Our Shining City

When Larry Bland and his impeccably dressed Volunteer Choir filed out of their bus and processed to Ukrop's/First Market stage on a glorious Sunday afternoon to help close the first Richmond Folk Festival, I was overcome with pride when I realized that this Richmond institution got its start the same year I came here.  So we were all celebrating forty years and it was just the spiritual shot in the arm we all needed to underscore this event's greatest attribute:  its reflection of the goodness of this city and its people and how, under the right circumstances, we can all come together and appreciate our differences and our common ground.  God's gift of another perfect weekend of weather contributed to another record-breaking crowd of 185,000+ over the three days.  It was a sight to behold.  I hope you were there to share in the pride...there was plenty to go around.  And so much music to hear, both familiar and completely new.  The tone was set at sunset Friday when the gallant and resplendent aerialists of 

Tezcatlipoca Voladores  made their way up a towering ninety-foot pole to carefully wrap their lines around the top and begin their 2000-year-old swirling descent suspended upside down by their ankles.  If you didn't witness this ancient ritual during their four performances last weekend, it might sound circus-like, but its solemnity and tradition make for a profoundly moving experience.  Being involved with this festival since the National came here four years ago has been a deeply rewarding experience as anyone who's been part of a winning team of any kind can attest; countless good and talented people performing myriad tasks, most of them thankless, to create something truly meaningful for our community.  I'm grateful to you all...can't wait 'til next year!

On Friday, I had the great pleasure of driving and setting up sound for the amazing Columbian joropo band Grupo Cimarron.  As part of JAMinc's festival outreach program that organized two appearances each for seven acts in fourteen Richmond city schools, singer/dancer Ana Veydo(above) and her energetic players captivated the kids at Reid Elementary and Elkhart Middle School on Richmond's south side.  My thanks to Wally Thulin, Andy Garrigue, Bill Rice, Helen Ogden, Sarah Masters, Paul Muller and George Turman for being part of this annual cultural offering.  And to Nieves Guzman of TNT Auto Leasing for the generous loan of his roomy stretch vans and Greg Muzik of Mary Munford Elementary for the use of his PA system.

It was great to see Goochland's Todd Hallawell and his partner Robin Kessinger from West Virginia move up from two years in our JAMinc/Children's Museum family area to the Festival main stages, where the crowds ate 'em up.  Robin actually played his blanket-covered guitar for the folks, just because he could.

Big Dan Tyminski and his all-star band represented bluegrass well after a rough travel day Friday that saw them having to fire their bus driver in Roanoke.  Then Dan's pre-war Martin fell off his bunk to the floor busting a big piece out of the back resulting in a trip to the Guitar Center where he picked out a fancy new HD-28.  Only problem was the action was too low for his liking...with a smile, he said he likes his action closer to a Dobro.  But he played it anyway, and played it big...he's become an impressive lead player over the years.  And word is the Dan Tyminski Band will remain an entity, even after the re-convening of Union Station.

Bomba y plena is the proper description of the powerhouse Latin rhythms of 14-piece Plena Libre from San Juan that closed out the Festival on a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon with inexhaustible energy and musicianship that had the diverse crowd clamoring for more.  For that we'll just have to wait until October 9-11, 2009. 

A few credits are in order for the good people I had the privilege of working with in various ways both in the planning and execution stages:  Julia Olin, Josh Kohn, Andrew Moreau, Anne Kogan, Mike Petillo and Dennis Blackledge of the National Council for Traditional Arts.  Jack Berry, Lisa Sims and Stephen Lecky of Venture Richmond.  Jim Wark and all the informed and engaging members of his programming committee.  And a deep bow to my seasoned team of Artist Hosts who took care of all the performers all weekend, had them in all the right places at all the right times and made it look easy.  You guys are the very best. 

Those post partem blues are setting in, so let's look down the road...if you missed Frank Coleman & Chris Fuller in the Family area of the Festival Saturday afternoon, or even if you didn't, they'll be stretching out again this Friday night at Ashland Coffee & Tea.  (And don't forget the Infamous Stringdusters on Halloween night!)  Also on Friday, the West End Assembly of God presents the band that swept the recent IBMA Awards, Dailey & Vincent.  Ticket info here.

Christopher Run Campground on Lake Anna will be the setting for a Celebration of Music this Saturday in support of guitarist Steve Parks. Folk Festival veteran and Winfield winner Todd Hallawell will be there along with the Campbell Family Band, Dead Irish Blues, Acme Swing Mfg. Co. and Parks & Driver.  Click here for more info.

There should be tickets left to see Sheryl Crow at the Siegel Center Saturday night.  Get 'em here.

We have a very few seats left for our JAMinc/In Your Ear Studio Concert with Wayne Henderson & Helen White on Thursday, October 23rd.  The original Friday show has been sold out for weeks.  Click here for more info.  And autoharp legend Bryan Bowers is coming on November 7th.  Same time, same place.

As always, thanks for spending some time here...TT