2011 New Orleans Jazz Fest

Hard to believe just a week ago we were in New Orleans for one of the best Jazz Festivals in recent memory. Although they all seem like the best one yet when you first get back. Unfortunately there is calamity unfolding in Louisiana once gain as I write this, with the opening of the floodgates threatening to destroy several parishes west of Baton Rouge. I am feeling sorry for those folks down in the Atchafalaya basin. Maybe that is why I enjoy going to Louisiana so much, you never know if each trip might be your last. It is a precious area that hopefully will continue to survive as they have for 300+ years.

Anyway, just thinking back to last week's trip for Jazzfest the weather was perfect every day except for the first day we arrived, which was the Tuesday between weekends. After checking into our hotel we headed straight to the 7th annual Threadhead Patry which was held this year under a tent at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World at the Port of New Orleans. I had planned to change into shorts or a dress but it was chilly so I decided to stay in the clothes I had worn for the trip. When we got to the venue, which was on a concrete deck right on the waterfront, I was glad I had my long pants and jacket on because there were white caps on the Mississippi and it was kind of like being on Narragansett pier in March. Very unusual for Jazzfest week.


Luckily though it didn't rain and we feasted on a vat of Zatarain's Jambalaya and a seemingly endless pirogue full of boiled spicy crawfish while greeting and catching up with friends we had not seen in a while. All this was accompanied by several kegs of Abita beer (which probably lasted longer due to the cold weather), Bin 504 wine, and drinks made with Old New Orleans spiced rum (including some hot cider towards the end of the evening).

The musical entertainment at this gathering rivals what can be heard in any one day at the Jazzfest, and this year was no exception,was in fact was one of the best ever.
We arrived at the end of the first set by Susan Cowsill band, then Honey Island Swamp Band got everybody rocking, followed by Eric Lindell, then Tommy Malone's (of the subdudes) new band Mystic Drone. My favorite set was by the New Orleans Nightcrawlers, a brass band featuring Craig Klein, Matt Perrine, Rick Trulson and a slew of other new Orleans horn players, during which a lone Mardi Gras Indian showed up. Not sure if that was planned or not but added a colorful dimension to it all. Ended up with a fantastic funky set by George Porter Jr. & Runnin' Pardners. What a way to start the week!



When we got back to the hotel ( a deal we had found on Hotwire that turned out to be RIGHT on Bourbon & Toulouse) we were asked to show room keys before getting on the elevator, an effort to keep out the staggering hordes from the street. Since it was a Tuesday night it wasn't TOO crazy out there but we were glad we had asked for a room overlooking the courtyard vs. the one on Toulouse originally offered. (We had decline the option of paying extra for a Bourbon Street view.) Inside the room, which opened out to a narrow balcony, it was pretty peaceful and ended up being a great place to stay.

Next morning we went to Camellia Grille's new French Quarter location just a couple blocks away on Chartres st. Same menu as the original one uptown, just more convenient for us touristas. Which was fine by me, very easy to get to and I got to get my grits on. I do make 'em at home in the microwave but something about the slow-cooked ones tastes better.

After passing by some shooting for HBO's Treme (I think) outside Napoleon House, we went by the Louisiana Music factory where the cast members (except Wendell) were signing copies of the new DVD. Kermit Ruffins was up next but it was so packed in there I could hardly get a glimpse inside. He was already so popular before but now with the TV show, plus the fact there's only the one record store left for the in-stores so EVERYONE is there on non-fest days. We met up with some friends outside and headed over to catch the ferry to Algiers, where one of the Threadheads was hosting his annual gathering/open studio at his glass-blowing studio, Rosetree Studios. After a lovely walk through the quaint little neighborhood, it was fascinating to watch them create beautiful works of art in the studio, turning hot blobs into exquisitely delicate pieces. One was a wavy bowl that had been won by someone in last year's Threadhead raffle. And we got to mingle with some of our friends in a quieter setting than we had at the previous day's party.



