Getting psyched for the 20th Annual Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in Lyons CO, while magical images of past festivations dance in my head!

My

revised blog…
Swirling images of Rocky Mountain Folks Festivals past dance in my head as I eagerly anticipate the 20th, which, thankfully is just one month away. Wanna take a look inside my head? *(not for the faint of heart) …

My first Folks Fest was seventeen years ago. I braved the wind in Estes Park with my husband and two small children (one just starting potty training – that was an adventure in itself!). Having the opportunity to speak with one of my heroes, John Gorka, was a thrill for me. He is such a sweet and humble man, considering that he possesses such impressive singing and songwriting talents…

The year my friend Louisann and I camped right next to the creek, we were surprised to wake up to find a tent between ours and the creekside. We were soon enchanted by the lovely young woman from New Zealand, Zoe Lewis, who won the hearts of all festivarians who had the good fortune to hear her lovely voice and engaging lyrics…

How many years had I been to the Folks Festival before I discovered the B.O.T.? Too many! The Big Orange Tent somehow went unnoticed by me, but when I did finally discover this gathering of tremendously diverse singer/songwriters, I was hooked. Organized to allow a chance for all interested musicians to perform into the wee hours of the night, this little venue in the onsite campground is not to be missed…

Visions of floating down the St. Vrain with my young daughter in inner tubes until, POP! I couldn’t bear to end her fun, so walking and swimming was an adventurous and scenic option that I really embraced.
I got to see the stunning Meadows Campground from the banks of the river as I followed my little girl. . Later, cracking up at the antics, lyrics and pink ensemble presented by Todd Snider created another bit of quality time we’ll always remember…

Returning to the Folks Festival year after year, Greg Brown’s down-home Iowa charm predictably brings a smile to the sea of festivarian faces as he sings his ode to the cup-a-cup-a-cup of morning java…

Norah Jones cast her spell over the crowd as she deepened our feelings of festival magic with her amazing keyboard and uniquely sweet and sultry vocals…

One year a band from California took the stage and performed lovely ballads with amazing harmonies. Box Set was a local favorite in their home state, and although I’d never heard of them, their set became a festival high point for me. One of the many wonderful qualities of the Folks Festival, since it is still relatively small and intimate, is that the performers frequently wander amongst the audience, allowing fans to make their acquaintance. This was the case with the friendly fellows from Box Set. We chatted. Then I gushed a bit about how much I enjoyed their music. They said they were sad to have to rush off since they were entranced by the setting at the base of the towering red cliff next to the river and the friendliness of everyone, and, by the way, would I like to have their backstage pass? Festival magic again!

One of the many beauties of the Folks Festival is that you can have a magical time, no matter whether you are alone, with a friend, with a lover, or with your family, whether the weather is lovely or cold or windy or rainy. The engaging personalities of the Planet Bluegrass staff are infectious, and you can bet they’ll help you with whatever you need. It is a joyous journey no matter what!

I am a 29 year veteran of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Telluride has it’s own amazing virtues, which I won’t state here, since that would take up WAY too much space. But what a gorgeous and intimate jewel we have right here in Lyons. I have a lot of gratitude in my heart for the Planet Bluegrass site and the people that make it all happen. Over and over the Folks Festival brings magic to my life. It would be an honor to be able to blog the magic to one and all!

With Best Regards to All,
Festivaaaaaaalllll!
Robin MacDonald