Champlain Valley 2008; deluge

Subject: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 09:05 PM

I feel like a big chicken because I bailed out of the CV fest when, about halfway through, a mighty deluge struck; I was watching Bennett Hammond (a great performer), who suddenly put away his banjo and said he was cutting short his set due to weather. One second later, a huge cloudburst erupted; I ran to the merchandise tent for cover, but soon a river was running through and everyone was up to their ankles. The main tent was evacuated for fear of lightning. I finally found Meg and we managed to get our car out only after helping some guy push his car out of the mud. Apparently they were pulling cars out by tractor late into the night. Surprisingly they managed to get things going again the next day despite continuing rain & mud; by then I'd fled for the border.

Still all worth it, especially seeing John Specker again, who has been one of my favourites for many years. He just gets stranger and more fun. This time, wearing an American-flag outfit, he introduced his two lovely daughters, who manage to implement and supplement his super-aggressive fiddle style, and, to some extent, his barn-door vocals. An amazing triple-threat trio!

I've been attending this fest for over twenty years; it's been full of odd events; there was another "mud-bath" about 15 years ago, and then there was the year the boat caught on fire, and...

Anyone else survive the mighty storm?

One place to find John Specker:

http://www.myspace.com/thespeckers

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Beer
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 09:46 PM

Wanted to go but had to attend to a nieces graduation party with relatives and friends. Rained all weekend and kept thinking about how things would be going at the festival. I know April and I think Jeri was there and topical tom was suppose to show up. I was hanging around a small village called Ulverton in Quebec and thy had Moto Cross happening. Went to have a look Sunday afternoon and a bulldozer was hauling R/V and other camping vehicles out due to the river (St. Francis) overflowing it's banks. What a terrible July and beginning of August.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Jeri
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 09:56 PM

I was in South Portland, Maine at this year's first maritime festival. I've never been to Champlain Valley although it's not that far away and I've been meaning to get there forever. Sorry about the flood!

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 09:57 PM

April was there, selling cokes and coffee from a booth, for only a buck! I assume everyone survived, but, man, I am getting too old and feeble to stay soaking wet for long!

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: topical tom
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 09:59 PM

We intended to go but we chickened out when we saw the weather forecast for Ferrisburg, Vermont.We have attended the festival many times and have always thoroughly enjoyed it.It is one of the most beautiful sites we have seen, especially the Lakefront stage overlooking all the boats on Kingsland Bay.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 10:07 PM

Friday was beautiful & I even swam for a while from the dock beside the Lakefront Stage. But the Lakefront Stage was the worst place to be at the moment of impact.

Happily managed to see also Dan Gellert (long admired but never seen live before) and Brooks Williams but missed a few others I'd been looking forward to.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 06:52 PM

Am I to assume that Mudcat and Champlain Valley are mutually exclusive?

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: C. Ham
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 09:13 PM

I used to love the festival but haven't gone for the past couple of years. In my opinion, it peaked in the last two years (2000 and 2001) in Burlington and then began to slide artistically. The best festival in the Kingsland Bay years was 2005 when they showed signs of getting the groove back. But the line-up for the last two years just hasn't compelled me to make the 7 hour drive.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Peace
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 09:14 PM

Makes me glad they ignored my application to play there.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 09:55 PM

Peace, I've had eleven films in a row rejected by the Ottawa Film Festival, but I've never failed to show up. You might actually have enjoyed seeing the many talented performers; and sometimes you're just part of the audience! Well, tough! (I know it's a long way, I wouldn't go that far either, but hey....)

Ham, I have never based my attendance entirely on knowing who the performers are; every year I see and hear people I've never even heard of, who become favourites. (I admit 7 hours is a long haul, and for me it's only two.)

I've attended every Ormstown Fest (except the last, when I naturally switched to Apple Hollow.) But Champlain Valley has been a part of my life for over 20 years; like Christmas, Good Friday and Grey Cup Day, I am never happier than when I'm there.

I never realized (until this moment) that people had gripes about this wonderful festival. Jeez...

