Review: New Bedford Summerfest

Subject: Review: New Bedford Summerfest
From: TheMuse
Date: 06 Jul 03 - 06:15 PM

Once again the New Bedford Summerfest was well worth the trip to Massachusetts from Central New York. For the small cost of $7 for a Summerfest "button" there were 6 stages of performers running simultaneously.

I was also fortunate to leave with a personally autographed copy of the Summerfest guide. Autographed by whom you say? By Mudcat's own Dick Greenhaus, that's who! Yes, Dick was featured on the cover, a picture of him playing his banjo at last years festival. I found him at the Legacy booth, of course, somewhat embarassed I think, when I asked him for his autograph. :-)

Though I was only able to attend one of the two days of the festival, I got my money's worth several times over. I started with a fiddle workshop mainly to see Jennifer Roland and found Olivier Demers, foot tapping away while playing, of Le Vent du Nord and Guy Fletcher of Little Johnny England. Fletcher was fairly "quiet" on his own in the workshop but came alive later when performing with the LJE group. The main discovery though was Gina LeFaux. Her talent and dry wit had me rearranging my priorities in order to see her later during her own solo workshop where she also played guitar and sang.

Joel Mabus was an absolute delight. His song about being from the Midwest where "growing your own meant corn on the cob" is just an example of his humor. He kept everyones attention with his songs and commentary.

Another highlight was a workshop with Roy Book Binder, Steve Tilston, Vance Gilbert and Kris Delmhorst. I'd heard Steve before and was not disappointed at seeing him again. Kris' voice is a wonderfully strong alto. Vance and Roy both have their own unique and entertaining style and kept up an enjoyable banter as well as relating some stories of past experiences. Such as Vance telling us that he has a degree in biology and always dreamed of teaching tennis. And, oh, yes, played some guitar. . . . . . and that's why he was on the stage in New Bedford. Roy told of a time when he asked Pink Anderson why he was called "Pink" and he said, "Because that's my name." "Sure enough," Roy said, "I looked in a phone book and there he was, Pink Anderson." (I think you had to be there to get in the flow and laugh at these comments. . . .it really was great!)

There was much, much more but these were my favorites.

Just my $.02 as a dedicated listener.

TheMuse

Subject: RE: Review: New Bedford Summerfest
From: DonMeixner
Date: 06 Jul 03 - 09:46 PM

Once again I missed another one. Saddly the part about playing in a band is your always working when you'd like to be elsewhere. Joel Mabus is a guitar god for me and Vance Gilbert is an entertainer's entertainer. Looks like another great show.

Don

Subject: RE: Review: New Bedford Summerfest
From: GUEST,AR282
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 09:12 PM

Gosh, I love New Bedford/Fairhaven. Wish I'd been able to make it.