Summerfolk 2008

Wow!!!
Hope you all enjoyed the 2008 Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival. Send your photos and comments summerfolkad@brucetelecom.com

Thanks to Jody Iverson for this photo

Audience Sport for the Summerfolk Quiz ..."Coxless Pairs"

This year's Summerfolk Quiz will have a "Summerfolk Olympics" theme. You can be part of the audience team - "Team World".

In addition to fun with trivia and musical games we are asking you to compose a song/ditty/verse you can perform at the 'Quiz'.

The Summerfolk Quiz takes place at 3:30 on Saturday at the Down By the Bay Stage.

As you know (and if you don't), The Marathon is the final event of the Olympic Games. And so we come to The Marathon or simply the final event in our Olympic-tinged quiz. In our version, we are asking members of each team to perform a song/ditty/verse... whatever....that incorporates a specific word or phrase about a sport - there will be 9 in all, one for each of 8 Summerfolk performers plus one for the audience.

In the past, they have included items related to Summerfolk, and items that could be seen from the Summerfolk site. Last year, they were quintessentially Canadian!

Now, with the Olympics currently on in Beijing, and the next winter games slated for Canada, we have chosen what we believe are important Olympic competitions.

Your competitive sport (selected in an impartial, random draw) to write about:

Coxless Pairs (rowing)

We wish you good writing. It's good fun!! We look forward to hearing your song at the Summerfolk Quiz.

Your hosts, Richard Knechtel and Dave Carr

Sunday at Summerfolk

Sunday at Summerfolk begins with a special concert in the Amphitheatre. 'Oh What Joy!' celebrates the day with songs of thanks. Hosted by Connie Kaldor, the 10:30 am show features the uplifting talents of David Roth, the four part gospel harmonies of 'House of Doc' and inspirational messages in song from Kim & Reggie Harris. Being a part of this concert will be the perfect way to start your Sunday at Summerfolk.

At noon the musical action swings over to the workshop stages.

The GAZEBO STAGE hosts 5 workshops on Sunday. 'French Fireworks' will be an explosive display of musical talent with 'The McDades' and 'Le Vent du Nord'. 'Music of the East' has Harry Manx matched up with the Chinese music group 'Red Chamber' and East Indian tabla player Rakesh Tewari from 'DiggingRoots'.

The HOMEMADE JAM schedule starts with 'The Young Writers' workshop followed by Open Stage slots. At 2:00 pm catch Toby Walker, David Amram and Tim Ronan in a workshop exploring 'Blues Music' from 1900 to the present. With more Open Stage slots after that, there is ample opportunity for anyone to play their music at Summerfolk.

At the DOWN BY THE BAY tent you can join in the fun at the 'Canadian Highway' workshop. With 'The Cottars', Stephen Fearing, Mike Ford and 'The Arrogant Worms', there will be lots of laughs, tunes and songs with a Canadian theme. The 'Mixed-Up Bands' session which closes the afternoon is a sight to behold. Performer names are drawn at random and five piece bands are assembled for one-time only performances at Summerfolk!

On Sunday afternoon, two contra dances are planned for OVER THE HILL. 'One O'Clock Stomp' features the music of 'Crowfoot' with dance callers Myra Hirschberg and Tom Calwell. For the second contra dance, 'Hands Four - More Contra', Becky Hill will be the caller with 'Scatter the Cats' providing the music.

'Drum Stories' with Adwoa & Fule Badoe will start off the performances at THE CHILDREN'S VILLAGE. Kids will love hearing Sara Hickman, seeing the magic of Marc Trudel and joining in the action with 'Sheesham & Lotus'. More smiles await with shows from James Gordon, Michael Johnston and Mike Ford to complete the fun-filled music schedule at The Children's Village. In addition to the music, the hands-on craft activities will ensure children have lots to do at Summerfolk.

Summerfolk Choir members return to UNDER THE WILLOWS to prepare for their evening amphitheatre concert. This location is also the home for two workshops on Sunday afternoon - 'The Folk Game' and 'The Heart of the Matter'.

Leslie and Paul Conway of Voyageur Storytelling bring their talents to THE SHARING CIRCLE on Sunday. There will also be a 'Tune Players Circle', Summerfolk's annual 'Drum Circle' and a 'Song Circle'. All are invited to actively participate in these sessions.

At the CRAFTS DEMONSTRATION tent you can view the art of wood marquetry presented by Diane Edwards. Wood marquetry involves gluing carefully cut pieces of veneer onto a rigid base. Various species of wood gives the craftsperson a diverse palette of colours from which to choose.

The CAFE CONCERT at 5:00 pm features the music of 'The Cottars'. Their trademark - Celtic-infused singing, playing and joyous step-dancing in the spirited musical tradition of Cape Breton .

The final 6:30 set at DOWN BY THE BAY is a comedy showdown. 'The Last Laugh' will showcase the wit of 'The Arrogant Worms' up against another hilarious comedy trio, 'Modern Man'. This is bound to be side-splitting fun!

