6SNCTVKW
A few weeks ago, I got an invitation to come on the News at Noon show at CTV in Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario from the host, Nancy Richards. In spite of some real efforts there in recent months, I still haven't managed to pull together any kind of event in KW - in spite of the fact that the whole history of the project is deeply connected to the city by means of the donation from Research In Motion's Mike Lazaridis that made the whole project possible to begin with. So, since I had a car rented for Mariposa this past weekend, and since I was looking to make a direct appeal to the people of KW, I figured this would be a great opportunity. I thought it went pretty well. Click to watch.
Also worth mentioning is that before we went on the air, the receptionist brought in a KW bus driver who had recognized my distinctive taxicab yellow Calton Case as I walked into the building and came to see the guitar on his lunch hour. Good to know that KW bus drivers have such eagle eyes! Thanks Steve!
Thanks to Nancy Richards, Laura Archibald and the producers and staff at CTV in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Posted at 11:37 PM
A Magnificent Mariposa Milestone
In August of 1961, an Orillia Ontario housewife named Ruth Jones - with help from husband Crawford, brother David and other friends and volunteers - launched the very first folk festival in her hometown and named it after the shadow-town projected onto real-life Orillia by the legendary Canadian humourist, Stephen Leacock. The Mariposa Folk Festival would become a legend itself, launching many careers, generating mountains of controversy and wandering the Ontario landscape looking for a permanent home for many years.
On December 4th, 2009 - Ruth Jones McVeigh introduced herself to me before a presentation at the Ottawa Folklore Centre. I knew her by name but we'd never met. She let me know how much she loved the Six String Nation project and that she would do everything she could to make sure we were part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. I don't know all the politics behind it, but I do know that Ruth - with help from re-appointed board president Christopher Lusty, Artistic Director Mike Hill and others - kept her word and got her wish this weekend. I can't tell you what an honour it was to be included.
I was invited to do a shortened version of my presentation on the main stage on Friday night just before Jason Collett's headlining slot. The wonderful and gentlemanly Rick Fines graciously agreed to bring Voyageur to life at the end of my presentation as a sample of our thousands of portraits lit up the giant screen at stage right. As a result, we had solid lineups all day Saturday and Sunday at our portrait booth. Keep your eye on our Flickr site for when the Mariposa portraits are posted. Folks who dropped by for a picture included Kevin Laliberte, Dave Borins, Andy Barrie and Michael Enright - not to mention the woman who started it all - Ruth McVeigh.
I took a little time out from portraits on Sunday to do a Q&A in the nearby "Classroom Tent". Much to my surprise, the place packed out and a local artist who was otherwise only at the festival as an audience member graced us with a song.
I saw many other friends at the festival as well - from Suzie Vinnick to Serena Ryder to Shelagh Rogers to Michael Johnson to Lynn Miles to Craig Werth to Mike Ford to Katharine Partridge - but it wasn't until I was heading home that I bumped into Dave Gunning (pictured) in the parking lot of the Highwayman Inn after dropping off my keys at the front desk. Dave is someone I've been dying to hear playing his extraordinary storytelling songs on Voyageur for years and it looks like we'll have the chance in October in St. Thomas Ontario. More details to follow.
Thanks to Ruth, Lusty, Mike, Amy, Pam, Taz, Rick & Suzie, Kirsten and our wonderful volunteer Sailor Pete.
Posted at 10:43 AM