scared to try & jump in on a sing of the size & nature of this one & of trying but not being heard. I asked him (& his Mom) if I got him out & up there & promised him he would be heard, even if I had to back him up. Well he did a great version of Paddy Works on the Railway, with more verses than I'm used to hearing & some of the verses he choose to sing were not some of the usual one's. He says that he likes to sing shanties (but his friends don't) besides someone has to sing them cause you can't let them die. I believe he & his older sister have already picked up instruments. Hopefully more of his generation will be like him, on the other hand it could be a curse.


I have to be careful around the Georgia Sea Island Singers, I don't want to embrass myself by following them like a puppy dog. It seems that they do repeat their perfomences a bit but at Old Songs when I asked if they'd do some of their older material (that they recorded way back) Frankie mentioned that the youngers singers hadn't really worked or worked out alot of those songs but when I've seen her & her husband they knew & sang them.


Dan & Bonnie & Nancy Jean did a great job presenting the Flanders collection at the symposium & at one of the workshops. Only problem I was being delayed for both due to being a volunteer. I do get to see Dan & Bonnie more often though, that's a good thing? I also met up with Lynn Hasley (sp?) & her husband (she did the part of the symposiun that concerning Afro-Amenican & Afro-Caribbean music) what a very interesting & likeable couple.


MMario, you're welcome, it's me who is honored to have you think it's a decent enough song. It was good to say a few brief hi's & see you again. Are you going to try to get to Old Songs seems I manage to have a bit more time there.


It's always a treat to run into Dick & Susan, Anglo, Norris & Charley (I think Charley's "West Indian Blues" was pretty well received (when he finaly managed to squeeze his voice onto the floor. I always seem to run into Rita & Bill while they have these big smiles on there faces, puts one on mine when I seem them, Rita, thanks so much. I'm glad I get to see more of the mudcatters who were there, at the Getaway, much slower pace & much more quality time. Gee's I'm gonna be leaving out a lot of people, Nancy King, Gina Dunlap, Marc, Dick S & Nancy M are always a joy hear to & twice that to see. Only get to see & hear (by the way very nice job singing at the "sings") once a year, way not good enough. Briefly bumped into Dave, Brian (best of luck in Germany finding folk music) & some others who at this time of night I can't think of, again not enough time in the day or night. Sorry to have missed you Ron, maybe if you're going to Old Songs we can cross paths then.


Good night all. Barry

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Ferrara
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 01:19 AM

Bill and I got home about 11:30 tonight. We definitely needed Sunday night to rest up, but we didn't need three more hours of rest that we got, sitting a mile from Mystic on 95 while a tanker rollover was cleaned up....

If I hadn't had to stop by the Seaport to look for my Mudcat t-shirt and leave my phone # in case it shows up, we might have missed the tie-up --- on the other hand we might have been involved in the crash....

This year I was working hard as a volunteer and couldn't get to a lot of music I would have loved to hear. But I didn't really mind. The volunteer work was fun and there was always some music around. And there were always friends around, it was marvelous, sort of like a huge Getaway.

My Must-Haves were Ballads on Saturday, Gospel Ship and the Flanders concert on Sunday. Somehow I managed not to have work assignments during any of those, also got to hear Island traditions, with the Georgia Sea Island Singers AND the Next Tradition. Those were all highlights of my weekend.

There were several groups scheduled with the GSI Singers for the Gospel Ship concert but they let GSI have a full 45 minutes. This was incredibly generous and a very good thing to do. The Greenmanville Church venue is beautiful and has terrific acoustics, hearing any performance there is likely to be rewarding. But with the Georgia Sea Islanders, it rang. We were just surrounded by great sound and great energy.

They made me cry on Saturday, when they demonstrated "hambone music," made by slapping different parts of one's body. The reason this music developed was that slave owners in the islands realized their slaves were using their drums to communicate and took away all the drums. Music, especially with percussion, was so terribly important to the slaves that they invented many ways to create percussion with their bodies, foot stamping, clapping, and this elaborate "hambone" music.

