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22 Aug 05 - 07:37 AM (#1546967) Subject: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas Winfield Kansas, USA – the Walnut Valley Association Acoustic Music Festival Official Festival Dates: September 14 – 18, 2005 (Wed thru Sun) The official festival is when all the hired guns get there and put on their acts, and the hobby and craft people are set up to sell their stuff to pay the mortgages. A few music vendors bring their really high priced stuff – good place to look them over if you can look rich enough. Landrush (approximately 07:00) September 8, 2005 All campers must enter the campground as part of, or after, landrush to try to get their favored campsites and electrical and water hookups as needed. When you get to camp after landrush, you're "at the festival" even though it doesn't start for about a week. Lineup 07:00 September 3, 2005 The WVA takes over the fairground and you're "allowed" to line up for the big Landrush. No permanent setup – it's just to get in line and wait, but the pickin' sort of gets started pretty regularly then. Pre-Lineup: Unofficially, you can camp in the RV park for 14 consecutive days, so some will be there from about August 20, 2005 waiting to get in the line to get in the line to get a campsite. Sporadic light pickin' maybe, depending on who gets there. IS ANYBODY GONNA BE THERE? For those who need to know what lies they told, last year's thread is at Winfield (WVA) Festival 2004 At the WVA website, those who may be going may want to check the "High water - June, 2005" and "Winter at the Walnut Valley" links for a reminder that the fairground was under water in June (28' crest on the river) and a horendous ice storm hit the region in January. Expect some soggy ground, perhaps, although the current forecasts are running 50% chance of rain, or so. I haven't been down to see how many of the old trees lost pieces, but favorite shady spots may have been "rearranged" a bit. Performers for this year are listed by discography as: Bill Barwick, Stephen Bennett and Friends, Byron Berline Band, Roz Brown, Tom Chapin with Michael Mark, The John Cowan Band, Julie Davis, Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Eulberg, Bob Evans, Pat Flynn and Friends, The Greencards, Adie Grey, Pete Huttlinger, Chris Jones and the Night Drivers, King Wilkie, Marley's Ghost, Andy May, Tim May & Plaid Grass, John McCutcheon, David Munnelly Band, No Strings Attached, Barry Patton, Sons of the San Joaquin, Spontaneous Combustion, Still on the Hill, Tennessee HeartStrings Band, Linda Tilton, The Waybacks, The Wilders, and Williams & Clark Expedition The WVA website links everything as internal bookmarks, so you can't copy the url in the header to give more specific stuff. Last year's thread includes some of the interesting ones; but most everything of interest can be picked off the bar at the left of the homepage. For the real "what's it all about, Don Shorock's unoffical WVA page has a lot more flavor. Personal Plans, JohnInKansas and Lin in Kansas: We'll be there, we hope, but schedule won't permit getting in line for the line to get in line for the line before about August 27, maybe later, so we can't be too sure of getting our usual camping spot. Lin's personal WVA site at http://waterhole.smugmug.com/ has some pics up if you need to know how to recognize us. Like those guys from the "Scamp" camp, ask around in the Pecan Grove for the "Thumper" guys – we have the only known "Thumper" brand camper in existence – and it has a cute bunny rabbit on the nose that people seem to recognize. See ya there, TGLWATCDR. John |
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23 Aug 05 - 03:58 PM (#1547877) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas Refresh John |
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23 Aug 05 - 04:16 PM (#1547900) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: Janie I remember getting fooled by a similar thread last year, thinking "Oh look, Winfield, West Virginia now has a music festival. When did that start?" And it just happened again. Think I'll ever learn? Janie |
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23 Aug 05 - 04:27 PM (#1547912) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: open mike i have heard great things about this fest. wasn't the land rush and the sooners in old-klahoma? are they migrating north? at the strawberry festival they have had problems with the ;'line" where people camp by the narrow road waitnig to get in to the festival and then they pop their r.v.'s out into the traffic path, and there is no sanitation avaialbe...what people will do to pick with their friends!! i hope you have a good time there...enjoy! pick a few for me! |
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23 Aug 05 - 04:39 PM (#1547922) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: GUEST,Art Thieme It's a great time folks. Once again, I'll be there with you in spirit... One year at Winfield my dog got her tail chopped off and she died! The ghost of the dog was bugging me all festival long. But because we were at Winfield, I couldn't get her seen to by a vet. That's because at the Winfield Festival, as everybody knows, they don't re-tail spirits !! Back in Illinois we got the job done though---and that dog just gave birth to a litter of eight. Both the mother and her brood are all wagging a mile a minute!! Just a variation on a Thieme, (Art) |
