Falcon Ridge 2009
It took me a lot longer than usual to get into the Falcon Ridge mindset this year. Still, I can't fathom a summer without going to the fest so I mustered up the energy and got myself together. Below is a series of probably disjointed observations/thoughts/comments about the 2009 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.
- After the dramatic end to the 2008 festival, there were a lot of different emotions leading into this year: enormous gratitude to Anne and Bub for pulling it all together and coming back, ambivalence over the line up, trepidation over the weather... The fact that it is Falcon Ridge trumps it all, and off I went again to camp at Dodds Farm with the Shantytowners.
- The line up: It wasn't bad by any stretch, but felt a little empty of people that I have enjoyed seeing at the fest, like John Gorka, Eddie From Ohio, Dar Williams, Patty Larkin, Vance Gilbert, Cheryl Wheeler, and more. Still, I was excited to see Susan Werner, Girlyman, Janis Ian, Ellis Paul and Cliff Eberhardt among others. New to me (as far as seeing them perform) were Kathy Mattea and Eileen Ivers.
- The weather: this has become as much a part of the line up as the musicians themselves! While we had no MONSTER storms this weekend, there was still some impressive rainfall creating some impressive (and pervasive) mud conditions. The worst of the weather forced the closure of mainstage on Friday night, cancelling the evening performances of Eileen Ivers, The Refugees, and The Friday Night Song Swap (Ellis Paul, Janis Ian, Susan Werner and Cliff Eberhardt).
- Friday's storm: worst part - a storm! It was "just" a thunder storm this time, though still impressive. Watching a distinct front of dark clouds roll over the hill was spooky. Lots of us were taking photos, still others headed for cars and tents. I was under the concession tent, lucky to have been there at the start and able to sit. Someone started a sing along, which for all intents and purposes is a great way to bond and lift spirits. But the first song selection was dubious: "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". With memories of last year's storm and the tales of tents collapsing, a dirge, really?
- Friday's storm: weirder parts: After the first cell moved through, someone told the tentful of campers that we had 15-20 min before another one started. I had left a fold up stool backstage (yes, I was photographing again this year) so went to get it and see if anyone had any idea when/if things would resume. When the next cell hit, I took cover with others in the "lounge" behind the stage. Chatted with one of the interpreters who was texting with other interpreters stuck in a car. Spent at least half an hour on a chair neighboring Janis Ian and never said a word to her. I'm next to an icon and can't think of a single thing to say that didn't sound like drivel or a starf*er so opted to stay quiet. Janis was therefore likely spared some silly babbling on my part. Ellis Paul and others sang from the corner. The mood was light even if a little resigned to the situation.
- Friday's storm: best part - Eileen Ivers is in the house! She and her band were in the staff tent. When mainstage was officially cancelled at around 10:30, we were also told that Eileen could not stay to play in another part of the weekend, so the Klondike sound crew and FRFF stage/house crews created a staging/sound set up in the staff tent for her band to play. They blew the roof off the place in the best way possible. For me, this was the best musical part of the weekend. Sort of unscripted and all fiery energy, Eileen and Immigrant Soul just really rocked the house. I don't have enough superlatives for this. I think there had to have been 4-500 people in the tent by the end, and the energy was just crackling. Despite a 6 AM lobby call for the next day to travel to Cleveland, they played until about 12:30 I think. I was glad to have been stuck backstage because if I had gone back to my tent, I know I would have not ventured back to the midway and would have missed this.
- Mud. Probably the star player in the weekend. The most weather-worthy footwear I had was my Tevas and I wore them all weekend. I need to look into galoshes or something. While the Tevas held up well, my feet were not very happy by the end. Going to take a couple of days for the blistering and soreness to go away. What frustrates me is that I don't do enough to toughen my feet beforehand and by Sunday, walking is a really slow process, making me feel about 80 years old. Gotta work on that for next year.
- Sunday morning. More rain over night. My fear was being stuck there for another night because of potential road closures due to the deep mud. Not the end of the world, but I was ready to go home and be out of the elements. Conflicting rumors were flying around about roads being open or not, though we did see various cars leave and then appear on the exit road below some minutes later. I opted to pack everything up and try to get off the hill, improving the chances of getting out of the fest later. Weather reports were conflicting, too, about whether we would wind up with more sun or more rain on the day. With some effort, and a lot of flying mud (some still caked in the wheel wells), I made it out into day parking.
