SO – I do an awful lot of the groundwork for the annual Takoma Park Folk Festival, but when it comes down to it – I still get to do mostly FUN stuff. I mean, I get to book the bands and make pretty envelopes and there’s a lot of organization and a LOT of stress, but when it comes down to it – I really DO mostly do fun stuff. The TRUE heavy lifting is done by others and I shouldn’t take as much pride in what I do as I do… except… that I do.
This is the beginning of the end of Journal entries for a sec though because the work that I DO do is an awful lot of tabbing and pasting and hand work and hard work – and frankly it fucks up my hands. It’s worse this year than it was last year and I think I’m going to actually end up having to take a sort of vacation after the festival to let me hands REST.
I write ALL the folders cause I care. 
Having to move some of the stages indoors means… classrooms. But some of the stages get to stay outdoors. Field Stage taking shape. Grassy Nook beginning to own their space. Hehehe. Setting out alllll the chairs for the World Stage.
The Takoma Park Folk Festival!
Another fabulous year – but the hurricane’s bouncing back-and-forth behaviour chased about half the stages inside. Even though the DAY was pretty clear, any of the stages that relied on grassy nooks… like the Grassy Nook – were hideously muddy and in the case of the Grove Stage, downright dangerous.
In the end, I think all of us organizers sort of looked at one another, kind of hoping for someone ELSE to make the decision, but I think we made the right call. The indoor stages were steamy and over-heated – and since no-one wanted to put blankets down on the wet grass, we didn’t have NEARLY enough chairs for the outside stages – but good times were had.
ilyAIMY takes the Field Stage.
It might be our last time. We HAVE to take a break next year and it’s beginning to feel weird running things AND playing it. We’ll see.
And holy crap – how have I not mentioned this yet? You notice the lack of Sharif on stage there? That’s cause he’s at his wife’s side at this moment, encouraging her through the birthin’ of their new son!
I’m a star. Me and Siobhan O’Brien…
Me and Gordon (new to the festival in 2018, he TRULY did a lot of the heavy lifting this year!)Me and sound deity Art Isaacs. Me and the Field Stage crew – Derek and Julie and Artem. Me and Mark Sylvester.
Hehehe. Bele Bele Rhythm Collective loading in. Bruce Hutton jamming. DON’T encourage his PUNS!!! Annette Wasilik and Siobhan O’Brien sound checking at the indoor Grove Stage. Crafts getting set up. Field Stage kicking off. World Stage. Gabrielle Zwi and Dave Eisner. Every year, we don’t invite the Morris Dancers. Every year, we get Morris Dancers. Crossroads Stage. Huh. Grassy Nook! Juels Bland. Something about Juels’ heart? DON’T ASK ME ABOUT CABLE RAMPS!!!! A soap box for politicians. They were mostly ignored. wtf. Get out. Gordon – glad the day is done.
