Loose Leaf Notes

At some point on Saturday Floydfest began to feel like a floating island separating those who were onsite from those who (like me) wanted to be but couldn’t get back because of the heavy, steady rain.  And I’m sure some of the wet people onsite were wishing they were in the comfort of their own homes like I was.  Most people camp the four day festival, but because I am so close (6 miles) I can go home and sleep in my own bed. Watch festival goers navigate the worst of the mud HERE.

The rain finally subsided late Saturday afternoon and I got back on site by early evening.  I was amazed to see that the show went on without much pause, especially after reading accounts all day on Facebook about long waits and lack of access. The mud was freaky thick in some places but everyone seemed to be dealing with it in good humor.  I wore clogs that were easy to wash off.

In the VIP beer tent I ran into Sarah Williams Hasty, manager (and now family member) of Sean Keane, the singer from Gallway who specializes in Irish aires and who sang at the Pine Tavern in Floyd last year.  It was a kick to see him and have our picture taken.  He’s someone who should be singing on Floydfest stage soon.  If you don’t believe me, have a listen HERE. 

One of the highlights for me this year was hanging out in the Imagine Tent watching the teens interact, make collages, play cards and jam together. Listen to how good they (most of whom just met each other at the festival) are HERE.  Read more about the Teen Scene at Floydfest HERE.

The collage journaling taught by my artist/potter son Josh was a big hit with teens and those who can still “pass,” like Josh’s girlfriend Christy. More on collage journaling later.

This is a message from one of the artists-in training that Josh found on the manual typewriter at the end of the long weekend.

The headline shows for Saturday were Brandi Carlile and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (but I have been calling them Edward Sharpe and the Scissorhands).   Brandi Carlile reminded me of Peter Pan in the Neverland Forest.  She yodels too,  listen HERE.

In between Brandi Carlile and Edward Sharpe, Joe and I enjoyed the Silent Disco at the Flower of Life Tent. We put on wireless earphones and danced to a DJ mix in a kind of Floydfest rave scene. Never a dull moment at Floyfest. See a clip of the scene HERE.

The Wikipedia says that Edward Sharpe is a revolving 11 member collective, but I counted 13 people playing onstage.  “The band’s image and sound evoke the hippie movement of the 1960s and 1970s,” says the Wikipedia.

Like The Lumineers (above photo) on Thursday night, Edward Sharpe was an engaging act who did a “crowd walk” at one point during the show. HERE is a video of the front man jumping off the stage. The photo above is of the drummer interacting with the audience and playing at their level, down from the main stage and face to face.

Sunday the family arrived and we showed off our Floydfest swagger!

Joe, who is director of the Imagine Tent, said his morning meditation and qigong class had about 55 attendees on Friday.  I don’t have any pictures of that because I don’t get up that early, but maybe this shot will suffice for a martial arts of sorts. Watch Opa Joe dancing with Liam HERE.

Old Crow Medicine Crow rocked the final show. I loved the way Ketch Secor asked a guy in the audience for his good ol boy hat before breaking out Wagon Wheel, a song that he wrote from an unfinished song by Bob Dylan. 

We especially enjoyed watching Boone, NC resident Arthur Grimes dance and meeting him backstage. Watch him go HERE.

With parking lots full of mud and tow trucks waiting to pull out stuck cars, the festival was extended into late Sunday night, so that everyone wouldn’t be leaving all at once. 

I was really happy to see Kris and Erika (festival founders) come out at the close of the show and share their heartfelt gratitude for the staff and attendees who make the festival possible.  “If there is one thing that can trump Mother Nature, it is positive energy, and you all have that in spades. Thank you so much for bringing that positivity to the party,” said co-founder Erika Johnson.

The cherry on the top of the four days of fun was running into Deana and Martin (on my left and right), Amy (right) and Delane and family, riding in a pimped out golf cart to their campsite for drinks (a beer that is).  We took this picture for mutual blog friend Naomi at Here in The Hills.

Hey listen, 3 days out of 4 of sunny weather isn’t so bad and the mud washes off.  I can hardly wait for next year.  

Post note: See “So What’s New at Floyfest?” Thursday and Friday’s highlights HERE.