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Beer
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 10:10 PM

John,
You and I met last year for the first time. I truly feel privileged that this happened. if time permitted I'm sure we would become good friends. How not as we both love Scotch.
To hear you say that you have switched over has also shown that you respect what I am trying to do, so thank you.
The Champlain Valley Fest I have never been to and I truly wanted to go this year. As a spectator and as a person looking for new acts. However it was not possible.
C.Ham,
as I understand it you have also been supporting the Branches and roots and the apple hollow one this year. I also thank you for for that. But don't you think that it is time that you reveal yourself? You know that you are among friends.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: C. Ham
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 10:20 PM

Hi Adrien,

I spoke very briefly with you at Apple Hollow. Also to Bruce Murdoch, Ron Bankley and Mike Regenstrief without mentioning my Mudcat ID. I used to see Bruce play at Mike's Golem coffee house in the '70's and its kind of neat to relate to them as a veteran of the era without the baggage of Mudcat preconceptions. Maybe next year I'll reveal myself, or maybe if I see you at the Ottawa Folk Festival.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 10:39 PM

Oh great, a guessing game. C.Ham, same letters as the start of Champlain. But 7 hours away? He isn't Garnet R, since he was critical of GR's performance. Ron B and Mike R usually use their own names. 7 hour drive, but he was in Montreal in the 70s. He's about 5 years younger than me if he talks about the Golem, but not the Fifth Dimension, so he's about 58 years old.

Okay, don't tell me too quickly, I'll get it. Liked CV in 2000 and 2001, but not later. Have to check to see who was playing.

Guessing that Peace was Bruce last year was too damn easy! Sneezy Waters? Donovan Leach? Xopods Chesnick?

Okay I'm into wild guesses. But no letting on, I'll figure it out...

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Midchuck
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 10:46 PM

We enjoyed it, even with the weather. Us Woodchucks got taken on as "official" performers this year, albeit rear-rank spear carriers. The most pleasant benefit of this was getting to park in the performers' lot, which was about the only place you could still drive out of after the rain hit - and then you probably needed 4-wheel drive, but we had it.

We played on Sunday in a Vermont singer-songwriters' singaround, and at the Utah Phillips tribute set. Rik Palieri ran that very well, we thought - kept the singing going, without a lot of talk, so it was a joyous thing rather than funereal. I actually heard a couple of songs that I didn't know, and may have to learn now. I thought I knew all his good ones.

Needless to say, we were _very_ glad to live an hour away, and be able to wander off when we got tired, and sleep in a dry bed. If I'd been camping, I'd have been gone.

You could tell there were a goodly number of Vermont - or maybe Quebec - kids there. They were the ones swimming in the rain, in 68 or so degree weather, and actually having a good time. But you certainly didn't need to go down to the shore if you wanted to be wet. I hope the hiking shoes I was wearing will eventually recover.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Beer
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 10:57 PM

Thanks Ham. That is a big help. For I have about 200 pictures that have been sent to me and I will figure it out. I should also be able to see by the pictures who supported the B&R and showed up at the Apple Hollow. Will be fun trying. I'm not pissed off Ham, I will just be very pleased to sit and talk as I like a lot of your comments made in the past and also most recent. I must look see when the OFFestival is taking place. If it is the weekend of the 16th then I will be in St. Thomas Ontario.

john, I was thinking it may be Mike as well, but Mike has not been to all the B&R festival's. Neither has Bankley. The thing that throws me off is that Ham travels between Montreal and Toronto on a regular basis. Bobad is also curious about this mystery person. I think I will call him tomorrow and we will discuss it further.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Peace
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 11:15 PM

I didn't mean to dis the festival. Just the reception, or lack thereof. But that's life. No problem.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 11:15 PM

Midchuck - I'm glad to hear, finally, from someone who was actually there, but frustrated that you performed Sunday, by which point I'd bolted, so I don't know if I've seen you perform or not... ...another secret identity?

Actually it was Ron B at Apple H that stimulated my curiosity. He asked on-stage if there were any Mudcatters out there, and half the audience waved.

At CV, I stuck a small note on the notice board asking if there were any Mudcatters around. No luck, so when I got back I started this thread. Still almost no luck. There's an odd statistical anomaly here, but I have no idea what it means.

Hmmmm. Chaim Tannenbaum would compress into CHam, but he's a Montrealer, and I've never seen him at CV. Toronto eh? Tres curious.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: GUEST,Vicki Kelsey
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 11:26 PM

My husband and I are also CVfest survivors-and we were on the takedown crew Monday as well, so we got to explore all versions of the mud. It helped to imagine I was five again. Tevas or mud boots were a must, although boots had the disadvantage of being sucked off your feet under some circumstances.
    We enjoyed it despite all, and gained a new appreciation for 4 wheel drive cars. Lots of people jumped in (sometimes literally) to help folks get unstuck, and to shuttle people on Sunday when it was decided that the parking lot was a lost cause.
    Although a lot of the performers were unfamiliar, it's always an oportunity to discover a new favorite or two, and in our case to find unfamiliar faces to introduce via our Gottagetgon festival.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Peace
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 11:27 PM

