REVIEWS
I took my kids to the festival for the first time this year and was impressed by all the talent and performances that we saw. The variety of acts was amazing and it was very "kid friendly". I was only able to attend on Saturday and Sunday nights and regret now that I didn't by a weekend pass and go on Friday as well. We rushed down on Saturday afternoon to catch the Accordian Revolution and it was a great treat for the kids to see a world record being made. On Saturday night we were impressed by the variety of entertainment and I was thrilled to see Mopaya and enjoy all the dancing in the crowds. The fiddle player from PEI was also very impressive. We also loved The Fousty Toutons (for the music as well as the name) and it was great to see them get the crowd going too. I am glad that the kids were able to see Mary Jane Lamond and get exposed to some of their Celtic heritage and I personally enjoyed the young talented performers I had not seen before, of which my favourite was the Janet Cull Trio. I will be back next year and am already listening to all the great CD's that I bought. Thanks for all the hard work you must have put in, trust me it was well worth it.
Keep up the good work,
Donna McCarthy, St. John's
It really was a great festival. St John's and the festival in particular almost seems to restore your faith in humanity - truly amazing and unique talent at every level. I keep thinking about the kids stage, usually a festival might have a clown or face-painting - not this show. It was jam packed all weekend with mindblowing performances from the kids themselves. For me that sums up the experience. Amazing artists and genuine people I was really honoured to play it.
- Mike Stevens, harmonica player extraordinare, Bright's Grove, Ontario
What a national gem is the Newfoundland-Labrador Folk Festival! What a festive cornacopia of activity - fabulous traditional music performed by an array of brilliantly talented musicians from across the province and beyond...riveting workshops illuminating the fine art of harmony, instrumentation and vocal prowess. Indeed, the sun "did split the rocks and the sun did boil the bays" - a spectacular festival not to be missed and I should know...this was my sixth in a row and counting.
But if you really want to capture the spirit, VOLUNTEER! Thanks to Stan Picket who "volunteered me", I had the time of my life slinging beer and selling festival tickets at the front gate...what a wonderful way to meet and make new friends and be part of the action. And the closing night at the Ship Inn - now there's a blast if ever there was one! I'm sure that Andrew, Stan, a bunch of others and I were the last ones out to greet the light of day and head for breakfast at the Classic Café - what a grand finale to a wonderful grand music festival!
Now that I think about it, that wasn't the end. Todd Pynn, who barely knew me, having found me as a recruit in his beer tent on Saturday night, very graciously dragged me off Water Street and into Erin's Pub a few days later to a party being held in honour of one of the departing volunteers. Now I ask you, does a festival get any better than this? Finer people are not to be found....ANYWHERE!!!
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Ron Moores, CKCU Radio, Ottawa, Ontario
I just wanted to send a quick note to say how very much my husband and I enjoyed the 2003 Folk Music Festival. We were lucky enough to hear some incredible performers and we came back to New York with enough cds's to hold us until next year's festival. The music, the atmosphere, the warm and friendly people made this a memorable experience for us and we are already planning next year's trip.
Again, thanks for the music and the memiories. See you next year!
- Nancy and Nathan Feldman, New York