After the Rosetree fest, we stopped at Drago's in the Hilton Riverside to sample the much heralded Char Grilled Oysters that I have heard so many rave reviews about, and I must say they lived up to their reputation. They were big and juicy and swimming in just the right amount of garlic/butter sauce, no evidence of BP. Then since we were nearby we decided to stop by Lafayette Square where Marcia Ball was performing for free as she usually does on the Wednesday between fest weekends. WE caught some of the opening act, Girl Holiday and the Honky Tonk review, but did not stay too long because as much as I love Marcia Ball it was just a bit too crowded and we had just seen her recently from like 2 feet away at Patriot place in Foxboro, MA. (Catch you at Rhythm and Roots Marcia!)

Back to the hotel then out to dinner at Palace Cafe, then Chickie Wah Wah to see Paul Cebar, someone I always enjoy dancing to. He doesn't usually play AT Jazzfest but I have seen him on the grounds quite often just enjoying it, and he usually does a set or two somewhere during the week. Looking forward to seeing him at the upcoming Bayou 'n' Boogie fest in a couple of weeks.

Thursday was our first day of fest and I was excited to see Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, a band I had heard much about but somehow had never seen yet. They were fun way to start off the day. Lucinda WIlliams was next, she startd off kind of slow but by the end was rocking out. Love her new album,and in my opinion was a better jazz fest performance than last time I had seen her there. Next was Charlie Mussselwhite who absolutely packed the blues tent, where we stayed for some of the James Booker piano tribute, then caught some of Michelle Shocked set on the Fais Do Do before heading over to see Cyndi Lauper. She was probably the biggest surprise of the fest for me. She is doing more blues now (which is closer to how she started out) and had lots of energy and was a good entertainer. Charlie Musselwhite played harmonica with her, and she also featured a teen fife & drum group from Mississippi. I should have stayed for her whole set but really wanted to see some of Maceo Parker, who was playing at the same time on Congo Square. They were good, but closer to expectations. Always too many choices at Jazzfest.

After dinner at the Redfish Grille we stopped in at Irvin Mayfield's club at the Royal Sonesta to see Shamarr Allen & the Underdawgs. The set was made more entertaining and interesting by hearing stories of the band's recent trip to Kazakhstan and Kurdistan(?) as United States cultural ambassadors. I had seen some of the videos before on Facebook/ Youtube and it was interesting to hear Shamarr's take on this unique experience. Hopefully they will continue to bring New Orleans music to other parts of the world. That is some government spending I don't mind supporting.

Friday we started out the day in the Gospel tent with the Electrifying Crown Seekers then the original Pinettes, one of the only female brass bands that I know of. They had some guy dancing on stage with them. I don't know if he is part of their act or was just a special addition for Jazzfest. Then it was over to Acura for Soul Rebels brass band, looking forward to their upcoming gig at the Narrows. Caught some of David Torkanowksi/ George Porter's Fleur Debris, then tried to see Kermit Ruffins but that area was so packed hard to get a good vantage point. We headed into the Lagniappe stage for Alex McMurray, who I have seen as a sideman with Paul Sanchez and others but this was my first time seeing him with his own band doing his own originals. Good stuff!

Ended up the day with Willie Nelson, whom I have seen many times before but not in a while. He played all the usual standards, "City of New Orleans", a few newer songs and a string of Hank Williams songs starting with Jambalaya. Blind Boys of Alabama joined him for "I Saw the Light". I considered going over to the Blues Tent for Gregg Allman, but I was glad we stayed for the whole set because as we were leaving we noticed a crowd gathered backstage by the infamous bus and I was able to get my fest hat autographed!

Saturday was our last day at fest and again we began at the Gospel tent then saw Shamarr Allen on the Gentilly Stage, wandered around quite a bit catching a little of several acts, tried to see Trombone Shorty but were so far back (like at Kermit) was not too good so again we headed for the Lagniappe stage where Paul Sanchez and the Rolling Road show, which featured some songs and singers from Nine Lives,a musical in the works. We heard a little of Jimmy Buffet then ended the day and our fest with New Birth Brass Band on the Heritage stage. Nighttime was dinner at Deanies (on the way back to hotel, then showered and out to Frenchmen street -the music lovers' answer to Bourbon street - where we hung out at the Spotted cat and elsewhere until we had to head back to fly out the next morning.

a few more photos

Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest

Crescent City Blues and BBQ fest in New Orleans, now in its fifth year, was a new fest for us this year. Held in mid October, it comes about a month after festival season wraps up in the Northeast giving us one last blast of summer music fun. The free festival is held in Lafayette Square park in the Central Business District of New Orleans, the same place where they hold weekly free concerts in the spring and fall (we usually catch Marcia Ball there on the Wednesday between jazzfest weekends.) Several hotels are close by, including the one we stayed at,so we could just walk there - it was so close it was almost like camping at a fest. With two stages scheduled, I was wondering how they were going to pull it off in this small park, but not to worry, the sets alternated so there was no down time between sets. We were camped out somewhere in the middle with a large group of friends so all we had to do was turn around after each set to catch the next one. And for most sets, it was easy enough to get up close when you wanted to.