John. I Love your writing and the humour that arrives subsequently. You have given me a few [many he meant to say] chuckles--after the outright laughter--with Ashcan Alley. I knew you were brilliant when your treatment of "TLDW" showed so much about the Canuck character, but I didn't realize you were a genius until I met you.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: C. Ham
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 11:45 PM

John,

You're not far off, I'm 56. I'm from Montreal and moved to Toronto in 1977. As well as the Golem, I hung out at the Back Door, the Yellow Door, the Karma and the Montreal Folk Workshop in the late '60's and '70's. I get back to Montreal to visit my mother about once a month. I occasionally get out to folk concerts when I'm there. Don't try and figure me for a musician. I'm just a lifetime folk fan.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Beer
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 11:59 PM

Thanks Ham. If your telling the truth which I'm sure you are i can now eliminate all musicians.
ad.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 10:03 AM

Vicki-
I'm feeling like more of a wimp for running away, but good to hear of someone else actually there. Even my brother-in-law-in-law camped out & came back on Sunday... ...with his walker!

Bruce -
I'm thrilled that you're enjoying Ashcan Alley, cuz I love drawing it & it keeps me off the streets. I dunno about genius; my producers used to blow their tops at people who said nice things: "Stop praising John! It goes to his head, and he becomes intolerable!". I see you're getting tons of well-deserved praise on about 4 different threads, so I hope you're taking it with aplomb! (Still enjoying yr CD.)

Ham-
I would have left your identity secret (in the Ham-cave with the Ham-mobile, no doubt), but you keep leaving teasers. Stuart McLean? Nah, I would have noticed him. Loved that Back Door place, damn them for tearing the Prince of Wales Terrace down.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: MaineDog
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 06:53 PM

I used to go to CV, way back when before it moved away from the park the first time. In those days they had no electricity in the park so, they needed to run a generator to power the main stage, and they also quit at dusk so as to avoid darkness. There were, therefore, lots of acoustic events, and that was great. I remember contradancing on the tennis courts, alternating with skinny-dipping in the lake. Every other dance was in the water.
Maybe nest year, if gas doesn't get much worse, and it doesn't conflict with the (much nearer) Maritime festival.

Does anyone remember Robert J. Lurtsema's "Your monkey's got his balls in my Martini" ?
MD

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 08:19 PM

MainDog-

Geez, do I ever remember THAT! They'd gotten a grant to make the Festival accessible for the deaf. So They got a guy who did both sign language and mime to leap up on stage in a green body stocking and "Interpret" the songs. Mostly he was just a minor nuisance, prancing around at the side of the stage. But when Robert J. Lurtsema, who was merely killing time while the sound crew did its set-up, launched into an accapala version of this very silly song, the guy was still Interpreting. Apparently, "Balls" and "Martini" are identical in sign, just 180 degrees reversed, and pointed elsewhere. Side-splitting, but I guess you had to be there.

Also remember the time It was broadcast live on Vermont Public Radio, and John Roberts and Tony Barrand filled the "gaps" with some very inappropriate songs....

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Beer
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 09:39 PM

Well C.Ham, I went through all the pictures and your a lucky man. I don't think I spotted you. However I'm assuming you are a man. If you are a lady than I think I have you picked out. You say I spoke to you briefly, well that hasn't helped as I spoke briefly to so many people on Saturday that it isn't helping.
Have a good evening.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Ref
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 09:48 PM

John, next year try pushing it ahead of time a month or so and give folks some time to plan. I won't go, and never have, because it conflicts with family time in Maine. Others might be interested!

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: topical tom
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 10:17 PM

My wife, hearing it was a funny song workshop, took our granddaughter(about ten at the time) to see it, and thus the latter heard "Your Monkey's got his balls in my Martini"!She laughed her head off and took delight in singing parts of it to us and her parents!She still laughs at the mere mention of it!This is but one the many interesting and great moments that we enjoyed at the festival over the years.So sad that the weather forecasts chased us away this year.P.S: our granddaughter is now 18!

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 08:10 AM

Ref - True, I did this last year, but this year just forgot. (A bit busy). I've wondered why the organizers don't start (or contribute to) a MudCat thread each July (I have nothing to do with the Festival). Look at all the buzz that gets started early around the Fests that Beer is involved in. (Beer-Fests?) So I just sent an e-mail to them pointing out this thread.

Beer - Yeah, I bet Ham is female. Which means I'd better stop guessing; I sure don't want any more women pissed off at me!