- Gospel Wake Up Call - it was here that I missed Eddie From Ohio the most. For 9 years, Sundays have started with Julie Murphy Wells' "Great Day" and by the end of the set, most are up and dancing, cheering and ready to start the day. This year's set was good, but not nearly as high energy as I've seen in the past. The crowd watching was also a lot smaller, but a lot of that was likely that people seemed to be leaving all morning, tired of the weather. And, different musicians are going to have a different take on gospel. Kim & Reggie Harris, Magpie, Bob Malone and Girlyman turned in a fine set, but previous years seemed to have more of performers jumping in and out of everyone's songs and more of a revival feel. This one was less like that and the music was quieter.
- The people: overwhelmingly this is what makes the fest, the community of people. Between the dedicated, fun and embracing community of Shantytowne, to our friends and neighbors at Camp Dar Camp, the Loozer's Lounge and many other sites around the grounds, it's just a fabulous convention of peoples. While Facebook has made staying in touch with a lot of people easier throughout the year, you can't hug Facebook or emails or phone calls. At the same time, even though the crowds seemed a little smaller, I didn't run into friends around and about like I usually do. They were all there (except a few who couldn't make it for various reasons) but I never seemed to find them. Just a little odd.
- Speaking of Facebook... Posting photos taken with the Blackberry all weekend made the weekend kinda trippy (in a good way), having "outside world" interactions during the fest this way.
- Recorded music. I still love CDs. They may not be the most environmentally astute form of music, but I love them. I love artwork and lyrics and thank yous and notes and music. My budget was tight but I still managed to pick up some new tunes and I look forward to really getting into them. Got the obligatory FRFF shirts, too, including the commemorative storm of '08 shirt.
I'm forgetting things. Probably many many things. The weekend seemed to just FLY right by (I think because we weren't baking in the sun all 4 days, though more sun would have been nice). For the first day or so that I was there, it seemed surreal, like I wasn't really there. Can't explain it.
I am enormously grateful: to the community of Shantytowne for always being so welcoming though I feel very transient there as I don't spend a lot of time in camp. To Anne and Bub and the FRFF staff/volunteer community for continuing to give all of us intrepid folkies a home for a weekend a year, and to all of the musicians, past present and future, on stages and around the fest, who give us the context for being there.
- After the dramatic end to the 2008 festival, there were a lot of different emotions leading into this year: enormous gratitude to Anne and Bub for pulling it all together and coming back, ambivalence over the line up, trepidation over the weather... The fact that it is Falcon Ridge trumps it all, and off I went again to camp at Dodds Farm with the Shantytowners.
- The line up: It wasn't bad by any stretch, but felt a little empty of people that I have enjoyed seeing at the fest, like John Gorka, Eddie From Ohio, Dar Williams, Patty Larkin, Vance Gilbert, Cheryl Wheeler, and more. Still, I was excited to see Susan Werner, Girlyman, Janis Ian, Ellis Paul and Cliff Eberhardt among others. New to me (as far as seeing them perform) were Kathy Mattea and Eileen Ivers.
- The weather: this has become as much a part of the line up as the musicians themselves! While we had no MONSTER storms this weekend, there was still some impressive rainfall creating some impressive (and pervasive) mud conditions. The worst of the weather forced the closure of mainstage on Friday night, cancelling the evening performances of Eileen Ivers, The Refugees, and The Friday Night Song Swap (Ellis Paul, Janis Ian, Susan Werner and Cliff Eberhardt).
- Friday's storm: worst part - a storm! It was "just" a thunder storm this time, though still impressive. Watching a distinct front of dark clouds roll over the hill was spooky. Lots of us were taking photos, still others headed for cars and tents. I was under the concession tent, lucky to have been there at the start and able to sit. Someone started a sing along, which for all intents and purposes is a great way to bond and lift spirits. But the first song selection was dubious: "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". With memories of last year's storm and the tales of tents collapsing, a dirge, really?
- Friday's storm: weirder parts: After the first cell moved through, someone told the tentful of campers that we had 15-20 min before another one started. I had left a fold up stool backstage (yes, I was photographing again this year) so went to get it and see if anyone had any idea when/if things would resume. When the next cell hit, I took cover with others in the "lounge" behind the stage. Chatted with one of the interpreters who was texting with other interpreters stuck in a car. Spent at least half an hour on a chair neighboring Janis Ian and never said a word to her. I'm next to an icon and can't think of a single thing to say that didn't sound like drivel or a starf*er so opted to stay quiet. Janis was therefore likely spared some silly babbling on my part. Ellis Paul and others sang from the corner. The mood was light even if a little resigned to the situation.
