The writing a second entry yesterday didn’t happen. I’ve been enervated since Falcon Ridge. Last night’s sleep kept getting interrupted so once again I’m fighting to keep awake. My Gentle Readers are worth fighting for, so I will begin the Falcon Ridge Cycle.
The FRFF website says that the festival started on Friday. That’s only if you accept a narrow definition of what the festival is. Thursday should certainly be included as that’s when we have the Lounge Stage. Six solid hours of music. But even that does not encompass the entire festival as many of us arrive on Wednesday. There’s nothing happening at the stages, but the community takes shape. There is always music. That’s where I’ll begin.
As is now our tradition Fred picked me up and we drove together to Hillsdale. Unlike last year we did not make an unplanned detour through Connecticut. We encountered some heavy rain but made it to Falcon Ridge easily. Things started off well as we were directed to parking by the inimitable Phil Henry. He’s a triple threat, friend, musician, and parking lot attendant.
Because the roads were still wet from the rain they were not letting us drive in. The cars were lining up in the lot. By chance we came in right after our Buddha-Pest neighbors of the Dharma Café. We saw Jake and as I walked over to talk to him I heard someone call my name; it was Phil and Trisha. The community was coming together in the parking lot. We couldn’t drive in, but we could get our wristbands and programs. Mira was working one of the check-in tables. I found out that Bri, my +1, had already arrived. Fred and I decided to abandon the car and hike up to the Budgiedome so we could set up our tents before it rained again. When we arrived I discovered that my tent wasn’t there? I thought that Steve was bringing it, but it was Lori, and she had not arrived. We got Fred set up. They started to let cars up while we were there. Fred and I decided to go to the diner to eat and Mel, who lives on the Buddha side of the Brown Danube, decided to join us. First, we had to trek back down the hill to get Fred’s car. When we got to the bottom we found most of the cars had cleared but the Dharma Café trailer had gotten stuck in the mud. They were able to bring the truck up but not the trailer. There were some problems, but we got Fred’s car up and parked. As we left for dinner Joe and the kids were headed down to see if things were dry enough to get the trailer up.
There are two diners in Hillsdale, I had always gone to the Martindale Chief Diner near the Taconic but there’s a closer one right in town, that’s where we headed for our last indoor meal and to use our last indoor plumbing.
The first day was rough, I mentioned only one, the least of the disasters, Joe and Emily’s trailer getting stuck. We got a phone call from Bri on the way up. Their friend Craig’s jeep broke down on the Taconic. They were caravanning. Bri has a small car, Craig a jeep. He had most of their things. Steve had to go back in his truck to bring their things while Craig’s car was being repaired.
The most serious disaster happened to John Platt; Alan Rowoth announced on Facebook that John had a minor stroke the day before. I do John’s official social media, so I had to let the fans of John Platt’s On Your Radar and Sunday Supper know. I later found out that FRFF stalwart Scott Moore also had a stroke.
Lori arrived with my tent shortly before nightfall. Steve came back soon thereafter. Then it started to rain. We set up Craig’s tent in mine in the Budgiedome and moved them to their sites when the rain let up. We managed to get everything up and staked with just enough light to get by.
Then came the relaxed Wednesday night at Falcon Ridge. We sat around the Dharma Café and talked and made music. The day had a rough start, so we stayed up later than usual. That was the beginning of my sleep deprivation, but it was worth it.
More campers arrived on Thursday, Carolann, Mark, and Felix, and Gen and Arpie. Our village gained strength. I spent most of the evening at the Lounge Stage, splitting my time between listening to music and talking to friends. It functions as the great meet and greet of the festival. I was sad I couldn’t stay for the last round; it included Abbie Gardner and Ryanhood, but I had to go up and help get the Budgiedome ready. Turned out I was too late, my cohorts had already arranged the chairs for the late-night fun, a song circle preceded by two featured acts, Seth Morgan then Richard Ruane & Beth Duquette joined by special guest Vermonter Phil Henry.
This worked out perfectly, unbeknownst to us Alan was hosting a tribute at the Big Orange Tarp to the musicians that had died the previous year. There was a processional from the Lounge Stage to the BOT. Under normal circumstances that would have meant that nobody would come up for the Budgiedome. These weren’t normal circumstances. Seth is a mainstay of Shantytown, a sister community down on the flats. They made their way up to see Seth perform so we had a full house for him and Richard. By the time they were done the tribute was over. Carolann brought other Lounge Stage acts up to join us in the song circle. That included permanent friend of the Budgiedome Abbie Gardner. We had what I believe was our largest song circle and our best. Paul kept track of all the participants.
Will Baird
Benjamin Dakota Rogers
Charles Nolan
Carolann Solebello+
Mike Laureanno+
Dave March of Miles to Dayton
Cassandra House
John Ryan
Maggie, Margaret, and Ray
Joe & Maggie Mercadante
Steve Mayone
Barry
Lauren
Sydney
Genevieve
Abbie Gardner
Banjo Nickaru
Paul Mischler
We had a Budgiedome first, sign language interpreters, Lauren and Sydney. They sang, drummed, and signed. The stars of the night were Maggie, Margaret, and Ray. Maggie is Joe & Emily’s tween daughter, Margaret a teen friend of the family, and Ray a tween who played bass. They brought the house down.
Some of the performers were friends some were strangers. Some were professionals and others, amateurs. They all loved music and supported each other. The late-night song circles are what made SMAF special and this was the same thing. People joined in with each other. I think it was Barry who gave tips to Ray. Some people played originals. John brought everyone together singing The Beatles. Was in Come Together?. In the middle of a song, Nick for Banjo Nickaru handed Abbie the dobro he was playing, and he picked up his banjo. Abbie had no idea this was coming, but of course she pulled it off. Coco, you should have been there for that. I thought of you immediately. Coco loves musicians changing instruments in a middle of a song.
That’s what it was like “before the festival started.” If you come up later, you are missing something special. Come up next year and join us in the circle. You don’t have to perform, it’s fine to just listen. That’s all I did. Next year I’ll go back to singing an original song.
Wise Madness 