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23 Aug 05 - 04:48 PM (#1547934) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: GUEST,Art again Mike, Oklahoma (Arkansas City, Oklahoma) is just five miles south of Winfield---and Winfild is right on the old Chisholm Trail. The big land rush of earlier days in Oklahoma is remembered fondly by some pioneer families I ran into down there. They still live on some of that same land their relatives claimed. Art Thieme |
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23 Aug 05 - 05:10 PM (#1547955) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: Sorcha Art, Ark City is still in Kansas, but barely. And no, I'm going to the Getaway instead. |
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23 Aug 05 - 07:45 PM (#1548095) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas And also for Art - I'm told there's been a new vote, and there's the possibility that the county where the festival happens may have some sort of retail liquor, if not this year, then by next - maybe. The pretense at the festival, when they have the great "Land Rush" to let everyone in to capture their campsites, is that it commemorates the "Cherokee Strip" landrush when settlers were lined up and allowed to charge in - when the gun went off - to homestead. Winfield Kansas is located approximately where the "jump off point" was for the Cherokee Strip Landrush. The Cherokee Strip that was opened for homesteading then contained parts of several states, and the entire Oklahoma Territory included a whole lot of the central US. As with current festival participants, there was a fair amount of "sneaking about," which, in the original Cherokee Strip thing was the origination of the appellation of the "Sooner State" for Oklahoma. Quite a few slipped in "Sooner" than was legal. Unlike the original, at the festival you can't get by with shooting "Sooners." The truth of the matter at the festival is that they're just too disorganized to get organized. It is something of a chore, with an expected 16,000 to 20,000 people coming in. open mike: The WVA fest has always had excellent sanitation. No matter where I pitched a tent or parked the camper, they always came along within 3 hours and dropped a line of "port-a-pots" immediately beside me. There is an entire culture of "Tiltin' Hilton" tales, and in the olden days when fewer people had self contained units with personal potties there were organized cheers for when the "shit sucker" trucks came by to clean them up. (Some of those "cheers" might qualify as folk lyrics?) John |
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23 Aug 05 - 07:52 PM (#1548099) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: Lin in Kansas Art, as always, we'll welcome your spirit at the Watering Hole camp! In fact, my fellow dulcimists and I may even wreck a couple of your songs at one of the jams...could sure use you there to straighten us out. As always, if we can manage it, we'll be about half-way down the south side of the Pecan Grove--look for the windmill, a big pickin' parlor, and lots of frogs (not to mention a large bunch of strange folks). Drop by and see us, and be sure to bring your voices and instruments to teach us a new song or two, y'hear? See y'all at Winfield! (I love saying that this time of year.) Lin |
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23 Aug 05 - 08:11 PM (#1548116) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas And Art - Lin forgot to say "we'll look for you and one or two of those spirited dogs." John |
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24 Aug 05 - 11:29 PM (#1549127) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: GUEST Howdy, John. What advice do you have for a first timer? The boss tells me we are going to see some of her kin at the WVA festival. All I know at this point is that we'll be staying somewhere on the grounds and that I'll be the youngest of the group at age 58 years. I've been surfing the festival and camp web sites and it sure looks like we'll be having a lot of fun. - Phil |
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25 Aug 05 - 12:28 AM (#1549146) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: GUEST,Art Thieme Now it can be told. I have mellow memories of sharing a pint of good sippin' whiskey (in a proverbial brown paper bag) with the late Tommy Thompson---listening to Claire Lynch. After a performers revolt of sorts one year, they finally quit inspecting every instrument case and bag us hired musicians brought onto the festival grounds. Art |
