"I knew that when I got into folk music, it was more of a serious type of thing (than rock.) The songs are filled with more despair, more sadness, more triumph, more faith in the supernatural, much deeper feelings." – Bob Dylan
I wasn't around for the original Woodstock, but if I had been, I imagine it would have been a lot like this weekend's Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (with Much better weather.) This is the 20th year for Falcon Ridge, held on a 100 acre farm in New York's northern Hudson Valley (and less than 1/2 hr from Tanglewood) where most folks will be camping out for the entire four-day festival. It's a near-utopia of friendly people and beautiful musicians who are all about living freely in their own skin. We could use a lot more places like this.
On the Main Stage this afternoon is the annual Emerging Artists Showcase. Twenty-three singers from as far away as Portland, San Diego and Austin have traveled here to play a total of two songs, just for the chance to have their music heard in front of a large, appreciative crowd. (Five are from NYC, including folk scion Lucy Wainwright-Roche and former classical oboist Emily Mure.) Now, that's dedication.