Wanna see this year's photos? Photos from the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival for July 2000 You may also want to take a peek at some of my photos from 1998 and 1999!
Want to know how to find us? Check out this map from Jake Jacobsen. There may be some changes to the layout of the festival this year, but I don't think it will effect where we camp, anyway.
We've done pretty well in the past at helping folks who had to borrow camping gear or had extra stuff to lend. Let us know if you need anything. We always need folding chairs under the BOT, so bring a couple if you have some.
To: folk_music@nysernet.org Subject: f_m at Falcon Ridge From: Stephen.Clark@appnet.com (Steve Clark)
Here's the long-awaited announcement about the f_m gathering at Falcon Ridge this year. Once again, we're expecting a crowd of f_m'ers at Falcon Ridge.
As usual, our landmark in the campground will be the legendary BOT (Big Orange Tarp), which should be visible up on the ridge near the big tree from most of the festival grounds below. Stop by and say hi, camp with us, play music with us ... it's always a blast to hang out with a whole bunch of f_m'ers, and Falcon Ridge always sees dozens of listmembers turn out.
First off, here's The Facts, for those who are wondering:
Dates: July 23-25, 1999 Starts at noon on Friday, finishes at dusk Sunday Gates open Thursday by 6 pm, but you *must* have advance 3-day camping tickets to get in before the box office opens Friday morning. They will NOT be selling tickets on Thursday.
Location: Long Hill Farm, Route 23, Hillsdale, NY Tri-State Corner of MA, NY, and CT
Lineup (Mainstage): Ani DiFranco, Andes Manta, Balfa Toujours, Beth Molaro, Beverwyck, Big Hoedown, Bob Malone, Bourque Bernard & Lepage, Cheryl Wheeler, Cry Cry Cry, Eddie From Ohio, Ellis Paul, The Falcon Ridge House Band, Ferron, Gene Murrow, George Marshall with Wild Asparagus, Greg Brown, Harmonious Wail, Hudson Crossing, The Ivy Vine Players, Jack Hardy, Karen Savoca, Kathryn Wedderburn, The Kennedys, Laurie's Stories, LJ Booth, Moxy Fr¸vous, Mustard's Retreat, The Nields, Pamela Means, Patti O'Brien Melita, Paul Rosenberg, Peter Ecklund with Strings Attached, Peter Mulvey, Reckless Abandon, Ralph Sweet with Wild Asparagus, Roger the Jester, Sam Pacetti, Stacey Earle, The Storycrafters, Susan Werner, The Tony Trischka Band, Vance Gilbert
New Artist Showcase (Friday noon - Don't miss it!) Rachel Bissex, Hugh Blumenfeld, Kevin Briody, Joel Cage, Edie Carey, Mary Coppin, Ruthie Foster, Denice Franke, Annie Gallup, Harmonytryx, Margo Hennebach w/ Mark Saunders, Cheryl Hoenemeyer, Michael Hsu, Rob Laurens, Andrew McKnight, Terence Martin, Larry Murante, Kim Person & Lana Puckett, Small Potatoes, JoAnne Redding, Michael Veitch, Annie Wenz, Jody Williamson, and Diane Zeigler
Cost: 3-Day All-Festival Tickets *without* Camping $65.00 3-Day All-Festival Tickets with Camping $80.00 1-Day Tickets (no camping) Friday $25.00 Saturday $30.00 Sunday $25.00
More info: http://www.falconridgefolk.com/
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival 74 Modley Road Sharon CT 06069 860-350-7472 860-364-0366
Info about the f_m presence at Falcon Ridge:
- Camping: A bunch of us from the list will be camping together, and everyone is more than welcome to join us. Barring something unforeseen, we'll be in the same spot as last year. The landmark is the Big Orange Tarp (BOT) - see below. To find us on foot, look up the hill and find the Big Ol' Tree standing out near the top, a bit to the left of center. We'll be on the hilltop to the left of this tree. By car, drive up towards high camping (but not way back into the right-hand corner), and head towards the back treeline. Turn left along the treeline, go past the aforementioned Big Ol' Tree, and there we'll be. Please RSVP to Carl Pelton (stumpelton@earthlink.net) if you plan to camp with us, so we know how much space to stake out.
- Big Orange Tarp (BOT): Our landmark in the campground will once again be the BOT, under which we'll make like we're having a Kerrville campfire, only without the fire. This is one of the coolest aspects of a festival like this, hanging out with old and new friends and sharing songs or coffee or backrubs with whomever happens by.