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Beer
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 08:17 AM

Thanks for the laugh John.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 08:31 AM

Another festival that I've been trying to get to for years.

Wish I could have been there for Robert J's song -- but I do have some interesting bits (his on-air "argument" with Jean Redpath, etc.) of Morning Pro Musica on tape somewhere in the archives. (Also when he introduced Jean's new recording of Robert Burns' "Nine Inch Will Please a Lady" and asked, "Can you explain the significance of this song?")

Linn

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 11:23 AM

I missed the first two years, and the most recent two years, but I've been at almost every Champlain Valley Folk Festival.

When the festival board decided to move from Burlington back to it's original home at Kingsland Bay State Park for the 2002 festival there was an assurance that the park's infrastructure had been so improved that the kind of parking lot problems that used to occur in the event of major storms would not reoccur.

Thanks to C. Ham for singling out 2000 and 2001 as the festival's peak years. Those were the years that my friend Robert Resnik, host of Vermont Public Radio's folk program, and I did the booking and programming. I was very proud of those two festivals.

I really liked the beautiful UVM campus site in Burlington as a location for the festival and my wariness about moving back to Kingsland Bay was part of the reason that I stepped down from programming the festival after 2001. Kingsland Bay is an absolutely wonderful place to be when the weather is great; not so good when the skies really open up.

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Folkiedave
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 11:48 AM

Any UK catters reading this - I am in Quebec and for our parade in the city (Tuesday) it was lovely weather - thank goodness. Since then untuil today (Saturday) it has been severe rain similar to that which caused endless flooding in the UK last July .

My sympathies to the organisers.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Beer
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 02:44 PM

it'd been tough on many events around Quebec and border area's. we were one of the Lucky festivals at apple hollow to get sun on the main day.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 03:23 PM

Thor hath smiled upon Beer and found him worthy!

Kingsland Bay vs. Burlington Campus; tough call.   Adventure vs. comfort. Risk vs. security. Stories to tell your grandchildren about vs. a Folk Festival.

Burlington Campus had lots of warplanes flying over, drowning out the music. And one year there was a true Porta-Pottie disaster (you don't want to hear any more about this.) But you could pop into town and get a nice meal, (only missing one set), and stay in a comfy hotel bed.

Kingsland Bay, you can swim with your favourite Folk Celebrities.

Overall, I'd go for KB, but I've had great times both places.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: topical tom
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 12:18 AM

I vote for Kingsland Bay because of the beautiful scenery and site.However, obviously, inclement weather can spoil it.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 01:20 AM

On another thread, I mentioned a great guitar workshop with Andrew Hardin, Guy Van Duser and hosted by the (alas) late Artie Traum, who was funny and charming. That was at the 2000 Burlington Campus CV. Definitely a great lineup.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: C. Ham
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 05:45 PM

Others I remember from that 2000 festival: Tom Russell; Jesse Winchester; Herdman, Hills & Mangsen; Steve Gillette; Eric Bibb; klezmer with Strauss & Warschauer.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Beer
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 05:46 PM

Now that was a line up.

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 08:17 AM

Right-on Ham. Eric Bibb is an amazing performer; I love guys who leap up and seem to be having a good time themselves.

Same year; banjo masters Reed Martin & Howie Bursen (I love the banjo) and a big jam with them two and a group called the "Double Decker String Band". Oh, yes!

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: Susan A-R
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 09:35 PM

John, I usually don't get there because I'm a non driver. Here's a deal. Dry place to sleep with good food about 1 hour from the festival for a ride??

There were great folks in the line up, (Curious about the Sweet Back sisters?) and I trust Pete Sutherland, one of the organizers, pretty implicitly. Next year.

In the mean time, I'm setting my cap on the New World Festival in Randolph, VT the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. It's a nice, small, manageable festival and I have people I can walk to to sty over if I get trapped.

So, next year????

Subject: RE: Champlain Valley 2008; deluge
From: john f weldon
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 07:50 AM

Susan-
It's an intriguing possibility. But since I'm just 2 hours from CV, one hour still seems pretty far. Most years we stay at Button Bay campground, but there are also a string of motels 15-20 minutes away.

The last time the fest turned to a mudbath, they switched to Burlington Campus for several years. Who knows what will happen next year?

Why not raise the question around June next year; a good time to start reminding folks of the fest anyhow. Maybe I (or some other mudcat) will want to take it up!

The first year I went, I bicycled all the way back to Montreal. 140 miles. I have no legitimate reason to mention this. I'm just bragging.
JFW