The AMPHITHEATRE CONCERTS for Sunday night begin at 6:00 with a performance by The Summerfolk Choir. After their weekend rehearsals, the Choir will be ready to take to the amphitheatre stage at Summerfolk. Joined by guest performers, the Choir concert at Summerfolk is always a heart-warming moment.

Next up is Last Chance Saloon winner David Gillis who hails from Vineland in the Niagara region. David is a well-rounded artist of the highest standard. He will be accompanied by his daughter Ariana who is an up-and-coming performer in her own right.

'Crowfoot' not only play wonderful music for contra dances, but they are a fine Celtic trio in concert. Following them is Summerfolk favourite Jory Nash, then the 'pocket-sized powerhouse' Little Miss Higgins. The songs of 'Little Miss' reverberate with the twang of pre-rock blues and post-Carter Family country music delivered in her signature 'kick up your heels' style.

We are in for a treat as David Roth is up next. His "heavy-mental-easy-listening-protest music" covers a wide variety of subjects, poignant to political, holistic to hilarious. Seeing David in concert is an enriching experience.

A display of high energy Celtic jazz by 'The McDades' is next. The sound of this adventuresome quintet is immersed in the spirit of improvisation. Their arrangements are characterized by the band's virtuosity and interaction on stage.

To close the set of evening concerts, Summerfolk welcomes the return of Connie Kaldor to the amphitheatre stage. Connie is one of Canada’s most significant contemporary folk musicians whose performances are legendary.

The 'Amphitheatre Finale' at Summerfolk touches all present. The singing of 'Irene Goodnight' and 'The Mary Ellen Carter' means Summerfolk is over for another year. We follow the sound of Bob Dixon's bagpipes out of the amphitheatre knowing that the songs, the stories and the spirit of Summerfolk will stay with us.

It has been my pleasure to write these weekly columns on behalf of the Georgian Bay Folk Society. Thank you for reading them and your welcomed responses. Summerfolk weekend is here! I hope you will join family and friends for the 33rd annual Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival.

Saturday at Summerfolk

The Summerfolk gates open at 10:30 on Saturday morning. The musical adventures begin with the workshops at 11:00.

Each workshop has a theme to guide the performers. The musicians, selected for their ability to relate to the theme, take turns performing. Others on stage may join in - it's loose, informal and often revealing. Workshops offer unique insights into the interaction and collective knowledge of the participants.

Here are some of the highlights for each of the workshop stages at Summerfolk on Saturday.

The GAZEBO STAGE has 6 one hour workshops on Saturday. 'History Class' includes Kim & Reggie Harris, Mike Ford and Shoshona Kish & Raven Kanatakta from DiggingRoots. 'World Class' features the music of David Amram and Red Chamber.

HOMEMADE JAM has 2 'how-to' workshops to kick things off. 'Songsmithing' will explore songwriting techniques while 'Fingerwork' will highlight the guitar styles of Toby Walker, Stephen Fearing and David Gillis. HOMEMADE JAM is home to the Open Stage where Summerfolk patrons are encouraged to sign up for a chance to play their music at Summerfolk.

'The Summerfolk R & B Revue' and 'Blues Ain't Feelin' Bad' are two of the exciting workshops scheduled for DOWN BY THE BAY. The afternoon sessions conclude with the 'Summerfolk Quiz'. Hosted by Dave Carr and yours truly, two teams of musicians are pitted against the audience in games of musical knowledge and fun.

The join-in dance sessions are back in a big way at Summerfolk! At OVER THE HILL..., you can participate in contra dancing, enjoy African drum and dance, learn to clog or swing your partner in the 'Country Round-up Swing Dance'.

The shows in THE CHILDREN'S VILLAGE will be spectacular this year. Where else could children see performances by Connie Kaldor, David Roth, Adwoa & Fule Badoe and the magic of Marc Trudel; all in one place!

UNDER THE WILLOWS is the rehearsal area for The Summerfolk Choir. Under the direction of Tom Leighton, audience members can share their joy of singing together. Under the Willows also has 3 workshop sessions between choir practices. 'Lessons in Love' should be an interesting and often visited song topic to investigate.

THE SHARING CIRCLE is a new addition to Summerfolk this year. It is my hope that Summerfolk fans will have an opportunity to bring their instruments, stories and songs... and join-in the circle sessions!

Each of the circles will be hosted by performers from the Summerfolk line-up. Some of the Saturday sessions include 'Spirit Drums', a 'Song Circle', 'Playing with Words' poetry and 'Fiddles & Flutes'. In conjunction with the Sharing Circle we are bringing back STASH YER STUFF - a secure place to store musical instruments on site.
Audience members can also participate in JUMBLEJAM. This is a chance to jam with the pros, create an original piece of music and perform it on stage at Summerfolk. If you sing or play an instrument and can spare a few hours on Saturday, apply for the JumbleJam workshop - you might just end up in a band with Michael Johnston, James Gordon or Mike Ford.