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25 Aug 05 - 01:48 AM (#1549170) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas While Art mentions that the hired musicians might get by with slippin' a sippin' bag in, the general public still gets searched thoroughly whenever they go in and out of the Grandstand/Stage areas. While I haven't heard of any "offensive pat-downs" (despite requests from several visitors) they do look closely at purses, bags, sacks, and drink cups, etc. It's best not to try to take a cooler with anything in it into this area. An explanation for those who might be puzzled by Art's geography: Ark City, Kansas, is in the next county, where retail liquor sales have been permitted. Being only 17 - 20 miles or so, it's the place where campers likely go to "replenish." Art possibly took a sip on the way back to camp, and thought he was Oklahoma - a reasonably slip, as they are quite close. Phil - Lots of advice could be given, but relevance would depend a lot on who you're there with. If you're with people who've been regulars, let them worry about the camp space, location, and setup. It gets much too messy to discuss without pretty specific knowledge of your individual plans. The only universal advice is "get there as early as possible" since competition for space and facilities gets fierce later on. If you're coming late to meet a group that will be set up ahead of your arrival, you should be aware that "legally" no space can be saved unless it's paid for (camping fee including days when it's empty and waiting). Discuss with those involved if this is your situation. As a first-timer, you may encounter the tradition of the "Winfield Virgin." In some camps an issue is made of those who are "first timers." If your camp is of this sort, you can expect to be kidded a bit. If you're so inclined, it's possibly good for an occasional sip or a shot if mentioned almost anywhere in the campgrounds, and it's a pretty fair conversation starter - so don't be ashamed. You may also encounter those who want to brag about all their old "Winfield War Stories" and think they have a new victim. (Everyone else has heard all their stories.) Do like the old-timers do and just "run like hell" from these kind (unless you're actually interested). If you play almost anything, bring your weapon(s) of choice. Campground pickin' is our real reason for going, and almost anyone - of any skill level - can find people to pick with. If you're especially incompetent, look us up at the Water Hole in the Pecan Grove - you'll fit right in. DO NOT BRING war drums or trap sets. I'll simply have to kill you if you do. (Discretely played trap sets might call only for minor maiming, if you're with a group where they fit in.) The general rule is that you can play anything that doesn't interfere with adjacent camps. That's a "stretchable" limit, but cooperation is advised. In previous years, a rule prohibiting any "electronic sound" after 10:00 am (after you check the radio news and weather) was imposed. The current recommendation is that anything that's "amplified" should not be audible in the next camp. Electric instuments, mikes, and amplifiers appear at discreet levels in a few camps, but only the "official" stages are permitted to "broadcast" sound. The official stuff is not very clear about what is and isn't permitted. The camping areas are your home away from home, and as long as you don't make an issue of it, "ingestibles" of various kinds are pretty much acceptable. The "Grandstand," which is a fenced off area where all the hired performances and contests take place and where the vendors are located, is strictly a "nothing funny" area. You will be personally searched each time you enter. No liquor, and no "suspiciuos packages." Snapshot cameras should be ok, but in some previous years they've banned tape recorders and video cams, so check it out if it's a problem. Next year you'll say been here, done this, bought the T-Shirt. Expect to stay up late, and have fun. John |
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25 Aug 05 - 09:12 AM (#1549344) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: Sorcha Sorry Phil, I grew up in Winfield and Ark City is NOT in the next county. Both towns are in Cowley County. Liquor laws vary by town in Kansas, and Winfield now allows package stores. I think 2 are open now. |
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25 Aug 05 - 10:23 AM (#1549409) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas Ya caught me Sorcha. I guess I was trying to make it easy to get the drift for the ones from elsewhere. In Kansas whole counties could be dry, and all the towns in the county had to comply. Counties could allow liquor sales but give individual cities the option to be dry. The option supposedly also existed for a county to declare sales legal countywide without giving cities the local option, but I don't know whether that ever happened. It all depended on how the question was worded on the ballot, and nobody knew what they were voting for, in most cases, until after "something" passed and whoever was in office "interpreted it" for them. It is the case in Cowley Co that the towns had the option, and Winfield was a "dry town" in an "option county." Ark City, in the same county, didn't opt out of the legal sales. I'd heard that Winfield voted to allow sales, but hadn't heard whether there was an open business yet. It's sort of academic, since Winfield and Ark City are about the only towns in the general area large enough to support a liquor store. The smaller towns still have to make do with their local bootleggers. Both towns are roughly the same distance from the Oklahoma border, I think it's about 20 or 30 miles South from either, although the road's a