Hamsterfest 2009 Review

Hamster Fest at Matamata

One of the beautiful things about going to a festival is bringing bits of it home with you.  I was driving up the long straight stretch of route 27 when I started belting out Mike Harding's Eketahuna with full lung capacity then realized he'd taken the tune from Yellow River. I don't know how much of the original he'd changed but some of the lines are classic like 'Eketahuna where the women are real with their bouffant hair and stiletto heels' This took me right back to growing up in the 50/60s and helping my mother to bouffant her hair before she put on her stilettos and went dancing with my father. It is always heart-warming to hear Mike at festivals bringing us back home with his collection of New Zealand songs. Although David Barne's rendition of Cohen's 'I lit a thin green candle' came a close second. I'd never quite got the full implication of this song until I heard his strident version. I think the black humour of it was a bit lost on the audience although I heard a few laughs. Perhaps being in love with people who make you act crazy is either out of folkie experience or too close to the bone to make one laugh.

It's always a pleasure for me to experience the continuing evolution of the music of Marion Arts. I sense a need for some kind of spiritual expression in her later songs, 'Love is a sacred river flowing down into love..... ' and the song titled My Sacred Heart gives the message of how precious love is yet love can beget love. I enjoyed being reminded too of what a fantastic musician Robbie Laven is with his bass playing enhancing everything Marion did. A musical partnership at its best.

It was a festival with no dramas I was told by one of the organizers and for a festival noted for its relaxed atmosphere everything was remarkably on time. Even the song-writers concert which had too many performers was neatly finished between two other acts on the Sunday. ( Two song-writers concerts next time please guys ) The weather was cooler than last year but there was still heaps of tent jamming and no one would have frozen in the averagely cool and fine weather. One thing I did notice was the Ceilid exuded a strong odor of sweat and beer as did the home brew unaccompanied session. It took a few deep breaths of cool night air to enter these events but once inside the music and dancing were worth it.

I always like the way the final concert includes a few standouts from the blackboard sessions. This year we were blessed with two dynamic young men whose names I did not find out but who referred to themselves as the second best shanty group, and Erin, the teenage performer of the weekend with her passionate version of Wild Mountain Thyme.

Judith McNeil (from her blog: http://judithjazz.spaces.live.com/)

Canterbury Folk Festival Easter 2009 - a birds eye view

Way back in the day's on yon (1991) I went to my first Canterbury Folk Festival at Loburn. It's a festival still fondly remembered and discussed for the rich diversity of talent and the activities of all who braved the sunny clear days and the wintry Ice cool nights (which of course is a rather good excuse for the imbibing of the well known elixir Laphfroig, who cares about the spelling, it's like an internal hottie when you need it).
Anyway, this years festival was wonderful and as always the incredible weather during the day meant that some chairs were empty in the afternoons as there were water holes and adventure playgrounds and just purely 'waking up and dressing' activities to attend to. Not to mention the brilliant impromptu jams that roll out every second by those diehards who literally live in the forest and miss most concerts in favour of their own excellent music!
Andrew White was one of our superb guests line up. He was the first MSG I fell in love with at Loburn, this was a great time to recollect just how much his music has been an integral part of my folk music life. His album 'Pray For Rain' is my desert island pick, his live performances are a treasure and I'm completely biased as ever.
The second MSG I was to fall for immediately (fickle eh) at Loburn was the emerging, engaging and utterly delectable music of Owen Hugh, his fingers shook so badly that it was impossible not to notice but he rocked the house with his nylon strings at the time. I hear he lives in Auckland and it's about time he got himself a gig at the Christchurch Folk Club so we could all swoon again.
Speaking of which, it's about time we toured more NZ'ers at our clubs (read 'I'm about to need gigs all over the North Island I'll be in touch soon').
Back to Easter - Graham Wardrop in a new line up with Naomi Ferguson launched their first album together which is an eclectic choice of folk songs we all know and adore sung with the utmost clarity and perfection by Naomi with Graham's great guitar work complementing every note.
There were some visiting Bluegrass players from Auckland who came along and reckoned our festival is pretty damn impressive and who were delighted to be invited to perform in the final concert, which was a delight for us all, the sound of banjo on stage is quite a rarity in these parts you know. Bicycle tires aside, Michael Young and his merry band will be back- you promised didn't you?
I'm a huge fan of Jon Hooker, James Wilkenson and Denny Stanway so I can't say anything about their concerts except I loved their Saturday night performance. There is nothing to compare in NZ with this line up, I'm so proud of them and just wish there was more and more opportunity for them to play and be extremely well paid for the rest of their lives and all musicians of their ilk. They are so good.
I have a partner who isn't fond of diddley but no fear we caught some of the finest acts from overseas and innerseas. Can't say much as I was probably preoccupied alot of the time getting hot water bottles for those that could no longer stand up etc.
Lastly there is nothing on earth that can explain the 'Silver Beaver Lodge' whose theme this year was Fawlty Towers. Pas Possible!! Those French maids costumes and Mrs Fawlty appeared in many guises and raucous laughter could be heard at the end of the field and across the river.
Oh and apart from some badly sung accapella at midnight til 3 after the final concert (there were some excellent harmonies so long as the key was friendly) what a great festival.
Thanks to the committee and volunteers for a really special time. We know it only happens because year after year you know when and how to water the seeds to make the flowers grow.. Some of us can't raise a house plant. Your dedication is appreciated and revered. Even tho you probably heard me blabbing my mouth off about how there is nowhere warm to play after the concerts (read heated) that's central. The trouble is I can drink to keep warm but then I can't sing or play guitar except badly........... Also because of my antics in the bedroom wrapping my vocals and guitar around the bunk bed step ladders, I got Merv out of bed in his pyjamas and that's not something I want to repeat even tho they were winsiette and quite fashionable..
To think that the original idea for attending the folk festival at Loburn was because the pubs were closed all Easter in those days and drinking to celebrate Jesus was frowned upon.
Keep an eye out over the next century for the flowering orchard we planted before departing the site, blackboy peaches and walnuts down by the BMX track where the kids play.. not on the track, beside..
Also what was that fire George had burning in the brazier? Iillegal by the committee (but the committee were all in bed by then, not together) but condonned by the park ranger who simply acknowledged the fact that it was probably only - 1 degree and probably agreed campers should avoid hypothermia. Lovely how youth can talk their way up a gum tree and sit on the end of the furtherest branch without falling.....
Kind Regards,
Jan Elliott
Canterbury
New Zealand