Rain or Shine: The show must go on

AHhhh... Folk Fest 2006 - what can be said about it?
So much!
Where to start?
The food (over 20 varieties of yummy fare), the shopping (nearly 36 vendors from across the country and beyond), the entertainment (oh so much more than music at this music festival),
the weather (oh boy, the weather!), or the obvious - the music! Let's start there shall we???



65 acts from 19 countries!
Artist in red I managed to catch at least a few minutes of: Amir Amiri trio, Andrew Elliott, Ani Difranco, Ari Up VS Dubblestandart, Aurelio Martinez, Back of the Moon, Bedouin Soundclash, Broken Social Scene, D Rangers, Daby Touré, Dan Bern, Dar Williams, Dave Alvin, Doug Cox & Sam Hurrie, Eliseo Parra, Eliza Gilkyson, Ellen McIlwaine & Cassius Khan, Elliott Brood, Eric Moschopedis, Erynn Marshall & Chris Coole, Feist, Frigg, Galant Tu Perds ton Temps, Grant Rogers, Great Lake Swimmers, Groupo Fantasma, House of Doc, Howie Miller, Jay Cocker & His Electric Apes, Jeff Healy's Jazz Wizards, Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies, John Boutté, Kathleen Edwards, Kris Demeanor & His Crack Band, Kris Kristofferson, La Raquette À Claquettes, Leroy "The Grandmaster" Young, Little Axe, Lorrie Matheson, Luke Doucet, Macy Gray, Madrigaϊa, The Mammals, Masaji, Matthew Good, Melissa McClelland, Ndidi Onukwulu, Niyaz, Rachelle Van Zanten, Robbie Fulks, The Roches, Romi Mayes, Ronnie Hayward, Rubinchik's Yiddish Ensemble, Salt, Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, Son Volt, Sorrow Bound, Stephen Fearing, Stew, Tanya Tagaq, That 1 Guy, The Ridgetop Syncopators, Tim Hus, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt & Salil Bhatt with Ramkumar Mishra
40 acts in 4 days (and some of these artists I saw multiple times too!) - that's pretty good I think!!!
Lots of good, and some not so good. As with the previous years, I have come away with a list of music to look into as, well as additions to the CD collection (Elliott Brood, Kathleen Edwards, Tanya Tagaq, Salt, and That 1 Guy for Mr. J)

There were some definite (good) surprises too...

That 1 Guy (San Francisco) - who plays intrumentent he mahimselfelf dubbed 'the magic pip'. A 7' length galvanizedzed pip fitted with a base sting, a tenor sting and more switches, triggers and knobs than I care to keep track of, all hooked up to a mixing board and laptop presumable, and amplified, accompanied by his voice (rather stranlyricsics) a high hat and a bass drum. the ultimate in 1 man band shows! And he just so happens to be on Righteous Babe records (founded by the goddess of folk herself Miss Ani Difranco - for those of you that missed that) .

Elliott Brood (Toronto) - I've never heard of a music genre known as 'Death Country" before this weekend, but I couldn't think of a better type of music if I tried. My sister agrees that if there were a way to summarize all the things I like about music into one genre it would have to be this one...not that it could really be that simple...but the thought was fun for five minutes on Saturday afternoon. They put on a great show and also incorporate unique sounds into therepatoiroir (ie an suitcase addition to the drummer's kit).

Great Lake Swimmers (Toronto) - If you like beautiful, sad songs this is the next CD you should buy. It's going to be the next one I buy on account og the record tent being completely sold out by the time I made it there. Lead singer Tony Dekker's beautifully sad lyrics and spin tingling voice sold me the second he opened his mouth. Dar Williams actually asked him if his mother crevery timeime she heahimims sing - the answer is 'um...no'. And here's a fun little fact, the name for the 3 piece band comes from Tony having swam all of the great lakes.

Tanya Tagaq (Nunanvut) - Trained by her mother in the traditional art of Inuk Throat Singing, (which involves two women singing face to face), she found herself without a partner to sing with when she went away to school, and began experimenting with her own voice manipulation with the help of a DJ. The sound is completely unique, wonderfully inspiring, and utterly primal sounding. She has worked with Bjork, and toured with the Kronos Quartet last winter. I don't know what sort of mood her music is going finally find a home in for my musical background of my life, but I was so captivated with her live performance that I couldn't resist.

Here is a beautiful moment from Sunday night. The rain started to let up near the end of Matt Good's set, and he invited the Luke Doucet band out to join him for an acoustic cover of Trent Reznor's Hurt. It was a near perfect moment. My memory card was almost full so I didn't get the whole thing, but I think it captured the spirit of the evening nicely...except it's hard to hold tcamera'sers still when you're shivering, so it's a bit shaky.

And some random pictures from the weekend for your viewing pleasure...















I may or may not post more later, but I think I covered the most important bits...