bit better from Ark City. There's no place in Oklahoma near the border to buy liquor that I've heard of, regardless of whether it's legal, but a camper with the nasty habit could save almost 50% on cigarettes (and a little less maybe on their small stock of beer) just across the border at the Kanza Plaza. Oklahoma also has town and county options on liquor sales, perhaps even a little more complex than current Kansas ones, and I believe I heard that the Plaza was trying to get a liquor license. It seems to require a petition and a vote(?). People with larger campers might be interested to know that you can run down the Interstate to the first rest stop in Oklahoma and find a dump station (it's before you get to Blackwell). The line at the campground dump gets extremely congested when the festival breaks up, and so far as I know Kansas doesn't have a public dump on any of the major roads. John |
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25 Aug 05 - 05:23 PM (#1549744) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: Sorcha Bet Wellington is big enough. Don't know the law there tho. |
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25 Aug 05 - 06:55 PM (#1549806) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas Wellington is probably big enough. I remember it as a bit further from the campground, but I might have gotten lost on the back roads. The mileage isn't reallyy enough to make a lot of difference. I think they do have a package store, but I wouldn't want to make any guarantees. I hardly ever use more than the 3 or 4 flats of beer and a liter or two of Black Jack that I take in when I go. (The Black Jack is mainly "bait" for wandering pickers. Quite a few will stop when they see it, and if you're not too quick about "satisfying their curiosity," they'll quite often sit and pick a bit - waiting for you to "get hospitable." Display it too prominently and a liter per night - or more - is pretty easy to get rid of. We always run out of cherry bombs, but the pickers mostly don't care for them 'cause they make your fingers sticky.) John |
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25 Aug 05 - 08:26 PM (#1549854) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: GUEST,Art Thieme Well, I guess we were still in Kansas then. But we did go down to Ark City a few times to a rather barn like Mexican restaurant that had food that did NOT taste like anything we in Chicago called Mexican food. And it was while on a trip to Winfield that I learned the truth of the old adage: "Never buy fresh fish from a car with Oklahoma plates." ---- Live an' learn!! Art |
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25 Aug 05 - 09:58 PM (#1549919) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: GUEST Thank you kindly, John. 'preciate all the practical advice. We won't get there until the 14th, but the in-laws and their trailer will already be there waiting for us. I'll be sure to make it to the Watering Hole. I'll be easy to spot, I'll be the guy in jeans and a t-shirt carrying a guitar. Thanks again. - Phil |
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25 Aug 05 - 11:33 PM (#1549965) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: Al Al and Barbara Lubanes will be there in CAMP NOWHERE. Arriving the weekend before. |
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26 Aug 05 - 07:28 AM (#1550138) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas We have excitement, confusion, and uncertainty in the area tonight. Rains have been exceptionally heavy for about a week, and the news on TV this morning is that there was serious flooding in El Dorado (that is in Kansas 30 miles or so upstream from Winfield) yesterday and today. A couple of semis "swept off the road" and some apartments flooded. Water to 3 or 4 feet deep briefly on some of the major roads. El Dorado reservoir is "over the boat docks" and they're talking about needing a "release" to get rid of some of it. When they did that in 2003, just before the WVA festival, it brought the Walnut river up by 20 - 30 inches - right to flood stage - for a day or two. It has to be noted that this is not unusual, since the festival supposedly comes "just at the end" or the sporadic wet season here. There's no doubt that the festival will proceed without major disruption, but the usual "waiting areas" for very early arrivals are "kind of low" and often need to be evacuated in times like this. My plan to try to get in the line to get in line for the line to get in line for the lineup this weekend may need some reconsidering. It would be best for ME to get down there, but I'm digging for more specific info on whether it would be more helpful to the crews there to just stay away for a bit. Unfortunately, the news media don't seem to know that Winfield exists, or that a whole bunch of people are concerned about what conditions are there. No concern about the festival itself at this point. It's the long-term waiting areas that may be affected. (But I think I'll see if I can dig out that old sump pump in case we need to drain the camp later.) John |
