Mountain Music: Old Songs Festival, Atlamont NY

Saturday night concert

For years friends have recommended we experience Old Songs.  Old Songs is in New York so why not put it on our travel route.  A study of the website (http://festival.oldsongs.org/) revealed most of the performers were unknown to us but a few names we recognized.  Perfect!  I want to be inspired by new to me groups.

Are we there yet?

The festival is held at the Altamont Fair Grounds, now this is an amazing fair grounds with old working barns, stalls, and buildings.  How old?  Lets say most of the buildings pre-date 1950 and many back to the late 1800s.  From the fair grounds you can walk a short two blocks downtown or through well manicured Victorian homes of the Village of Altamont

One of the many stalls and barns

We had options... attend the festival by purchasing a ticket or work the festival as volunteers.  You guessed it, we volunteered.  The website listed the team leaders so I contacted them and fortunately Allison had openings on the Stage Manager crew.  What luck, we provided performer assistance, the important 5-minute call, and crowd control.  Allison asked our workshop preferences and did her best to honor those requests.  My biggest problem was deciding which workshops.

Typical festival camping

The festival is organized into 1-1.25 workshops and performances for a total of 120 slots over 2.5 days.  Consider, every hour you move to another  barn or tent to experience music with a different focus. 

Dutch Barn and out building

 One memorable hour was a musical called Old Silver Leg.  The performance related the history of the Dutch in New York and was both entertaining and educational.  Yes, this is one I will long remember.  

Moving between workshop sessions
sessions are held in the barns

The harper in me was happy to work several  performances by Marie Ni Chathassaigh and Chris Newman.  Marie has made her mark in the world of Irish harp and with Chris (guitar) they have expanded far.  To be honest, I hoped to snag a few tips and tricks for Bill and I.

Other high points include a fiddle workshop by George Wilson, Body Percussion by Muteo, the ever evolving Old-Time panel demonstration, and so much more...

Main stage
day and night performances

Each night is a concert featuring the best artists.  How wonderful to sit under the trees as the sun sets in the mountains and the music flows in the twilight.

Monday morning clean-up

Now what are the chances of encountering folkies you know so far from home?  Slim?  But not impossible.  Our buddies Phil and Brenda were there with Phil's Grill, his mobile gourmet kitchen.  The last time we spent time with them was at the Florida Folk Festival.  Then the banjo player sitting next to me in a jam who we met at the Early American Banjo Conference.  Next year we will have a wide circle of friends at the festival!

Lovely grounds for a festival