A tough act to follow...

So the group that captured the lion's share of buzz at last year's National Folk Festival here in town was AltaiKai, the other-worldly Siberian throat singers. Who will it be this year? There are many contenders as we anticipate another perfect weekend of fall weather and more people the capital city's seen for a single event save the Nextel Cup. This is the last year the National graces Richmond...in 2008 it's off to higher, dryer Butte, Montana. But this time next year, the Richmond Folk Festival will take root and grow with lessons learned and fresh ideas combined. Please don't miss this opportunity to take in at least some of the sights and sounds of this three-day cultural extravaganza...it's absolutely free and I promise you'll be very proud something this big and this good could happen in your hometown.

The NFF Website is extensive and a highly-recommended primer to learn what acts you'd be interested in, but be open to surprises as the weekend holds many. The Virginia Folk Life area this year focuses on the remarkable master/apprentice program in diverse pursuits covering instrument making, hot-rod building, snake cane carving and country ham curing And do come hungry..the food vendor list is extensive with far more exotic fare than funnel cakes and corn dogs.

Our JAMinc group will be taking a number of artists and performers into Richmond public and private schools on Friday, including Piedmont blues duo Cephas & Wiggins/, the Kotchegna Dance Company and Punch & Judy puppeteer John Styles. And JAMinc is partnering again with the Children's Museum of Richmond to sponsor local artists The Company Store, The Sargent Family, Frank Coleman & Chris Fuller and Todd Hallawell & Robin Kessinger to give informal workshop performances in the Family Area. Something for kids of all ages. Hope to see you on-site sometime over the weekend...I'll have on a purple t-shirt.

And an advisory to fans of Adrienne Young, one of the freshest, most earnest singer/songwriters out there: she'll be at The Loft in Fredericksburg Thursday (tonight) for a concert benefitting the Spotsylvania supervisor candidate Tom Beals. Nice to have that kind of artistic support. Tom and his brother Jonas are better known around here as the promoters for Lewis Ginter's deligtful and varied Groovin' In The Garden series. Are you sure you want to get into politics Tom? My bride and I will be voting with our cover/contributions.

See you there or along the river this weekend...TT