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26 Aug 05 - 04:34 PM (#1550532) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: Lin in Kansas Phil! I'm pretty sure we saw you last year, and boy are you a talented musician! I saw you with a guitar, a mandolin, a banjo, a bass, and a couple of pennywhistles, not to mention the harmonica and the digereedoo! Please do drop by (again) this year. Be sure to tell "Gentleman George" that you're a Winfield Virgin so he'll renew your cherry. Getting anxious to get there, Lin |
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26 Aug 05 - 09:39 PM (#1550685) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: GUEST Digereedoo?!? You may have me confused with that other jeans and t-shirt guy. Just to be clear, I'm the one with a beard. Thanks for the invite, I'll be sure to stop by. - Phil |
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26 Aug 05 - 11:11 PM (#1550719) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas Phil - On Lin's first trip to WVA, we came down from Seattle. Before we left a friend told her to be sure and look up her buddy - I believe the name was David - who was supposed to be there that year. Our intital reaction was "Yeah, sure. 16,000 people and we're going to find "Dave."" We had only one clue - he plays psaltery. The first morning there, I stepped out of the camper and found this rather gnomish sort sitting on a post right in front of the camper door, sawing away with both hands on a psaltery. He almost escaped, before I got Lin awake enough to get out there but - it was Dave. He's rather like a leprechaun. He's supposedly been there a couple of times since, but we've only seen him one other time - that we're sure of. John |
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27 Aug 05 - 02:24 PM (#1550911) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas Lin corrected me: it was Greg, not Dave, and she admitted she has "been seeing him there since." Makes me wonder if somethin's going on, but it's probably just because she goes to the grandstand area a lot more often than I do. (That's the only place you can spend money on the campgrounds, except for firewood, ice and potty dumps. She goes there 'way too often.) Some more info on the water situation. Todays USGS report shows the river at Winfield at 21 feet. "Flood stage" is at 18, reportedly where water starts to get into the fairground, so the little boat ramp at the west end of the RV campground is probably mostly under water, but there shouldn't be much where it will bother anyone. Crest due to release from El Dorado reservoir was predicted for Sunday by one of the local TV stations, so it may go up a bit but shouldn't do any real harm. The biggest probem is that the ground gets a bit mushy for some of the really big camper rigs, so a few of them may want to avoid the river banks when they move in. Traffic can really tear up the turf when the ground's saturated, so they'll probably be keeping people out of the camping areas until all the movement can be done in one pass. Weather reports for the next week predict improvement - but whadda they know. John |
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28 Aug 05 - 11:13 AM (#1551550) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: GUEST,Art Thieme I've seen the weather at Winfield range from totally dry to rain and mud. The dry years were the hottest and I had to go back to the motel where we were being housed after almost every set or workshop to change T-shirts and let the air conditioner cool me down. As in the past, there were sometimes kids born right there at the festival. BUT those wet years, at least three times that I remember, the infants were born with webbed feet!! To my way of thinking, that was natural selection asserting itself yet again. But seeing as how this is Kansas, I'm certain that it must be intelligent design. Well, whatever!!! Have a fine time at the festival. Art Thieme |
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29 Aug 05 - 03:58 AM (#1552011) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas Art - Lots more babies reportedly are conceived at Winfield than are born there, but both happen. "But we should do it now so the baby will be a couple of months old by the time we come back next year." A refresh, mainly to keep the thread up until I can look to see if there's any fresh news tomorrow. The USGS River Report for Winfield KS shows flow steady at 29,000 cubic feet/second and the crest at about 26 feet about 10 hours ago. ("Flood stage" is at 18 feet.) The river level is going down, but won't be back to "flood stage" for at least another day or so. A link at the top of the above page, to National Weather Service Flood Forecast gives an extrapolation of what to expect. As usual, the WVA website is less than helpful about what's actually going on, but one of the area weather sites that they link did indicate that streets to the fairground have been closed and are not expected to reopen until around midday on Tuesday, so there's a good chance we'll try to get down there shortly after that, at least to look things over but probably to try to get in line. The WVA site does have some nice(?) photos of previous high water conditions last June, at http://www.wvfest.com/june2005/index.htmlM=. (This page isn't too interesting, but it has links to the three pages of photos.) The photos for Tuesday Morning probably show the best views of areas we're likely to visit at the Festival. The peak, on Tuesday, was a couple of feet higher (27.6 ft vs about 26.0 ft) than the current one, but conditions should be fairly similar for the current crest to what the photos show just prior to the crest for the earlier one. From two years ago, when it only rained a little and the river was just approaching flood stage, a Typical Scene In Lineup. Obviously we don't want to get there before the water drains off a bit. Weather forecasts are for pretty good conditions, and the water's going down. It likely will be another muddy one, but that never spoils the Festival, as evidenced by a small group of typical campers? from a year when it didn't even rain… John |