Saturday started out with Honey Island Swamp Band (with an expanded horn section inclucing Derek Huston on Sax. Luther Kent put on a great show with a 10-piece band,and Anders Osborne with Stanton Moore trio was a highlight for me on Saturday. Taj Mahal closed out the fest Saturday - By the time he took the stage the crowd had swelled to maybe 3x the size... most of the other acts were New Orleans based so probalby a lot of locals came out later since they get to see the other artists all the time. But to us the whole fest was like an all star line up.

Sunday's lineup was ruled by women. Shannon McNally and Hot Sauce was a new discovery for me - I has never seen her with her full band, they have that kind of North Miss. ALlstars groove, and she has a strong voice. Barbara Lynn is an older blues guitarist/singer with lots of soul, she was another one I had never seen before. She rocks! Ruthie Foster closed out Sunday with a very strong performance, again, another one I had not seen with a full band, but her voice is so powerful it was electrifying. Jon Cleary and Mem Shannon were also very good, but somehow I missed Wolfman Washington w/Joe Krown - I must have been walkng around looking at crafts, or maybe stuck my head in the onsite sports bar they had set up under a tent , where Joe was watching the Saints game with a crowd of very enthused fans. THe crowd at the music fest was noticeably lighter on Sunday, and many more people came out after the game was over.

Several varieties of Abita beer were offered for sale, along with a full bar offering mixed drinks. Just as the music was not strictly "blues", the food was not strictly "barbecue",and along with the expected Ribs & Bbq chicken the menu included BBQ shrimp from Emeril's Delmonico restaurant,some Vietnamese and Jamaican fare, and the much drooled over Cochon De Lait po-boy sandwich, same as those served at Jazzfest. This more eclectic mix was expected, since The festival is presented by The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the same organization that helps to present the Jazz Festival that takes place every April/May, which as anyone who goes to that knows is not strictly Jazz by any means. The lineup reminded me of a really good day in the blues tent at Jazzfest, but with a much cooler atmosphere, minus the crowded feel, heat and rules that are part of that particular venue at Jazzfest. This was just a perfect festival this year - the weather, the lineup ,the setting - everything just fell into place. ANd because it is not so intense as Jazzfest, we had time to enjoy other things about New Orleans that we sometimes miss during the big Jazzfest, like go out to a some restaurants and clubs wihtout the huge crowds. I would definitely go back for it again.


this pic was taken during Ruthie Foster


and here's a link to some of my other
photos from this fest.

Rhythm and Roots 2010

With all the doom and gloom in the forecast about the impending hurricane Earl, we didn't head down to Ninigret shortly after dawn as usual, so we got gypped out of our traditional Friday afternoon feast, not to mention the relaxation/ catchup/ socializing time.. it was all about Earl! But I was glad that some friends, including one who was driving in from Ohio, inspired me to come down later on Friday rather than wait until Saturday. I mean if she could drive 10 hours from Ohio I could certainly make it from Providence....what's a little rain? (which is all it turned out to be..... we've seen much worse with no warning at Grey Fox and other festivals) Having all of Friday night's performances in the dance-tent worked out really well - the sets were a bit abbreviated but once you were there you didn't have to leave... and the rain was not constant anyway, there were a few breaks so you could make your way to food/beer/bathroom. The dance floor was beautifully decorated with Mardi Gras masks, was not too crowded and everyone had a defiant yet relaxed "what-me-worry" attitude. It was fun to be part of it.

Red Stick Ramblers ruled the dance tent - too bad they couldn't stick around longer. And Little Freddy King was a treat to listen to and watch with his natty suits and snappy dance moves. He also sat in with the Red Sticks, as did Jesse Lege for the Cajun portion of their set.