The Flanders symposium presentation and concert were also terrific. Dan, Bonnie and Nancy-Jean really made me realize what a treasure that collection of recordings represents. Nancy-Jean is a dynamite speaker, very witty and informative. Best of all, she sang in the Flanders Collection workshop. Have known her a long time and she's always been a bit shy about her singing, but she looked and sounded like a pro, no signs of nerves (very impressive N-J!) It made me so very happy to see her singing at the Mystic festival.

Had a chance to meet Danny Spooner. Look forward to having him visit here in July. He's planning to drop by the Royal Mile shantey sing on July 1, then will do an FSGW house concert here (our house) on July 31 (plug). Boy, am I looking forward to that after hearing him at Mystic.

There are two sides to any festival, the music and the people. Mystic is such a high, everyone is having a great time and you can't help feeling friendly toward the people you're sharing it with. One volunteer who was a total stranger, hugged me at the end of the Friday pub sing. We looked at each other and just grinned and she said, "I know. I dont even know you. It's just like that here, isn't it?"

This year I knew more people, and met even more. As Mmario says, Jim Rockwell of Ship's Company was there, plus Brian/Wotcha and another singer who comes to the Royal Mile Shanty Sings, with Bill that made five of us just from that one shantey sing in Wheaton, MD.

Then there were the Mudcat people, and the Getaway people, and the folks I know through mutual friends in D.C., and the folks I met while I was working, or chatted with on the Village Green, or just had to talk to because their music had said something special to me this year or last year, it goes on and on.... and each person looking so bright and shiny because they're at Mystic and having such a great time. It's really something.

Dick & Susan, thank you, thank you for talking us into going last year!

Saw a young loon near the docks, watched it dive half a dozen times, then saw it "walk" on the water and windmill its wings as it took off. We don't get many real loons -- the avian kind at least -- around D.C.!

I flat didn't want it to end. Dinner with Mmario was just right, kind of made the festival feeling last another couple of hours.

Well I feel like I should scratch all this and start all over, but I guess nothing would be adequate.

Rita Ferrara

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 08:22 AM

Barry-

That gospel song collector from South Carolina was Lindy Halsey. I had a nice talk with her and her husband at breakfast, and she being from the Charlston area wanted to hear more about the Black gospel songs of Ella Madison, from whom my mother learned "West Indies Blues." Lindy told me that the alligators are now moving back into Charlston, the indigenous population having been consumed by rapacious Charstonians in the 19th century, as documented in one verse of Ella's song:

Dem Charleston folks eat alligator meat,
Fried wi' rice and taters;
Bestes' eatin' I ever did have
Was monkey hips an' tomaters.

Thanks for sharing your table at the Galley.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 02:07 PM

as soon as I recover from my 12 hours in the car yesterday..*groan*, I intend to post some pics of the festival and put some faces to some of the names...and lure more of you to go see this amazing festival!

I was much impressed by the knowlege behind the songs that so many of the performers showed....it makes good music that much more interesting. Hearing the story of how Portugese whalermen were hired in the islands, taken off to other parts to fish, dropped off in places like Mystic and New London, then sometimes catching a ship home and sometimes settling there made a lot of the sources of the songs make more sense.

I was also VERY impressed with Danny Spooner from OZ, and he and his voice and songs were quickly and warmly embraced by both the audience and the seasoned performers, who know quality and appreciate someone who shows he has BEEN to most of the places he sings about. He has a wicked sense of humor, too...if you get a chance to hear him, ask for "6 Million People" *grin*

(funniest line **I** heard during the weekend..someone was introducing a song, and said...."...I learned this from the singing of Don Sinetti....he was in the next county, and I was passing by...." ..yes, the man DOES have that kind of voice!)

I think I met all the Mudcatters except Ron Olesko...not sure how I missed him..."a heavyset guy with a ponytail "...couldn't have been more than 40-50 like that!

...so..off to download images from digital camera...I will see how many I can cram onto my web place...

It was a good place to be....

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: GUEST,Ron Olesko
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 02:12 PM

I was the handsome one!!!! :)

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: MMario
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 03:09 PM

ehem! That would be "one of the"......