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29 Aug 05 - 10:20 PM (#1552636) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: Sorcha Damn fairgrounds has been subject to floods for years. I well remember paddling a canoe to rescue chickens from behind the dike. Chicken crates strapped to the gunwales of the canoe...damn chickens. We made part of a song...Legendary Chiken Fairy..... |
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30 Aug 05 - 02:19 AM (#1552674) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas Sorcha - The fairgrounds have been subject to flooding for years, but there have been no more than two times since I started going that any part of the fairgrounds or campgrounds have been flooded during the festival. Since new dikes were added/elevated, and parts of the river were channelized 5 or six years ago, there has been no water above the top of the RV area boat ramp, which is approximately at the 18 foot "flood stage" level. At noon yesterday, the river was at 26 feet. If reports are accurate, this means that ALL of the RV area and Pecan Grove were full of water, with the possible exception of part of the one paved road through the Pecan Grove and the paved roads in the fairground. The grandstand itself should have been approximately 3 or 4 feet above the high water level two days ago. The WVA organization has provided NO INFORMATION, but based on the Weather Service report that the roads in and out of the fairground were officially closed, not to reopen until Tuesday noon, we decided to delay going down to get in line so as not to contribute to problems there. We are informed Monday night, by a friend who went down to look, that there are already about 200 camping units in line. The friend, who volunteers for his ticket and has access we don't have to WVA "officials," reports that they have decided there will be no lineup, and that those already there will have priority at Landrush. Last year, when I went down earlier, we were told that being there before lineup "didn't count," and if fact they attempted to PREVENT those who arrived before the lineup date from being first in for the lineup. IF HIS REPORT IS ACCURATE, that there are already 200 units "lined up," then we have NO CHANCE even of getting a parking space with needed hookups to be able to park for the week remaining before Landrush; and especially if there is no Lineup, we have NO CHANCE of being in position to get our customary camp site for the festival itself. Based on past experience, of the 200 units "lined up," fewer than 5 will be occupied, or even visited, prior to Landrush. At least 30 percent of the junkers parked to "get in line" won't even be the same vehicles the owners plan to take in at Landrush. The possibility of getting a campsite remotely close to where we have camped in the Pecan Grove for the past 20 consecutive years is negligible, and the odds on getting even one electric hookup for our group of 20 campers anywhere in the Pecan Grove after Landrush is ZERO. The Association has published NOTHING on its website to indicate anything other than "business as usual," and has made NO ATTEMPT to release any information to any news media to allow campers to plan for safe attendance at the festival. This year will not be very safe for many who are likely to try to attend. But next year, all the "rules" for Landrush, Lineup, and pre-lineup will again be different than in any previous year. Always have been, always will be. But we'll all have fun when we get there, and the survivors will have great memories in future years. John |
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03 Sep 05 - 05:15 PM (#1555599) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas Official "Lineup" this morning (Saturday, 03 SEP 2005). Approximately 250 - 280 "camping units" there as of about noon. This is the official opening of the park to Festival campers, and the "passing of control" from the County Park people to the Festival organizers. Flooding last week has caused quite a bit of disruption of normal procedures, and campgrounds are still wet in quite a few places, so the Lineup this year is taking place on paved surfaces and on the high ground East of the stadium (Stage 1). Excellent little music session in our immediate vicinity last night until about 02:30 this morning - great way to get in shape for the start of lineup at 07:00. The county's "main guy" did a spectacular job of jury-rigging wiring and of parking management to get every one as comfortable as possible. We're