The next 2 days were sunny and breezy not a cloud in the sky nor drop of rain. Once the rest of our party arrived and settled in I went down to catch the end of Little Freddy King on the main stage, then Horace Trahan and New Ossun Express, the host band for the weekend. I don't remember ever seeing them before (except the previous night), although Horace had played here with DL Menard several years ago. They were really good with a driving zydeco sound, with the addition of saxophone and flute on some songs (both played by the same guy). They covered some Fats Domino songs and Ray Charles as well as traditional zydeco numbers like "MotorDude Special" and "Uncle Bud".

Bonerama in the 5 pm time slot was, to me, the highlight of Saturday. They opened with "War Pigs" and closed with "Helter Skelter", and funked it up big time in between. Lots of people were up and dancing - they just couldn't sit still for the funky 'bones. Steve Riley joined them for at least one song, another Fats Domino tune I think - seemed like I heard a lot of Fats Donmino songs over the weekend, performed by several different artists. I don't think it was intentional - everyone was just in that rollicking kind of mood. Marcia Ball - who I'd already seen twice this year so I took my time getting there, was spectacular as always, especially when she had the 'bones join her on stage. She is such a pro.

I was not so thrilled with the Texas Tornadoes. Not being all that familiar with the "old" version of the band, even though I had heard some recordings of them before, all the references to the past didn't really resonate with me. The performance seemed kind of forced to me, with the lead singer continually yelling out things like "alright Rhode Island!" between songs. More Fats Domino and Swamp Pop songs in the jam at the end with Johnny Nicholas, Marcia Ball, Steve Riley and others. It was not bad, I just felt that it was too much of a tribute to a past we have not experienced and perhaps could not fully appreciate.

After having seen Donna the Buffalo do a 2.5 hour jam in the dance tent at Grey Fox earlier this summer, I skipped their set at the end of the night to go find some people to jam with in the campground. There was a big tent set up with what sounded like it could have been recorded music but turned out to be a live band, Shaky Ground out of Worcester, I think. It was less of an open jam, more of them just running through their set list with some extra percussionists and some guest singers. It was funky and many people were drawn to it, but unfortunately the amplified instruments dominated the whole after hours scene both Saturday and Sunday nights. Now I am the LAST one to complain about after hours jamming, and even drumming which I have no problem with as long as the drummers have rhythm. Participating in these after hours jams is one of the highlights of the fest to me. But this setup was a little too much, and surprisingly, it went on well into the wee hours. I did find some of my other jam-buddies in different campsites doing the acoustic thing as is the norm, and I was able to join them. But every time someone would finish a song it was hard to get your head around the next song, what with "Mustang Sally" and other bar-band classics, each of which lasted for at least 15 minutes, blaring through the night. If any area club owners are reading this, please book "Shaky Ground" next Labor Day weekend. You and your patrons will definitely get your money's worth!

Sunday started out with Danny Barnes trio, which was cool. I'd never heard him play electric like that. Then some dancing to Horace Trahan, but I missed the Texas Sheiks - musta been talking to someone or getting something to eat or something. There is just not enough time for everything one wants to do at these festivals! Got back to see CJ Chenier, they always perk everyone up in the late afternoon. It was hot by now so I went for a swim. I could hear both CJ and the Poullards as I splashed around in the pond. Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women was the best set of Sunday, with their rocking good tunes. Everyone wanted to hear more but they were strict about sticking to the schedule and no encore was allowed.

I have seen Steve Riley so many times I did not catch his main stage set which followed Dave Alvin; instead I went to see the Occidental Gypsy Jazz band, which was different and fun, then went back to camp and got back for some of Donna the Buffalo. Then we went back to the dance tent for some more CJ while Robert Randolph band got set up. They had about a dozen guitars and a few of those pedal steels and a huge drum kit....impressive I guess but it takes a long time to set up. Robert Randolph band was very energetic and had a good groove going, though it was repetitive at times. At least they had a good stage show, switching around on instruments, and balancing on top of the pedal steel. Among the songs I recognized were the Stones' Hip Shake, the current single "If I had my way", with some vintage recordings dubbed in the background, Doobie Bros "0ld Black Water", some Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin riffs. The last set on the mainstage was definitley not a sleeper!

