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2003 Festival |
On Sunday we were blessed with another gorgeous day, and a steady procession of folks. |
 Sunday at the Festival |
 Aerial view of the village square -- photo credit: Mike Dell'Ara | ||
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When Mike Dell'Ara, flew over, the festival looked like the village square had always been there, and that the Festival belonged in it. |
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 Musicians in a crafts booth |
Music is a magnet that draws together a broad spectrum of people. The Festival succeeded in its mission: to bring good folk music to the people of the Mendocino Coast. A month later, people are still exclaiming over what a lovely weekend it was. |
The Ananse Village booth featured an amazing display of African baskets, quite often accompanied by a small drum circle. |
 Drum circle in the Ananse Village booth |
 Shepherdess' dance |
The afternoon concert was electrified by the appearance of Nuba, a troupe of eight dancers and three musicians. The vividness and heartfulness of their presentation was stirring. Nuba is the North African word for the trance-like state induced by rhtyhm or song. |
One of the musicians, David Brown (that's him on the left) spoke gently about his regret that the music and culture of the people of North Africa, and indeed the Islamic world, are not often well received or appreciated in these times. The Caspar audience clearly warmed to their music and dance. |
 North African trio |
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Bright costumes and brighter smiles ... the audience were all smiling, too. |
 Nuba in the audience photo credit: Michael Potts |
By the end of Nuba's set, the whole Caspar Community Center was floating a foot above the ground, and respiring. It was intense, and memorable. Thank you, Nuba! Please come again. |
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 Another use for the big tire in the playground |
The Festival Organizers make a special effort to include children in the Festival, to make traditions of folk music, crafts, and storytelling accessible to a young audience. The synergy of market, concerts, playground provided a rich environment for children who attended, we remarked to one another that there were fewer children than expected. |
Renowned Caspar resident Dale LeFevre was holding up his end of the bargain by playing cooperative games Saturday and Sunday afternoon. |
 Dale LeFevre doing his Atlas routine |
 One last use for the tire |
One must trust to the young to keep the species frisky. |
"Those pesky photographers will shoot just about anything! Let's find a more private tire..." |
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 from right, Wendy Blakeway, Sylvestre Lee, Mickie Zekley |
Mid-afternoon, even with the main stage concert in full swing, Sylvestre Lee Called all Accordions, and they came, and had a lively set in the Northeast Tent. |
One of the design parameters of the Festival, which follows Lark Camp with remarkable immediacy, was that Lark Camp impressarios Beth and Mickie Zekley could sit, listen, or play without a care for the organization. Here's proof that they did. |
 from right, Beth Zekley, Wendy Blakeway, Sylvestre Lee |
 music in the Northeast tent |
Nor did the Accordionists have all the fun. Spontaneous groups of musicians sprung up, Lark Camp style, without warning. |
Back on the main stage, the audience shifted gears for the exquisite canciones -- Mexican song treasures -- brought to the stage by Cynthia Llano and her group. |
 Pajarillo Picante on the main stage |
 Cait Reed and Friends | ||
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Cait was not the only musician suffering from "After Lark Syndrome" but her music and the energy her friends brought to the stage wound the audience up still more.
Sadly, our photographer had to go before Chaskinakuy rounded out the afternoon. But they had the audience snake dancing around the hall and grinning from ear to ear. It was a wonderful first Festival, and we look forward to doing it even better in 2004. |
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Caspar Community Center 15051 Caspar Road - box 84 Caspar, California 95420 707.964.4997 gather@CasparFest.org |
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for more information, email Caspar World Folk Festival,
gather@CasparFest.org
: : last updated 22 September 2003 : 2:58 Caspar (Pacific) time : :
photos on this page
copyright © 2003 Art Mielke text and page design copyright © 2003 Michael Potts, Caspar Institute
printed with 100% recycled electrons! |