hopeful that the WVA "main guy" will be at least half as successful now that the Association is in charge. (For those not familiar with the situation - it's the same guy, just wearing a different hat. He's been on the job from before 07:00 until at least 23:00 daily for at least a week, with two weeks to go.) Possibly the most bizarre event thus far was the raccoon that wandered into, and through, our jam session last night, and plopped down under a camper to rest. As he/she was acting in a thoroughly "un-coonish" manner, I felt obligated to refer the situation to "the guy" who brought it to the attention of the crack Winfield town gestapo (police), who called in "animal control" for disposition. The poor critter apparently was injured or ill, possibly from the flood, and appeared at least partially blind and near starvation, so some management was appropriate. I'll ask later if they took him to an ophthalmologist. It appears that we have some locally/regionally known professional performers in our immediate waiting area, so we're expecting good music - at least until the Festival starts for real. John |
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04 Sep 05 - 03:52 PM (#1556041) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: Sorcha Poor coon. Wonder if your Main Guy is Uncle Charlie? I know he does all the electric for the fest, and Aunt Paulette works for Bob....poor coon. Hope he's OK....wish I was there.... |
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07 Sep 05 - 10:24 AM (#1558488) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: GUEST,Free-Range James Looking forward to heading down to reoccupy the camper tonight, hope to stop by Thumper to pick out a few tunes and figure out how to wake up in time to haul to the Pecan Grove w/you all. Nothing further that I can find on the plan for the 'Rush, kind of wish I still had the mud tires on the van now... The story of the raccoon brings a couple of tunes to mind? 'All God's Critters' parody, and me with no recipe! I did pick up a pheasant on KS 81 heading back to town after the Sep 3 drop-off, nailed it with the passenger mirror on the van. I got to get the cross-hairs realigned. Went back to pick it up, and got screeched at most of the way home. Some folks don't want to see their food without a side dish with it. Q. What goes good with campground coon-on-a-stick? A. Tetanus toxoid and rabies vaccine. I just want you know that I am becoming more civilized as I get older, and turned down an eBay 'squirrel cooker', consisting of an iron fork and stake. I hope you know how hard that was for me! See ya tonight! |
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12 Sep 05 - 04:45 PM (#1562086) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas Quick status, Monday Sept 12. Attendance - at least in the Pecan Grove - seems a little less dense than recent years. There is still space for a lot of tents, although the "overflow" areas in the horse track field and elsewhere are pretty well filled. Weather unusually good thus far. A very scant sprinkle yesterday, and a bit of a breeze today. Grounds are pretty well dried, despite some of them being under water a couple of weeks ago. We've received numerous comments that local merchants (WallyWorld etc) seem less well stocked than usual. Possibly lots of camping gear got sent down south for the relief effort - or maybe the new liquor stores have been busy and the whole town got drunk and forgot to order the stock. We're looking for a local to explain it to us. Good pickin' thus far, although we expect it to get better as the week progresses. John |
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13 Sep 05 - 12:07 AM (#1562457) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: GUEST,Art Thieme Folks, Have a fine festival. I know you will! Art Thieme |
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19 Sep 05 - 12:27 AM (#1566417) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas Just home, 23:00 Sunday local time. Fine time and met bunches of new people. We seem to have spent more time in our "home camp" than at previous fests, but only because the bones are getting too old for hiking about. Some of the rules were a little different this year, purportedly because of "the flood." There has been comment that the "special procedures" this year actually seemed to work better than the "traditional" ones. It will be interesting to see whether there's any change for next year. We also have quite a few more photos than in previous years, partly becaue of some contributed by "Guest Phil" (see 25 Aug 05 - 09:58 PM). There likely are enough that it will take some sorting and picking before we get anything posted on our own camp website. Lin in Kansas may have more to say after she finishes unloading the van, the camper, the trailer, and her pickup, has a hot shower, and takes a nap. I think I'll just go for the shower and the nap right now. John |