- Mainstage: We'll try to have an identifiable area at the mainstage where f_m'ers can gather or just find each other. I'm not sure how well this ever works, but we keep trying!
- f_m meeting places: Aside from the BOT and the mainstage area, we'll do our best to have a message board (and occasional gatherings) at LisaBeth Weber's booth in the craft area, AKA Women From Mars. Pick up a cool button while you're there, or maybe a hat ...
If you have any questions about festival logistics or whatever, feel free to ask Carl, hopefully he can help you out. Remember that sending me email won't work very well, since I probably won't see it until after the festival.
And finally, here's the collected wisdom of f_m Falcon Ridgers (aka survival tips).
Shade: No, there isn't much. There are trees around the periphery (but watch for poison ivy), and a few isolated ones around the grounds, but if you're listening to music, you're in the sun (the dance stage is covered). If you're camping, you get great shade from the other side of the valley until the moment when the sun rises (which is earlier the higher up you are ...), at which point the temperature in your tent instantaneously rises 20 degrees, and you instantaneously wake up.
That said, there is some relief from the sun available. The food tent offers lots of shade, and the dance tent is covered. Also, the red cross tent (near the mainstage) has free sunscreen, if you run out.
Parking: There is plenty of on-site parking down below; if you camp, it's a non-issue, since you can park where you camp (low-slung British sportscars may want to skip this option, though ...). If you camp on the hill, be sure to park pointing across the hill rather than up and down - they will ask you to reorient your car, because it would be a Bad Thing for it to head down the hill without you.
Directions: There's a map as well as directions from various major cities at http://www.falconridgefolk.com/directions.html. If you're not on the web and can't figure out how to get there, drop Carl a line and he can help out.
Food: There's a great variety for sale at reasonable (for a festival) prices. See also the tips below.
Clothing: Be prepared for hot, hot days and cool nights (like a light sweater or even more). And don't assume it won't rain. Anything can happen in the Berkshires. If you burn easily, a lightweight long-sleeved shirt or two will stand you in good stead.
Showers: If you're camping, don't count on a shower as a daily ritual. There are (I think) four of 'em, typically cold, shared by the millions of sweaty festival-goers. But see swimming, below.
Swimming: Bring a bathing suit! The most fantastic respite from the heat is a state park nearby with a quarry for swimming. The water is deep and cold and in the middle of one of those days, you just may be willing to miss a performance or two to dive into those waters. Don't worry, you'll see lots of others wearing the wristbands! There's also a swimming hole in a creek even closer by than the quarry.
And here are a variety of miscellaneous tips:
- Bring sunscreen and a hat. Use them. Maybe even a long-sleeved shirt: There's virtually no shade, and you'll be out in the sun for three days straight.
- Try very very hard to arrive by noon on Friday; that's when the best new artist showcase I've seen at any festival starts. 26 artists doing two songs apiece - and boy do they move 'em through there! The most popular showcase artists in the post-festival survey get a mainstage set next year.
- Bring bottled water. Drink it. Get some more. Drink it. There are water trucks on-site, so you can refill your bottles any time. Be prepared to wait, as this is a popular pastime.
- Bring a chair or blanket to sit on, both during the day at the mainstage and in the evening under the BOT. During the day, the lower the better (so you don't have to sit in the way back to avoid blocking other people's view). The Planet Bluegrass rule works well here: If you can roll a basketball under it, you might want to reconsider. At night, you don't want to be too comfortable, or by Saturday night you'll probably drift off ...
- Ear plugs can be great both if you end up in front of the speakers and if you want to take a snooze while folks are playing outside your front door, under the BOT.
- Bring sunscreen. And a hat. And water. Use them all.
- Bring a tarp for your tent - the grass is long, sharp, and tough, so a tarp is to be preferred over a sheet of plastic.
- If you're camping, foods like bagels, fruit, granola bars, boxed juices, cheddar cheese, crackers, and peanut butter work well. Things like milk will be unrecognizable by the end of the first day.
- Lots of grasshoppers, but not many mosquitos.
- Keep a change of clothes in your car (the key word here is DRY). But don't worry, it won't rain. Really. It may pour, but it won't rain.
- Barbara Ginsberg sez: "baby wipes can give you that clean feeling after using those awful portapots!"
- Barbara also sez: "pack along a little bottle of witch hazel and some cotton balls to wipe off your face and pulse points. It's a quick, welcome relief from the heat even if it only lasts a few minutes.
- Have a blast (this one comes last only because it's by far the easiest of the bunch ...)
See you all soon!
-steve "Who the hell is sc?" clark Stephen.Clark@appnet.com