Folk Festival 2012 ... burn baby burn

Good for Grapes - oh to be that young and have that energy

Sorry, no interpretive dancing in this shot....

Yes, the burn refers to my shoulders.  It's been years since I've let that happen, but at least it means there was some sun this weekend.

Last year's fest experience was a huge disappointment - to be honest, I've pretty much scrubbed it from memory, except a vague recollection of being wet, cold, and generally miserable.  Thankfully, this year more than made up for it.

Where to start?  Well, firstly to say that whoever is responsible for putting the workshop stages together did a truly kick ass job.  In terms of artists jamming together and making some truly special moments, I don't think I've seen a better year.  Who knew that Mali's Sidi Toure  would work so well with Oliver Shroer protige Jaron Freeman Fox and the bluesy Barr Brothers?  Apparently the programmers did. Brilliance.

And yay to the talented youngsters in Good for Grapes - I'm not certain that they are all out of their teens yet to be honest, but their talent and energy is frightening.  A little bit of Mumford & Sons, a little bit of Arcade Fire, and a little bit of Red Bull, and you've just about got it.  Oh - and an accordion player who has legs that deserve their own agent (you get a hint of that in the video below)

Royal Wood - yes, that IS his name...

Other highlights? Montreal's raucous Canailles (another impressive group of youngsters), and The Cave Singers, who brought something a bit old school to the mix.

Other than the music? Well, there was the audience, which really is a performance all on its own.  I saw a new "white guy dance" performed (step 1: put left hand in pocket; step 2: lean forward slightly from hips; step 3: shuffle feet from side to side; step 4: pretend to dribble a ball slowly and meaningfully with right hand); a beautiful topless blonde who walking with her lovely black girlfriend, who may come to regret her toplessness in the age of social media when she starts looking for gainful employment...well, depending on her career path I guess; and the drunken 35+ year olds standing beside me that contributed the self conscious clapping in the Cave Singers video below, who should know that they are lucky I curbed my desire to push my fingers into their eye sockets to SHUT THEM THE F&CK UP.

But enough of that.  The only other minor blip was slightly uncooperative weather Sunday morning - but if you were willing to brave the misty rain that hit until about 11:30, the rest of the day was fantastic.  And even the mist wasn't all that bad.  And as always, it is a delight to share this all with my BFF (Best Folkfest Friend) the lovely A, this year in our NEW matching chairs.

Great memories for sure.  Can't wait until next year!

Evening stage 

The Head and the Heart

The Cave Singers - personal fave from this year's outing

Dan Mangan (sorry Tui, he's getting married in the fall)

Yes, we are wearing raincoats - SO WHAT?! There are tank tops under there somewhere....

Canailles - the guy on the left has a voice like gravel scraping along the bottom of a well.   SO MUCH FUN

Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole - a serious washboard....

Canailles watch Bijou Creole across the stage