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20 Sep 05 - 12:01 PM (#1566872) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: Lin in Kansas HA! My SO exaggerates just a bit, as usual! (I beat him to the nap...he takes v-e-e-r-r-y long showers.) We DID havw a fine festival. The only blot for me was that I fell hard on Tuesday night, flat out, and sprained my right arm and wrist, and left knee--try wiping your bloody nose left-handed and you'll see how much fun it was. Good news was I didn't hurt my dulcimer, which was in my right hand at the time. (I figure that's why I sprained myself so bad; I was trying to protect it.) Anyway, I couldn't play music until nearly time to come home (for which my campmates might be grateful!) but still managed to learn a new Civil War tune from Free Range James, and listened to lots of good stuff in our Pickin' Parlor and on the road. Our Waterhole Gang even got all brave and chesty, and got up a 7-piece band to play on Stage Five!! They sounded great! With all the pictures, I have blackmail material for years to come. A little 5-year-old girl next door to us got her very first (1/8th size) fiddle this year. The light in her eyes when she plays it is wonderful. John got some great pictures of her, along with her two pseudo-"grandpas" showing her how to hold the bow! She's promised us all a bluegrass tune for next year... And Phil, we're so glad you stopped by! It was definitely a pleasure to meet and visit with you and Michele. And by the way, I would have recognized you anywhere from your description! Hope you had as much fun as we did, and that you'll come back next year. We hope we'll be there in the same place, same time--at least we'll sure try to be! Lin in Kansas |
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21 Sep 05 - 04:04 PM (#1567906) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: GUEST,Diane Lin and John Hope you'all made it home safe. As usual we had a great time being your neighbors. I can't find where you're lovely website. I had said "Everyone at your camp has my addy", I meant Paul, Kristi and Chris! Send me that link please to nursegood2u@hotmail.com., when you get a chance. Hugs Diane |
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21 Sep 05 - 11:10 PM (#1568155) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas A couple of links for those who weren't there: WVA Website (http://www.wvfest.com) Unofficial Walnut Valley Pages(Don Shorock) Pickers Paradise (Don Shorock) Virtual Winfield The Watering Hole (http://waterhole.smugmug.com/) Audio Winfield (http://pickersparadise.org/audio/index.html) "Virtual Winfield" includes maps of the campgrounds, showing recent locations where established groups have camped. Click on a group's name to go to their website. On the light blue map (East Pecan Grove) a click on "Watering Hole" will take you to "our" picture pages, although we'll need a bit of recovery time before this year's pics will be posted. "Audio Winfield" features sound clips Don made during a "walkabout" in the campgrounds a couple of years ago (2002). The sound isn't great, and he caught a couple of camps we know at "less than their best," but the flavor is there. John |
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22 Sep 05 - 12:58 AM (#1568191) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: Desert Dancer Our main Tucson rep's Carp Camp page. Dave made it a condition of his employment that he would be free 2 weeks (maybe 3?) a year in September... ~ Becky in Tucson |
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22 Sep 05 - 01:26 AM (#1568200) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas DD - Carp Camp is the massive assemblage of Irish and Irish wannabees at Winfield. Their "jams" are so enormous that a Gestapomeister Fuhrerkonductor is required to maintain order. I think, last I heard, his name was "Dave." ?????? John |
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22 Sep 05 - 09:39 PM (#1568869) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: JohnInKansas Although the bulk of our pictures are still being processed, Lin in Kansas has rushed to post a few from the "Stage V" appearance of some of the guys (and a gal) in our group at Waterhole 2005. The link is to the first of 4 pages, so don't miss any.(!!) For the "unaware," Stage V is an "unofficial" stage in the Pecan Grove camping area. By popular demand(?) they were granted permission some years back to violate the general prohibition against amplified sound in the camping areas, and operate essentially as an "open mike" for those wanting to stage more formal performances than the customary campfire circle jams. There is a similar(?) Stage VI in the Walnut Grove, and a rumored Stage VII that's so unofficial nobody knows where it was. (Slight exaggeration.) Apparently the representative sent to get our band on the list to perform thought he was signing up for 1:30 PM, but accidentally entered the group's name at 1:30 AM the following morning. The crowd was probably a little larger at 1:30 AM, and mostly stoned/stupified enough to be pretty tolerant; but photos - at least with my wimpy digicam - would have been much better with some daylight. Fortunately, Phil was there with his much better camera to capture some great closeups. (Thanks for sharing, Phil.) More pics (probably far too many, as usual) to come later. John |
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22 Sep 05 - 11:26 PM (#1568934) Subject: RE: Winfield (WVA) 2005 From: Desert Dancer I've had to pass that description on to the locals, John. :-D ~ Becky in Tucson |