06.28.06
Old Songs Festival
We spent the weekend, actually from Thursday night at the Old Songs Festival in Altamont, NY. We had a great time, though it was hard to have Grandsweetie with us. We volunteered, so I basically spent Friday and Saturday days either working or chasing after her. She had a incredible time. Here she is only 2 1/2 and already meeting the bands and hanging out with them. She is not shy of very many people and, like my own children, not intimidated by performers. She lives with performers, so it doesn’t seem out of the ordinary to her. She loved The Wild Band of Snee, and invited them to sit with us at one of the picnic tables. She spent every evening dancing and meeting people during the concerts. I didn’t get to do a whole lot that I wanted to do, but did get to hear the workshop on Social Commentary. Cris Williamson, Peter Siegel, Peggy Seeger and Enoch Kent were all great, but Jay Mankita brought down the house, or rather brought them to their feet, with “They Lied.” I had first heard this song at a campfire at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival 2 years ago. He had just written it and was going around trying to learn it and getting feedback. Since then, it’s become quite popular. You can download it for free. He just wants it out in the world being heard and passed around. I became very inspired to get back home and write more political songs. Now, if I can only find some time…