(no subject)

[lenora_rose]

Back from Folk Fest. i spent yesterday, as I tend to, in a kind of burned-out stupor; I cancelled going to the Baggiecon closing party ("The Dead Mouse" - like a Dead Dog but smaller) so i could spend time with my husband, then decided that was too much sociability. The danger of being a natural introvert after a people-heavy event.

The music was good. A number of groups were great live - the Peatbog Faeries, Oka, Delhi 2 Dublin, Arrested Development - but I wasn't sure the live experience would translate to worthwhile CDs.

The major new (to me) winners were probably Tao Seeger, high energy oft-political folk-rock with decided Hispanic influences, and not just when he's singing in Spanish, and Luluc, a subtle and delicate-sounding Australian Duet.

I have nods for the United Steel Workers of Montreal, who did some darn good country-folk-rock worth dancing to and with lyrics worth listening to, Ukrainia, who do a very similar thing to the Ukrainians in rocking up their traditional tunes.

Also Bette et wallet, a Francophone duo who write modern bilingual lyrics to old folk tunes, Pura Fé, who used her tweener to do looped vocal pyrotechnics, part First Nations and part blues (The track on the sampler CD is rather more straightforward Bluesy), and Delhi 2 Dublin, who came closest of the "might not be as good recorded as live" set to having me pick up a CD anyhow.

Debashish Bhattacharya and Etran Finatawa (Indian and Nigerian respectively) gave good workshop, and Jimmy Cliff did a fabulous high energy reggae mainstage, but didn't leave me with any urge to pick up more. Ditto The Cat Empire - I like them, but I can't muster the rabidness with which many have embraced them.

The CDs I got (that were directly related to the festival) were:

Tao Seeger - Rise and Bloom
Ukrainia - The Maiden (part of my birthda6y present from mom)
Luluc - Dear Hamlyn (Also signed!)

Plus a free festival sampler with one song each by 17 of the folk fest bands.

Tao Seeger's energy does translate well to CD. I'm on my second listen of the CD. It's not a perfect set - "Rueben's Train" is kinda Meh, and "I Don't Want Your Millions, Mister" is about as preachy as it sounds - but I like his rocked up version of grandad Pete's "Bring 'em Home"*, even if I'm not 100% in line with the lyrics, and "Rise and Bloom" (with a seriously hypnotic bass line) and "Well May the World Go" have already repeated a few extra times.

Luluc really needs a good quiet moment to properly attend to; it's lovely, and ghostly, and all kinds of things I like, but it is altogether very mellow.

I haven't actually put on Ukrainia yet due to repeating Tao Seeger, and to listening to the first of my not-festival related acquisitions (further to my birthday present from mom):

Ray Cooper - Tales of Love, War, and Death by Hanging (Cooper is also known as Chopper from Oysterband, the Cellist/bass player and mandolin player. His voice is decent but not great, but it's a damn good album if a listen and a half is enough to go by)
Benji Kirkpatrick - Boomerang (At this rate, I'm going to own music by every member of Bellowhead in spite of missing them at the festival last year. But I haven't listened to it yet, so it may be a mistake. or fabulous.)

Anyhow; I got to dance a reasonable amount, only one of my dreadful shifts was actually dreadful; the Friday 6-11:00 both ran to 11:45 before I was relieved, and ended up being a shift of all walking - directing traffic and answering questions in the overflow to the overflow parking - even though I was footsore when it started and requested a shift where I could sit some. Also, I walked right through a giant spiderweb (The two cars hadn't been parked there even two hours!!!) and ended up with the denizen on my vest. Ugh. But I got it onto the grass unharmed in spite of my urge to squish; partly because it wasn't nearly as big as its web suggested.)

sun_in_her_hair and her sister, C, were the only people from our regular group camping besides me, and I only met up with them after I'd arranged with Baggiecon to stay with them. I think this worked out for the utter best for me; I had friendly people to talk to - as well as the already oft-mentioned decadentdave, E., D., L, and W., in particular were great to see as I don't often enough - and a tonne of music to listen to, including by a few people mainly new to me, of whom A. was probably the best prize. sun_in_her_hair joined in sometimes, sometimes with her sister and a cousin I think I've occasionally met previously.

And Baggiecon gave me a nice camping mug with kamora in it (The Bailey's went away the night before, when I couldn't join in the 'ceremonial mugging' due to stupidly late shift).

I also got to catch up with the university prof who sells his pottery there, and the friend who makes jewellery (and for whom I occasionally work around Christmas)

I only got to see forodwaith once, though.

I got back an hour later than planned due to a bit of odd stupidity - in spite of being asked to leave the gate open, Bird's Hill Park staff locked up their entries for the night on Sunday - which meant the buses intended to pick up the volunteers and crew from the backstage party couldn't actually get in. By the time we were leaving, it really was an hour late, and the bus trip was slightly longer than i remembered it being, too. I was so tired walking home that I was literally having trouble seeing straight. But I still showered before I slept. Aaaah, showers.

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* and yes, technically, that does mean I added ANOTHER one to the literal next generations of folk thing I've been noting lately.

Comments

[forodwaith.livejournal.com]

I saw you on Sunday as we were driving out & waved, but couldn't catch your eye. We left early b/c I was fried after 4 straight late nights - my Folk Fest stamina isn't what it used to be - as were the kids. But I'm sorry to have missed the party & already working out plans to make sure I get there next year.

(Apparently the park did the same thing with the gates on Saturday night - my crew co-ordinators were complaining about it.)

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Sounds like it was fun!