Closed out the night in the dance tent with Steve Riley & members of Donna the Buffalo. At this point the dance floor was filled, a smaller front section of jumpers and spillers gradually giving way to the couple-dancers moving in a circle. It was a big old jam and even went a little past curfew. All in all it was a wonderful weekend, it was great to see and hang out with everyone...and as usual it just went by too fast!

Here are a few photos from Sunday

And it used to be the Cajun festival / Rhythm and Roots on Labor day weekend was the last chance to jam for the year.. but now we have not one, not two but THREE festivals to choose from next weekend - The Pawtucket Arts festival in Slater Park Sat/Sun, The Narrows Festival of the Arts on Sunday in Fall River, and the new "Life is Good" festival in Canton, MA. Too many choices for the week after Labor Day! 2 out of those 3 are free but one has much bigger names...so you decide.

2010 Grey Fox

Grey Fox is the festival that inspired me to start this blog a few years ago and so I guess it is fitting that after returning from the 3rd year at Grey Fox on the Walsh Farm I return to this site which I have been remiss in updating - even though I have already been to a few other festivals this year (Jazzfest in New Orleans, Bayou & Boogie in Rehoboth, MA and Crawfish Fest in Augusta, NJ). Anyway, Grey Fox to me is more a state of mind than just another music festival where you run from stage to stage. From the moment I arrive on site, it's all about living in the present. What to set up and where? what to see? hear? eat? drink? do? Finding and connecting with old friends and making some new ones every single time. You don't need a TV to watch the weather forecast because you can see it coming in the sky, and when it gets there you just deal with it. I did not even take any pictures this year. I think I just never got around to it because photos are for remembering the past from the future, not for the present.

I arrived on Tuesday in the rain and set up a partial camp, played some guitar, ate some cold food because I didn't want to light my stove in the rain, and visited with some friends. The opportunity to be there before the masses arrive is one of the privileges of volunteering. On Wednesday I watched them roll in and waited around for other friends & family to arrive and fill out our camping area, not far from the dance tent. Late afternoon I visited with an old college friend who lives nearby and we passed a good time. The open mic in the dance tent on Wednesday night was a new feature this year and one that I hope will start a new tradition. It seemed to be really well run and kept moving and featured a variety of acts - some may have been established bands, some solo or duos, and some pickup bands who had been jamming together all week at the "Foxhole", the nearby run-up to GreyFox (I have not been there yet so I can't really comment but I hope to make it maybe next year.)

Thursday turned out to be the best day weather-wise.... hot and sunny but no rain. I didn't have to work til 7 so we spent part of the afternoon wandering the campgrounds looking to see where some other friends were set up. It was during this torpid stroll, while passing by a site inhabited by the "Flying Pigs" I overheard a line that made me smile: "Snowflake, what time is tie-dye?" That is the closest one gets to long range planning at Grey Fox! I wanted to go cool off in the creek in the woods bordering the campgrounds, but the part we tried to access was all taped off and I didn't feel like leaving the site, so we settled for a super-soaker battle back at our camp. That worked.

I couldn't make it to the tie dye at 6:30 so my friend graciously agreed to dip some garments for me so I would be properly attired the next day. From my post at the instrument raffle booth, where the festival sells chances on some very nice instruments to benefit educational programs such as the Kids' Bluegrass Academy and a scholarship program, I was able to hear Crooked Still, GreenSky Bluegrass and some of Donna the Buffalo, then caught the rest of their set from up the hill. Finished up the night with Planet Zydeco, who were much better than I remember from last time I heard them. After being reprimanded for talking in our "quiet" area next to the dance tent, we set off in search of more lively digs, and joined in some jams elsewhere.

