RFF III…the Impossible Dream

Our Richmond Folk Festival programming chair Jim Wark asked if I’d caught Dr. Harold Lilly’s set where he took a searing run on “The Impossible Dream” on his Hammond B3. It was fitting that Richmond’s own organ master would unwittingly play what Jim and I agreed should be the theme of this third edition of our city’s sprawling celebration of world music and culture.  On paper, it was impossible, but thanks to visionary direction from Venture Richmond and the NCTA and brilliant execution of myriad tasks by an army of dedicated volunteers, close to 200,000 souls witnessed an unparalleled weekend of inspired performances, insightful demonstrations and international edibles.  Three days of perfect weather…a remarkable cross-section of Richmond’s people all enjoying the experience and each other.  There’s really never been anything like it on this scale.  An impossible triumph by most any measure.  We were treated to a virtuoso performance by Indian tabla superstar Zakir Hussain (right) and Peter Rowan guesting with Los Texmaniacs on his “Free Mexican Air Force.”

There were artists we were familiar with but so many more that we weren’t and therein lies the beauty of a gathering like this…where tens of thousands of people have grown to trust this festival to bring in a certain level of quality to ensure that even unknowns can bring emotional epiphanies.  I’ve been pretty neck-deep in working the festival in various capacities over the six years including three as the National, and this year I did a lot less photography than I normally would because of having so many really good shooters out there  including old pal Charlie Reilly.  A sampler of his fine images appears in the column to the right.  Other skilled photogs put up awesome pictures including Skip Rowland (above) whose you can peruse if you’re on Facebook.  And Peter Hedlund posted an intimate look at Virginia Folklorist Jon Lohman’s always-compelling Folklife area, themed “Maritime to Mountain Time.”  (right)  A few movers and shakers without whom the event wouldn’t happen, let alone be this good, include Jack Berry, Lisa Sims and Stephen Lecky with Venture Richmond, Julia Olin and Josh Kohn of the National Council for the Traditional Arts and Jim Bland of Plan 9 who not only handled all performers’ CDs but the terrific Wes Freed-designed posters and shirts this year.  And a big thank you to all involved in our JAMinc school outreach program that took six Festival performing groups (Ensemble Shanbehzadeh, Sibiriskaya Vechora, Otrov, Capoeira Luanda, Boukman Eksperyans, and Andes Manta) to a dozen Richmond public schools.  Our president Wally Thulin shot some video and here’s one from Westover Hills Elementary.  Todd Ranson, Chuck Wrenn, Paul Muller, George Turman, Charlie & Helen Ogden, Marshall Pearsall and Billy Rice did the heavy lifting on this important project.  Sincere thanks. And to all my selfless and intrepid Artist Hosts…it would all be moot without you.  After all is said and  done, this is the Richmond Folk Festival.  It’s our three-year-old now to guide, to nurture and to support.  All of us involved in its direction welcome your general and specific recommendations so it remains our community’s best collective effort.  I hope Mr. Gerloff is proud of us.

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A couple of upcoming shows to remind you of…tonight at Ashland Coffee & Tea, one of the fastest-rising contemporary bluegrass bands out there, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen bring top-notch original material, inventive arrangements, strong harmonies and exciting instrumental chops to our favorite local listening room.  The band’s current self-titled CD is leading downloads on the CDbaby bluegrass chart.  The Lincoln Meyers fan club will be out in force. 

On October 26th, our JAMinc/In Your Ear fall series continues with Nedski & Mojo, cute nicknames for serious musicians Ned Luberecki and Stephen Mougin.  Stephen tours as guitarist/vocalist with the Sam Bush Band and Ned is out with Chris Jones & The Night Drivers and deejays for SiriusXM satellite radio.  I got to hear them at IBMA and they will do a great show.  Hurry to make your reservations here.  That’s it for now…I’ll leave you with a fascinating  account from Mandolin Cafe of the headstock faceplate from Bill Monroe’s iconic 1923 Gibson Lloyd Loar mandolin.  You might know that Mr. Monroe took his pocketknife and gouged out the “Gibson” inlay after a bungled repair job back in 1951.  Here’s the rest of the story.  (Thanks to Bart Tuthill for the link)

Thank the Lord for last weekend’s sunshine and today’s glorious rain….TT