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: GUEST,Ron Olesko
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 03:16 PM

... uh... yeah... that was what I meant to say!!!   :)

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 04:32 PM

well, shucks, then...you might already be in my camera, for all I know. I will look through the pics carefully....I took a lot of crowd shots

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 06:00 PM

Another fun song for me was hearing The Rum-Soaked Crooks (Tom Goux, Jacek Sulanowski, Dan Lanier and Andy Woolf) singing "Shootin' with Rasputin." Ah, the memories that one brings back!

Robbie O'Connell did another one of my favorite warped John Campbell songs "Fredericks of Galilee," describing his catalog of naughty and nautical apparel

And Danny Spooner sang one of my favorite newly composed Australian songs by John Warner, "Anderson's Coast," about convicts escaping across the Bass Straits, and their utterly hopeless plight. I would compare John's songs with those of Stan Rogers, that rare combination of poetry, history, and energy.

We had no travel headaches. We came down 395 in CT and went back up 95/93/95. Took a little over 3.5 hours back and forth to Portland.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: GUEST,Chanteyranger
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 11:57 PM

What an excellent festival, as always. Congratulations to the festival director Craig Edwards and the whole crew at Mystic. It was great seeing Barry Finn again, as always. Barry, you're looking in better health, and your strong voice is in great form.

I recognised BillD and MMario from Mudcat event photos, and finally caught up with them on the last day of the fest to introduce myself. We didn't get to talk much, with so much going on around us, but from our brief convrsations it is obvious they are fine blokes. hope to talk with you more at another event. Saw Charley Noble, and ran into Dick and Susan at one of the workshops.

Ron Olesko, Windlass1, and I took part in a gag at a local steakhouse. Sitting at a table nearby was chantey singer Cliff Haslam, with some members of the Ancient Mariners. Since I never met Cliff, I suggested I go over to their table, pretend I'm a waiter, and ratle of some very weird sounding specials, such as "baked Porcupine au jus,' etc. Windlass1 one had a better idea: Go over and tell him that the lady at our table (Windlass1) thanks him for ofering to pay him our tab, which I did. He glanced over at her, recoginsed her anmd laughed. Well........we pay our bill, and as we're leaving, Ron hands the check to the waitress and asks her to give it to Cliff with his own bill. She say's "Leave it to me - I know how to do this." We didn't stick around. Don't know the end to this story (maybe a punch in the nose next year from Mr. Haslam?).
Nice meeting you and your ovely wife, Ron, and hope to see you alive at nerxt year's festival :-).

The Georgia Sea Island Singers were brillliant, and really fun, spirited people. Robbie O'Connell, John Robert's new group Ye Mariners All, Dick Swain, The Nextradition, Dan and Bonnie Milner, the dancing of Nick Gareiss, and a brilliant young singer, not on the bill but at the sessions - Julia Friend, were all wonderful. At 20, Julia sings with heartfelt honesty and maturity. She's a singer you will no doubt hear more about for many years to come. A major highlight for me was the "Gospel Ship" workshop with the Georgia Sea Island Singers, The Nextradition, Bob Walser, and Craig Edwards. They had the chapel audience rocking, clapping, and singing their hearts out. An amazing session.

The Windlasses, reunited, at the Griswold Inn monday night at the post festival open mike and dinner were one of the highlights of the evening. They were always very good, but now sound stronger and better than ever. Also great to hear the Johnson Girls at the sessions. You go, girls!

BTW, it was Jerry Bryant who made the joke about being in the next County when he heard Don Sinetti singing.

Next year's the 25th festival!

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: GUEST,Ron Olesko
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 10:16 AM

Chanteyranger - That wasn't me! Is there someone out there impersonating me??   

Ron

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 10:28 AM

Yes, Ron. It was Walter Cronkite... or someone impersonating Mr. Cronkite impersonating you.

Good to see you, chanteyranger, Barry and many others.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: GUEST,Ron Olesko
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 11:07 AM

Must be the ponytail. Walt has always been jealous.

Subject: RE: Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival
From: Susan of DT
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 07:02 PM

Ron - yes, we will be at Old Songs
Mario - that is Kitchen Little, not Little Kitchen. Marvelous for breakfast if you get there early - it is a very small place. We head for it on Saturday before the Symposium. It is on the road from the 95 Mystic exit to the Seaport on the right along the river.