JumbleJam workshops are about creating songs through a unique songbuilding process. An innovative, guided approach makes it possible for anyone to participate in the creation of a song, regardless of musical background. Facilitators Ken Dow and Martin Cooper will 'curate' 15 volunteer players into 3 bands, each anchored by a Summerfolk performer.

Applications will be available at the Information Booth inside Main Gate. Space is limited and participants will be selected purely for the way they fit the mix. The 2 hour song-building sessions will run at noon, 2 pm and 4 pm. JumbleJam bands take the stage at 7:00 pm Saturday in the Down By the Bay tent.

Another interesting 'how-to' workshop will be one on FIRE POI in the Summerfolk Circle at 5:00 pm. At 11:00 on Saturday you can see 'Fire Poi' at night - a unique experience, only at Summerfolk!

Make sure to drop by the CRAFTS DEMONSTRATION tent on Saturday afternoon to view the best work of the 44 exhibitors from The Artisan Village. These artists are invited to submit two of their finest pieces to be included in the Exhibition. Cast your vote for the People's Choice Award.

The CAFE CONCERT at 5:00 pm has the acoustic quartet 'House of Doc' performing their mix of gospel, bluegrass and pop music.

So that's an overview of Saturday's daytime activities... now on to the AMPHITHEATRE CONCERTS for the evening.

Red Chamber - featuring the unique sounds of China
The Bebop Cowboys - jazzed-up western swing music at its best
David Amram - a magnetic presence armed with charm and incomparable talent
Sara Hickman - playful music from this Austin, Texas performer
Marc Trudel - a performance of this magician's 'Card Solo' routine
Modern Man - with songs that are intelligent, lively and hysterically funny!
Harry Manx - a hypnotic show blending Indian music and the blues
Le Vent du Nord - showcasing the vitality and joy of Quebecois music

Summerfolk's highlight 'CONTRA DANCE NIGHT' also takes place Saturday evening at 7:30. It features the music of 'Crowfoot', one of the hottest bands on the contra band circuit, and the renowned Becky Hill as caller for the dances.

If you head on over to the DOWN BY THE BAY tent, here is what you'll see there on Saturday night.

Things start off with the aforementioned 'JumbleJam' bands at 7:00 followed by the authentic acoustic blues of Toby Walker. Then there is a workshop-style session - 'Twilight Time', showcasing the talents of Stephen Fearing, Michael Johnston and the Winnipeg duo 'Twilight Hotel'.

Next up are 'The McDades' with their fiery blend of Celtic jazz. The festivities at Down By the Bay wrap up with sets by Little Miss Higgins and 'The Cottars'.

So that's Saturday at Summerfolk. Looking over all that is offered, it is amazing that all this music can happen in one place, in one day. But that's Summerfolk for you!

The Sharing Circle at Summerfolk

A new addition to Summerfolk this year will be The Sharing Circle.

You'll find the Sharing Circle tent just east of the permanent washrooms on site - out on the former beach area. My hope is that Summerfolk fans will have an opportunity to bring their instruments, stories and songs... and join-in!

In conjunction with the 'Circle' we are bringing back 'Stash Yer Stuff' - a secure place to store your instruments on site. The 'Stash Yer Stuff' trailer will be located near the Circle and tended by a volunteer crew.

You can see all the sessions being offered on the workshop schedule. Just click on '2008 Workshop Schedules' on the top righthand corner of the Summerfolk website.

Take a look - find a session or two that interests you and plan on participating. I think it's going to be a really great thing!

From 15 strangers to 3 bands...in 8 hours!

'JUMBLEJAM' - A new Experience at Summerfolk 2008

How would you like to jam with the pros, create an original piece of music and perform it on stage at Summerfolk - all in the same day? Thought so!

If you sing or play an instrument and can spare a few hours on Saturday, apply for the JumbleJam workshop - you might just end up in a band with Michael Johnston, James Gordon or Mike Ford.

Applications will be available at the Information Booth inside Main Gate. Deadline for entries is 11:15 am Saturday, August 16th. Drop off applications at the Information Booth Space is limited and the 15 participants will be selected purely for the way they fit the mix.

Gather at the JumbleJam Zone (just south of the South Gate) at 11:45 to see the band lists. The 2 hour song-building sessions will run at noon, 2 pm and 4 pm. JambleJam bands take the stage at 7:00 pm Saturday in the Down By the Bay tent!

JumbleJam workshops are about creating songs through a unique songbuilding process. An innovative, guided approach makes it possible for anyone to participate in the creation of a song, regardless of musical background. Facilitators Ken Dow and Martin Cooper will 'curate' 15 volunteer players into 3 bands, each anchored by a Summerfolk performer.

For more info on JumbleJam, visit www.creativityhappens.com/jjworkshop