The Folklife 2003 Report: Day 1

[annathepiper]

solarbird and I went to Folklife today, as we do every year, after determining that there was a whole bunch of stuff all over the schedule that we wanted to see. Today, though, we opted to take it light and easy and just do the random-wandering-around thing, since tomorrow and Monday's schedules have the participatory stuff we want to do.

First thing today when we got there: getting some food. We opted to go Meet the Man, and stopped at the Dixie's BBQ booth to get a couple of sandwiches. Which were very good, but which weren't nearly hot enough. I think I didn't actually meet the Man. Maybe I passed by him. ;)

As we were eating, we parked by the Fisher Green stage on which a trio was performing some east-coast maritime type music. But they were too twee for both my and Dar's tastes. Competent enough performers, but they sang more in the "Clancy Brothers" sort of style. They started in on a sea chanty by the time Dar and I finished our food and left--and I remarked that Séan McCann has ruined me for sea chanties by anybody else. ;) If it ain't loud, boisterous, and vigorous, it ain't being sung right!

The second performance we went to go watch was an exhibition of Korean dancing, which turned out to be way cool. We came in in time for a fan dance by several young girls, which was really pretty and also very vigorous and athletic; this same troop of youngsters then did what was called a "harvest dance", which involved a lot of percussion instruments of various shapes and sizes as well as three guys of various shapes and sizes who had these trailing ribbons dangling off their hats and who got them spinning in circles while they danced. ALSO very cool. But one of the two youngsters doing the lead drums, the same girl who'd led the fan dance was more impressive. Playing drums = cool. Playing drums while dancing about = cooler.

We tried to go to a participatory African dance workshop, but it was running late, so they had this mostly lame guy out trying to encourage people to volunteer and donate.

We tried to check out something calling itself "Yupik Comedy and Dance" on the schedule, apparently from Alaska, but neither Dar nor I got it. It seemed to involve six little old ladies on the stage laughing their asses off while doing various sorts of physical humor things. Dar surmised that it might have been funnier if we could actually hear what was going on. I surmised that they looked like six little old ladies who were stoned.

The last formal act we attended was a taiko show, and that was as usual pretty darned cool. One World Taiko was the better of the two taiko groups that performed despite being the smaller, and there was added amusement value in watching the little baby held in the lap of the lady sitting next to us. The baby seemed amused by the loud thumpy noises, as near as we could tell. ;)

The rest of our time at the fair was mostly spent wandering around looking at the usual craft-type items and ogling cute guys we passed. The cutest of the lot was this guy wearing a bright orange shirt and glasses, who looked cute in a geeky sort of way and also bore a strong resemblance to the guy who did "Greased Lightning" at the Klingon Karaoke at Norwescon.

We popped briefly into the Instrument Emporium so I could see if they had any gig bags that would fit my bouzouki. They did have gig bags at one table, a couple of which might even have fit my instrument, but they were also quite pricy. We did not stop at Romy Benton's table for once, which is probably for the best, because Romy's table has a way of sucking us in and we just don't have the money for it this year. Sigh!

We ogled other craft-type and clothes-type items we couldn't get, too. Stupid no having money.

And then we got kettle corn (mmmmm kettle corn! Covered in nummy crack!) and went out to catch the 74 and come home. A homeless-looking guy came up to us though and made a remark about there being a lot of pretty girls around, which was flattering. ;)

Tomorrow: Irish Jam, and Celtic Band Scramble! And since my bouzouki does actually fit in my octave mandolin's gig bag (which is in fact a banjo gig bag, but it'll do in a pinch), Spring and I are going to jam in public. I'll take my piccolo, too. This should be fun.

Comments

[wingedelf.livejournal.com]

Hey! We're planning on being in attendance tomorrow, and, *shocked surprise* will probably gravitate toward some of the same places. I won't be playing, but should be visible enough as the kilt-clad person with the wee bairn in purple baby sling. Thinking about it, though, the sling leaves both hands free, so it might be possible to play the pipes while toting Nicholas... ;-)

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[annathepiper]

Whoot! Well, keep an eye out for us. You know what I look like, of course; Dar will be the chick with the long brown hair with me. :) I'll be toting my octave mandolin case and probably also a bright yellow backpack.

[lyricae.livejournal.com]

Joe and I are contemplating going. Seems like the last couple of years we've managed to go at times when our friends have just left. Hopefully we'll run into you :-)

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[annathepiper]

You should go! It would be fun. You could look for Dar and me at the Irish Jam at 3pmish, or else at the Band Scramble at 5pmish. I'll be the one carrying a bouzouki around. ^_^ We plan to leave the house around noonish and do lunch at the festival, though, so there's also three hours' worth of time in which we'll be wandering around the thing, so hope to see you!

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

GOD I love Taiko drumming. I love drums. Mrrrrrrrrrr

[janne.livejournal.com]

I feel all nostalgic now. Used my Folklife t-shirt the other day. Was fun! And Cat still uses her fairy-wings that we bought there, too :)

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[annathepiper]

Awwwww! We thought of Cat going through the little midway and looking at the ferris wheel. :)

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[annathepiper]

LOTS of taiko at the Festival this year. There will be some today and tomorrow as well.

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

*spasms and falls over* Man, I wish I could be there with you all. As is, I'm satisfying myself with playing my folk/celtic mp3s and dancing round to Bedlam Boys. :)

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[annathepiper]

We wish you were here too, hon!

[janne.livejournal.com]

They actually had a travelling fair set up across the street from here two weeks ago, with a (small) ferris wheel and all. Cat was pleading very nicely to be allowed to go on it, but with my fear of heights... well, she got to go on three of the nice, groundlevel carousels instead. But she did remember she had been in a ferris wheel before, which only happened at Folklife :)

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[annathepiper]

Whoot! Glad to know she remembers that. :) spazzkat thought of Cat today too, passing the midway again when he came to the festival with us.