Friday morning I had to work again, and got to hear all the mainstage bands who played short sets early. When I was through at around 3 pm, my husband had finally arrived with his friend, who set about grilling up some happy-hour shrimp and andouille just as the first rain-shower let loose while we listened to the music on the radio broadcast and also from the dance tent. I caught some of the Sweetback Sisters, fun retro style honky tonk, then just had to go up and see Del McCoury because the last few times they've been there it rained and I missed 'em. Loved hearing some of the old favorites, he always tries to accomodate everyone's requests, even though they have new material to play. "Forty Acres and a Fool" was my favorite, followed by "52 Black Vincent". I enjoyed Railroad Earth quite a bit, as I hadn't been in the mood for them last time I saw them at Crawfish Fest in June, but it seemed to fit better here. Donna the Buffalo finished up the night in the dance tent with with a record-breaking set that went 'til well past 2 am. Because we were in the "quiet" area... once again we set off in search of excitement elsewhere for fear of being talked to for talking. This time it was an "afterhours" club set up in the barn, illuminated by a spotlight that advertised "Club Silo", complete with giant disco ball under an oversized wooden guitar propped up in the loft. After a long and grueling trek to nowhere we ended up at another jam and I joined in a pre-dawn mando/banjo jam with my accordion, then closed my eyes just before sunrise.

Saturday morning I caught Rockin Acoustic Circus from the front row at the mainstage. What an amazing group of talented young musicians! The bass and cello player are brother and sister, and I don't think any of them are over 21 (except the guitar player who seems to be the director) The mando, banjo and fiddle players did some incredible trading off on a medley that stretched from Bach to Bluegrass. Then after that I left the site for the first time in 3 years and went with some friends to a nearby swimming hole that was a godsend! Nice cool waist deep water that was easy to get to down some natural stone steps. The rushing waters of the stream was a jacuzzi with no timer to reset, giving a full body massage. And then to top it all off a lone bagpiper appeared on the bridge above the stream, kilt and all, serenading the swimmers. Normally I am not a fan of bagpipes, but I appreciated this one, who actually knew more than the usual 2 bagpipe tunes everyone else always plays.

We stopped off for ice & refreshments before heading back to the fest, then I went back to selling raffle tickets while listening to the Wilders, the Greencards and Gibson Brothers, in-between battling two brief but violent storms that did nothing to cool us off but wreaked some havoc. I got word from the camp that some of our set up had not survived the onslaught, but at least the instruments and raffle tickets were safe! This was my busiest shift since the drawing was going to be that night. After that I got to see Kathy Mattea, who I really liked. I think she is probably more used to playing casinos and other such venues, and not accustomed to gazing out on a sea of tie-dyed hippies on a hill which inspired her to work a bit of "Kumbaya" into her set.

I returned to the camp for a bit of rest and was going to join Joe up on the hill for Tim O'Brien then Sam Bush, but it started raining again so we went over to the dance tent and were completely wowed by BlueSky Mission Club, a band that defies categorization, but that laid out some really funky grooves. Somesongs sounded a bit like Donna the Buffalo, but they had a guy on lap steel and electric guitar who did most of the singing too, and also a female singer, and a guy on rubboard. I had never heard of or seen them before and had no expectations of them but liked them a lot. More thunderstorms and lightning as we huddled in the camp, then when there was a break in the rain we made our way back to the dance tent where the Wilders throwdown that really was wild! Tim O'Brien and Sam Bush, whose mainstage set was cut short by the weather, were among the "and friends" that joined in , along with the Hillbenders. It was really quite the conglomeration, and even though we were way in the back - EVERYONE seemed to be there, due to the weather - we could hear fine and dance to it. When it was over no one was in a hurry to leave because the rain was still pouring down, not to mention some thrilling and hair-raising lightning....but at last we took the few steps to our camp, where we played a few songs (again trying to be "quiet"). Then around 3 am after it cleared up I strapped my accordion on my back and slogged through the mud in my big yellow boots and finally connected with my friends from Vermont who were jamming at a site called Camp Chaos.

Next day we packed up and checked out the last few sets including the Kids' Academy which is always fun to see.... dozens of fiddle players and few of everything else, all singing and playing in unison. This year they did Chris Thile's 'The Fox' which seemed like a good one for kids.... finally hit the road around 3 and got home by 8 just in time to cut grass. I always try to take a couple of days afterwards to re-adjust to the "real world" after spending nearly a week in this temporary town that forms every year in the hills of NY.

Now looking ahead to Lowell Folk Fest, followed by Newport Folk,then Podunk Bluegrass, all on different weekends this year so it might be possible catch at least some of each, before ending up the summer with Rhythm and Roots.

