The 2009 Old Songs Festival: a weekend well-spent in the company of good friends, enjoying great music!
We arrived in time for me to attend a fiddle workshop offered on Friday afternoon, but I opted to help to set up camp instead.
Once the tents were set, we wandered around the fairgrounds exploring craft booths and food vendors and checking in with our boss on the Stage Managers crew.
Here's awesome bluesman Toby Walker demonstrating how stylin' it is to cruise the festival on one of the Stage Managers' golf carts:
Around 8 pm, we started to worry a bit because our son and his girlfriend had not yet arrived, and the weather was looking a bit unfriendly.
It turned out the kids were getting a late start, but said we could expect to see them roll in around 10pm... until they called asking for better directions around 11:30pm... and then called again an hour later to inform us their car had died, way down Route 88 at the Oneonta exit. They finally arrived at the campgrounds at 5am -- our work day began three hours later.
I was assigned to monitor some truly excellent workshops, including a banjo workshop led by Peggy Seeger (Pete's sister) and Bill Vanaver.
We discussed different tunings and playing styles such as clawhammer, frailing, bluegrass rolls, and plinking. Some would say it was brave just to be around so many banjos all at once.
An excellent fiddle workshop was led by Eric Martin of the Flying Garbanzos:
Eric gave us some tips on how to figure out leads and fills by learning the notes in each chord of a song -- learning and using arpeggios.
There are also "standard offerings" at the Old Songs festival -- parts of the schedule we look forward to every year, such as the late night sing-alongs in the Dutch Barn --
contradances --
and the Sales booths. At this booth, along with Old Songs T-shirts and hats, we can purchase CD recordings of the artists who appear on the Main Stage:
Sales made here help to support the festival and the Old Songs organization.
Additionally, there is the Instrument Exchange booth:
Festival attendees bring in various instruments they no longer want or need, and set their own prices for each item. A portion of the sale price goes to the Old Songs organization.
Morris dancing at the Street Corner is a regular feature:
Music is presented on various workshop stages, including the Main Stage:
the Area 3 Workshop stage:
Area 5 Workshop stage
The tent at the Street Corner always has some sort of jam happening, too:
At one point, severe storms knocked out our electricity, but that didn't spoil or stop the show. Toby Walker and Josh White Jr. were presenting a blues workshop when the sound system winked out in the middle of a song, but they didn't miss a beat! They stepped off the stage to get closer to the audience and belted out the songs -- best workshop of the festival!
We're already looking forward to the 30th annual Old Songs Festival, 2010!
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 21
Now I really want to dance to your music!!!! What an amazing trip!
Marilee, this festival is always so much fun! Since I couldn't sleep while Kevin was off on his rescue mission, I went and joined the contradancing for a little while -- I danced one dance and watched the rest while I could sit and visit with friends and crewmates.
I was wondering when the article was coming.:-)
It looks like the Fates lost again.
Aniko, I was wondering, too. Lots of false starts -- there were some moments of misfortune that had to be mentioned, but I wanted to focus on how much fun we had this year. It's always a good weekend.
those pesky obstacles...but nothing can put a damper on old songs. glad to enjoy 2009 vicariously - but at least i have my memories of last year to keep me warm!
Mona, I truly hope you'll get to Old Songs again -- it ws great seeing you there last year!
I'm wondering what Morris dancing is, what with the odd attachments to the legs of the dancers. It all looks like fun despite the weather and such!
Faith, here a link to a Wikipedia article on Morris dancing -- an English style, though there seems to be uncertaintly beyond that point.
The dancers in my photo have rows of bells strapped to their legs, and at least two of them are using white handkerchiefs as well. I've seen the dancers use sticks and swords as well.
Thanks, Dannielle, that was a fascinating read. I'm now wondering if the Celtic sword dancing is related. Off to find that answer!
Dannielle it looks like such fun. I don't know enough to appcriate the information included in the workshops, but discounting car trouble it sure looks like everyone had a good time.
Deb, I didn't do a good job explaining the workshops -- the teachers made all of their content understandable to us. For example, Eric took chords apart:
Do(1)-re(2)-mi(3)-fa(4)-so(5)-la(6)-ti(7)-do(8) is a full octave scale, right?
To make a chord from the scale (starting with any note, but let's pick C) you would start with the scale, which now could be written:
C(1)-D(2)-E(3)-F(4)-G(5)-A(6)-B(7)-C(8)
The C chord is made by playing 1-3-5-8 or C-E-G-C
That means that while a guitar is playing a C chord, we can "safely" play the notes C, E, G and sound good with the guitar.
Look at all those frets and strings! I'd have been in hog heaven! I'm glad you had a good time despite the car problems. And did those threatening clouds drop anything on you?
I think I may need to switch back to my dulcimer icon.
Roy, we managed to be under shelter for the worst downpours. In past years, we've gotten soaked, and it's usually okay because everyone knows to bring along extra (dry) clothes.
The workshops would have been wasted on me, but I would have spent all night at the sing-along or the dancing.
We have 2 local contradance groups, and Kevin agreed to bring me to one last weekend. He danced once, while I danced about 6 out of 8. Seeing him just sitting there while I was dancing was no fun.
I have cleaned the lens with alcohol, I've tried changing angles, but those dark blots return -- and only on some images are they visible. It's disappointing.