The festival attendees started drifting in early in the afternoon. They came in and out of the shops and walked up and down the streets. By evening, they filled the streets and every available space in front of the Main Stage at The Original, one of the headframes that were used as support to lower miners in cages down the shaft.
The operative word is FUN, and it was invoked by each speaker before the first band came on and brought the crowd what they came for--music and FUN.
Clouds rolled in and briefly baptized the crowd making the organizers a little nervous and they hurried around looking anxious and upset, trying to figure out who they should call to stop the uncooperative weather. But it was gone before they could work up a lather. A few drops of wet would not deter this crowd and umbrellas opened up, just adding color to the sea of color spread out over the hill in front of the stage.
First to kick off the festivities was Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, a bluegrass band full of fast strains of the violin sounding like a train's mournful call and some furious finger picking. Cleveland, blind since birth has been playing since he was four and is a seven-time winner of the Fiddler of the Year Award presented by the Bluegrass Music Association. The first notes were hardly in the air before people were up as close as they could get and moving to the rhythm.
The aromas of the food vendors seasoned the air, exciting the appetite. The selections range from ice cream to something called "monkey meat." I satisfied my hunger pangs with a delicious box of vegan Island Noodles with veggies served by Sopa Noodles.
Next up was the delta blues band Super Chikan & the Fighting Cocks whipping the crowd into a more fevered frenzy.
I headed back down the hill amazed by the changing light playing on the mountains, clouds and buildings. The big Federal building in front of me as I head away from the main stage is where J. Edgar Hoover sent agents for punishment. The irony is they quickly grew to like this post where there was little serious crime and they could spend their idle hours fishing. The light changes so quick and creates a new rapturous tableau every minute, it's hard to resist stopping every 15 steps and taking a new series of photos from every compass point.
The festival is underway and off to a successful start. Tomorrow promises even more FUN as the Family area will be in full swing along with the folk crafts. The bands will all be taking the stage for more performances with many more added to the schedule. Stay tuned for a complete report.
First to kick off the festivities was Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, a bluegrass band full of fast strains of the violin sounding like a train's mournful call and some furious finger picking. Cleveland, blind since birth has been playing since he was four and is a seven-time winner of the Fiddler of the Year Award presented by the Bluegrass Music Association. The first notes were hardly in the air before people were up as close as they could get and moving to the rhythm.
The aromas of the food vendors seasoned the air, exciting the appetite. The selections range from ice cream to something called "monkey meat." I satisfied my hunger pangs with a delicious box of vegan Island Noodles with veggies served by Sopa Noodles.
Next up was the delta blues band Super Chikan & the Fighting Cocks whipping the crowd into a more fevered frenzy.
I headed back down the hill amazed by the changing light playing on the mountains, clouds and buildings. The big Federal building in front of me as I head away from the main stage is where J. Edgar Hoover sent agents for punishment. The irony is they quickly grew to like this post where there was little serious crime and they could spend their idle hours fishing. The light changes so quick and creates a new rapturous tableau every minute, it's hard to resist stopping every 15 steps and taking a new series of photos from every compass point.
The festival is underway and off to a successful start. Tomorrow promises even more FUN as the Family area will be in full swing along with the folk crafts. The bands will all be taking the stage for more performances with many more added to the schedule. Stay tuned for a complete report.
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