Narrows Festival of the Arts

On the heels of Rhythm and Roots, the Narrows Festival of the arts took place outside the Narrows Center in Fall River, under clear blue skies and warm sunshine. 2 Lousiana bands (Beausoleil, Dirty Dozen) + 2 Texas bands (Hot Club of Cowtown, Seth Walker) on the outdoor stage added up to Big Time Bon Temps! Between sets we were entertained by a variety of creatures ranging from a multi-colored dragons, an octopus, some faeries, and a dancing eyeball!


Here's a video of what one observer called a technicolor snufalupagus, kicking up its many heels to Hot Club.

MVI_2618.AVI

Inside, several local bands took the stage, among them Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade, an old fashioned jazz combo consisting of Tess on vocals and guitar, accompanied by a stand up bass, drums....and a clarinet/ sax player. Classy and relaxing, they offered a chance to chill indoors between dancing up a storm to Beausoleil, and gettin' down w/ the Dirty Dozen.


Narrows Festival 2009


Audio is available on MVYRadio.com
http://mvyradio.com/music_info/narrows_festival_2009.php

Rhythm and Roots 2009

What a year for Rhythm and Roots! After losing half the summer to unseasonably cool temperatures and rain, we were blessed with perfect weather for Labor Day weekend– sunny skies and cool breezes, followed by clear moonlit nights that had me up past 4 am every night.

This year we welcomed old friends and new, camping with most of our usual krewe, and helping to set up some spots for about a half dozen newcomers, friends we had met at Crawfish fest and/or on the Jazzfest message board (aka Threadheads). Lots of my jamming buddies were nearby in their usual spots as well, so it worked out perfectly.

After our opening night barbecue/ celebration, we went to hear the music. Friday was loaded with great music - Nouveau Honkies, the Duhks, and I was pleasantly surprised by Eilen Jewell - last time I saw her she was more folky sounding, but this time she had a killer rockabilly / Americana band with her. Too bad they showed up late due to traffic problems and had to shorten their set. Enjoyed the Travellin’ McCoury’s - it was nice to have some real bluegrass at Rhythm and Roots this year, just as it is nice to have the Red Stick Ramblers or Steve Riley show up at Grey Fox. Lee Boys with the Travellin’ McCoury’s on Friday were the highlight of the festival for me. Their first song was like a mantra for the weekend – “Let’s celebrate –we gonna have a good time! ” Robbie's electric banjo sounded especially good with the steel guitar, and the back and forth solos between all the bluegrass and sacred steel musicians worked out well.

I liked Cedric Watson's new band, Bijou Creole, which had a real African sound with the different percussion instruments.

Tab Benoit's set in the workshop tent on Saturday was my second favorite set at the festival. It was similar to the shows I’ve seen him do at Chan’s in Woonsocket - he is best in a smaller venue. Besides the jokes he was also able to enlighten the audience to the plight of the Louisiana wetlands, mentioning the Voice of the Wetlands fest and other things he is involved with. For his mainstage set, Steve Riley sat in on some of the zydeco tunes.

Asleep at the Wheel was great Saturday night, very tight as usual, and featured a brief guest appearance by Johnny Nicholas. I didn't get into Hot Tuna much - I know they are legends and all, but it just sounded too much like a garage jam-band to me.

Papa Mali was good on Sunday - he was fun to dance to, but I wished he would have sung more. "Ode to Billy Joe" was especially groovy, and I really liked his version of "I Shall Not be Moved". The Frank Family Band was hitting it with all they had, with their 2 drummers, and sometimes alternating, sometimes playing together. I found it funny when the young niece who is always dancing on stage finally sang a song and it was Boozoo Chavis' "Leona had a Party".

Mitch Woods was entertaining, but seemed to have to work very hard to get people up off their butts. There is something about the R&R crowd - even though there are always a lot of dancers under the two tents, people in front of the stage like to just sprawl out on their blankets or sit back in their chairs, and that seems a bit frustrating for some of the performers.

I love Jerry Douglas’ music, but when I saw him on the schedule for Sunday night, I was worried he was going to put us to sleep - far from it! People were actually dancing to it on the dance floor near the main stage. I was one of them - that was the best way to stay warm, too. Great Big Sea was an excellent choice for a closing act with their raucous energy and fun songs and even a light show! That was one of the only bands I was unfamiliar with - my first time seeing them but it won’t be the last. I liked how they alternated between traditional sounding folk tunes / drinking songs/ and pop hooks and harmonies.

