|
|
 |
Folkies soak up the sun at fest: Diverse sounds at Jericho
|
| Click Here to go back. |
Vancouver Sun, Folkies soak up the sun at fest: Diverse sounds at Jericho >>
"We met some freaks who gave us some mushrooms, and now we feel very good," said the lead singer of Warsaw Village Band in a thick Polish accent as the sun began to amble its way below the horizon at Jericho Beach Friday night.
That generated a laugh from the enormous crowd of folkies -- many of whom were still staking out their monster-home-sized tarps with the ruthlessness of real-estate developers -- and the band kicked into the percussion-heavy blend of traditional Polish music and modern dance sounds that it calls "bio-techno."
Within moments, dozens of freshly won fans were on their feet, performing highly interpretive polkas to bass-y drum beats. Others wandered around chatting with friends and nibbling on sugary whale's tails and freshly roasted corn. Yep, the 27th annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival was most definitely underway.
"I never know what to play. Should I do ballads when the sun is going down, or do I play bubble-gum pop like Britney Spears?" asked folk icon Janis Ian. Thankfully, rather than breaking into a rootsy rendition of Oops! I Did It Again, Ian opted for a steely country tune. But it was when she strummed the first few chords of her 1970s folk hit At Seventeen -- a song about life as a high-school outcast -- that the crowd let out an adoring sigh and sang every word along with her.
Turkish musician and DJ Mercan Dede, who now calls Montreal home, brought the crowd back to its feet with a blend of sensuous Middle-Eastern melodies set to chunky club beats. Then two dancers emerged and began to perform a whirling dervish, the fabric of their long, bold robes spinning out at their heels as they twirled around in circles. It was a breathtaking mix of sights and sounds.
There was a little nip in the air by the time Mexico City's Los de Abajo took to the stage. But with three horns, keyboards, drums, percussion, bass and electric guitar, as well as the energy of a small hurricane, the music was enough to heat the park up again. With dizzying speed and agility, the musicians played traditional Mexican music lined with tinges of rock, pop and ska, and managed to whip the usually sedentary folk-fest crowd into a dancing frenzy. A woman in the disabled people's area even stood up from her wheelchair and began moving to the infectious rhythms.
With the beating sun promising another scorcher, people seemed to start their Saturday a little more gently. At one end of the park, Janis Ian sang soft folk melodies while the Backstabbers Country String band twanged away at the next stage over. At the far end, Italian accordionist Filippo Gambetta played lush melodies from traditional songs he found in an archive, as his accompanists on flute and classical guitar added to the music's breezy lyricism. On the same stage, but at the other end of the musical spectrum, Fiamma Fumana, also from Italy, played traditional Italian music set to catchy dance beats.
"Welcome to my favourite gated community by the sea," said Vancouver's Geoff Berner, as he kicked off a set about life in the city that included Po' Girl (a sweetly soulful and highly talented trio from Vancouver), Kinnie Starr (a favourite hip-hop and spoken word artist), and War Party (a first nations hip-hop group from Alberta). The subject matter ranged from life on a reservation to the Downtown Eastside's missing women and the foibles of the Vancouver police.
As everyone began to wilt from the heat, many stood in line for ice cream or sought shade at Stage 2, where Ontario's Nancy White was leading a tribute to Leonard Cohen, who is celebrating his 70th birthday this year. (Later in the evening, mayor Larry Campbell took the mike and declared July 12-18 to be Leonard Cohen Week in the city of Vancouver.)
"Everyone here is smart and beautiful and aging gracefully," said White, instantly winning over the mostly middle-aged crowd, before joining the Wailin' Jennys in a sweet, sultry rendition of Ain't No Cure For Love.
Legendary folk performer Odetta also made a Saturday appearance and sang deep, rich, Southern-tinged soul tunes a cappella; unfortunately, the sound guy was getting a neck massage at the time, and didn't seem to notice that few could actually hear her.
Of course, many had come to see Canadian folk hero Bruce Cockburn, whose set was marked by his easy-going vocal style, intricate guitar work and politically charged lyrics. With songs that included a tune dedicated to imprisoned native leader Leonard Peltier, one about the mythical economic "trickle-down effect," and the crowd favourite Lovers in a Dangerous Time, Cockburn performed a wide range of his work.
By the time Scotland's Shooglenifty took to the stage, many tuckered festival goers had packed up and headed out of the park. Those who stuck around were treated to a set of bright, upbeat Celtic tunes.
"We're going to love you and leave you," said the band's lead man, as a parade of people carried candlelit paper lanterns through the crowd. But few felt hard done by as they brought an end to a couple of eclectic, engaging and inspired days at the festival, and headed home to rest up for the next.
Jennifer Van Evra is a Vancouver writer
07/16/04
|
| Click Here to go back. |
|
 |
|
|
|