- Friday's storm: best part - Eileen Ivers is in the house! She and her band were in the staff tent. When mainstage was officially cancelled at around 10:30, we were also told that Eileen could not stay to play in another part of the weekend, so the Klondike sound crew and FRFF stage/house crews created a staging/sound set up in the staff tent for her band to play. They blew the roof off the place in the best way possible. For me, this was the best musical part of the weekend. Sort of unscripted and all fiery energy, Eileen and Immigrant Soul just really rocked the house. I don't have enough superlatives for this. I think there had to have been 4-500 people in the tent by the end, and the energy was just crackling. Despite a 6 AM lobby call for the next day to travel to Cleveland, they played until about 12:30 I think. I was glad to have been stuck backstage because if I had gone back to my tent, I know I would have not ventured back to the midway and would have missed this.
- Mud. Probably the star player in the weekend. The most weather-worthy footwear I had was my Tevas and I wore them all weekend. I need to look into galoshes or something. While the Tevas held up well, my feet were not very happy by the end. Going to take a couple of days for the blistering and soreness to go away. What frustrates me is that I don't do enough to toughen my feet beforehand and by Sunday, walking is a really slow process, making me feel about 80 years old. Gotta work on that for next year.
- Sunday morning. More rain over night. My fear was being stuck there for another night because of potential road closures due to the deep mud. Not the end of the world, but I was ready to go home and be out of the elements. Conflicting rumors were flying around about roads being open or not, though we did see various cars leave and then appear on the exit road below some minutes later. I opted to pack everything up and try to get off the hill, improving the chances of getting out of the fest later. Weather reports were conflicting, too, about whether we would wind up with more sun or more rain on the day. With some effort, and a lot of flying mud (some still caked in the wheel wells), I made it out into day parking.
- Gospel Wake Up Call - it was here that I missed Eddie From Ohio the most. For 9 years, Sundays have started with Julie Murphy Wells' "Great Day" and by the end of the set, most are up and dancing, cheering and ready to start the day. This year's set was good, but not nearly as high energy as I've seen in the past. The crowd watching was also a lot smaller, but a lot of that was likely that people seemed to be leaving all morning, tired of the weather. And, different musicians are going to have a different take on gospel. Kim & Reggie Harris, Magpie, Bob Malone and Girlyman turned in a fine set, but previous years seemed to have more of performers jumping in and out of everyone's songs and more of a revival feel. This one was less like that and the music was quieter.
- The people: overwhelmingly this is what makes the fest, the community of people. Between the dedicated, fun and embracing community of Shantytowne, to our friends and neighbors at Camp Dar Camp, the Loozer's Lounge and many other sites around the grounds, it's just a fabulous convention of peoples. While Facebook has made staying in touch with a lot of people easier throughout the year, you can't hug Facebook or emails or phone calls. At the same time, even though the crowds seemed a little smaller, I didn't run into friends around and about like I usually do. They were all there (except a few who couldn't make it for various reasons) but I never seemed to find them. Just a little odd.
- Speaking of Facebook... Posting photos taken with the Blackberry all weekend made the weekend kinda trippy (in a good way), having "outside world" interactions during the fest this way.
- Recorded music. I still love CDs. They may not be the most environmentally astute form of music, but I love them. I love artwork and lyrics and thank yous and notes and music. My budget was tight but I still managed to pick up some new tunes and I look forward to really getting into them. Got the obligatory FRFF shirts, too, including the commemorative storm of '08 shirt.
I'm forgetting things. Probably many many things. The weekend seemed to just FLY right by (I think because we weren't baking in the sun all 4 days, though more sun would have been nice). For the first day or so that I was there, it seemed surreal, like I wasn't really there. Can't explain it.
I am enormously grateful: to the community of Shantytowne for always being so welcoming though I feel very transient there as I don't spend a lot of time in camp. To Anne and Bub and the FRFF staff/volunteer community for continuing to give all of us intrepid folkies a home for a weekend a year, and to all of the musicians, past present and future, on stages and around the fest, who give us the context for being there.