After the last set in the dance tent, which featured Steve Riley with special guests like Cedric Watson, producer Chuck Wentworth got up to say a few words as is the tradition. It was especially moving this year in light of all the obstacles he had to overcome to be there this year, as well as the local politics that threatened to move the festival (but did not!)

I know some people had financial limitations this year that prevented them from coming – I should have mentioned earlier that R&R is a volunteer run festival, and that can be a good low cost way to enjoy the fest. In exchange for a few hours work each day you get free weekend camping pass/admission, meals, a t-shirt and more fun than you can imagine. I did it for many years, and still do at Grey Fox bluegrass festival. I just can’t at R&R anymore because I don’t want to miss anything, and I love playing music after hours. This is the most accordion friendly and diverse-jamming festival I go to… and I do have to sleep some time! This year was the best for after-hours jamming,due to the weather, the full moon, and combination of players on the scene.

I really want to thank all the new people for coming, esp. those that travelled a great distance… and I sincerely hope they and others will join us for Rhythm and Roots again. If you like Cajun/ Louisiana and other roots-music, being in RI for Labor Day weekend is the next best thing to being in Louisiana in October/November... As Steve Riley so eloquently reminded us in the closing set on the dance stage, RI's Cajun / LA roots run deep starting with Dewey Balfa’s visit to Newport Folk fest in 1964 and going through more than 2 decades of Cajun festivals here in the Biggest Little which has evolved into the more diverse music festival that is Rhythm and Roots.

And for those that missed it, many of the sets are available on MVY Radio.

http://www.mvyradio.com/music_info/rhythm_and_roots_festival_2009.php

Festive Memories and Traditions

One of the reasons I haven't been able to keep up with this blog as much as before is we were busy moving , and in the process I have come across so many photos, mementos, t-shirts, programs, etc from 20+ years of festing... not to mention all the lagniappes people pass out at New Orleans jazz fest. So one thing I was hoping to accomplish with this blog was summarizing these memories in an online format, so much easier to retrieve! But I still have all these boxes of memorabilia which I am trying to condense and consolidate. Maybe a good project for the winter!

One other thing I have been thinking about lately, with all these 40 year anniversary shows about Woodstock on TV, is how lucky we are to have these events to return to year after year. I was not old enough to be aware of the Woodstock festival as it unfolded, but I spent my high school years idolizing some of those great rock icons of the past and wishing I could have been there. This year was also the 40th anniversary of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest, which even though I could not attend this year, I can look forward to making it next year. While Woodstock was a one time event, we have several annual festivals, like Jazzfest, GreyFox, Rhythm and Roots, Crawfish Fest, Lowell Folk Fest, and so many others that we can return to year after year. These festivals are not exactly like Woodstock, but they bring together large groups of people with a common spirit, embodying a sense of community and culture - especially the camping fests. Having these annual festivals gives us a chance to reunite with our friends every year, and it also gives the people who organize these festivals a chance to improve upon them year after year. I wonder how many of them were at Woodstock and thought, "Hey I could do better than this! " Looking at some of the experiences of Woodstock makes me appreciate these festivals even more. For example, the first few acts were unable to take the stage on schedule so Richie Havens had to play an extended set and returned to the stage 6 times.... then at the end, Jimi Hendrix, who was supposed to play on Sunday, ended up playng Monday morning to a much depleted crowd. We may take for granted all the work that goes into putting on these events, but seeing that footage of Woodstock makes me appreciate the fact that most of these annual festivals I go to run smoothly and on time despite glitches in weather and performers not being able to make it sometimes. So all we have to worry about usually is choosing where to be at what time - the multi-stage format is another improvement upon Woodstock which, from what I can tell, seemed to take place all on one stage. And we don't have to worry about not having enough food and water. To the contrary, some of the fests, eg., Jazzfest is as much a food-fest as a music fest; and at the camping fests, we bring our own as well as buy from the various vendors. Kudos to all of the organizers for making them happen again and again and giving us something to look forward to, as I am to this weekend's Rhythm and Roots festival. So far the weather forecast is good, and many friends will be attending. Because of this, Labor Day weekend is as festive as any holiday I know. More info here at Rhythm and Roots