Tour Update #1- Woodford Folk Festival

Festivals are an entirely different world.  People come to lose themselves in the atmosphere, to be whoever they want to be apart from normal societal expectations.   Woodford is a week-long festival, which means that we’re basically living in an alternate universe for 6 days.  And what a universe it is!

People here jaunt around dressed up in fairy wings and lively tattered colors, elaborate feathered headdresses and facepaint, and sometimes, near to nothing at all.  Everyone is bright, and happy, and friendly, and silly, and ridiculous, and… open.  No odd glances if you just walk up to a group and start talking to them… people expect it.  People share food, and drugs, and hope, and love freely and joyfully.  If you’ve never been to a festival, a renaissance faire, a circus, you just won’t understand what I’m talking about, the excitement you get as you enter the boundary between your world and this one, and how things that normally matter, all the little bits of stress and mundane idiocy that perch on your shoulders and build up and nag you daily, just melt away.  You’re not in your life anymore, you’re a citizen of the festival.  We are Woodfordians.

I have had the undeserved honor of attending Woodford as an artist, one of the people who entertains the masses.  I have performed twice so far, and somehow, my first ever actual performance with the Rhythm Hunters (open rehearsals aside) ended up being in the Chai Tent this past Tuesday morning at 12:20am in front of 500+ people.  I didn’t deserve to be up there.  It’s not that I made many mistakes, but that I’ve only been working with the Rhythm Hunters since June, and had no hand in building the group up to the point where they have become worthy of Woodford (or any festival they might desire to perform at).  However, I am deeply grateful that I was allowed the opportunity to perform, and fulfill the dream I’ve had since I first saw them at The Dreaming.  What a reward, to be able to first perform with them in the site where I initially fell in love.

The night was fantastic.  We rocked the tent, and in a place where people normally lounge and sleep and sit on the floor, we had at least 400 people dancing in front of us, with utter adoration and support.  Beforehand, I was terrified.  Afterwards, I was ebullient.  Today, I am… sore.  It’s hard work, Ladoai, but so much fun and so utterly, utterly worth it.  We had a few people come up to us after the show and tell us that we were the best act they’d seen, which is a huge honor, as this festival is also hosting the likes of John Butler Trio and Kaki King.

Of course, I’ve been terribly spoiled now… Coming to a festival as an artist, I’ve been taken care of extraordinarily well.  Hot showers with good water pressure, free tea and water, an hour of internet access per day, people to dig ditches around our campsite for the tumultuous downpours of rain that have interspersed the hot day… The best part is being able to watch a show from backstage if there are too many people in front.  I will be even more spoiled after tomorrow night, when we perform in front of 15,000+ people counting down to the New Year.  I am not worthy of this yet, but accept and marvel at it with full humility.  It helps that I am faceless once I leave the stage; no one recognizes individuals from The Rhythm Hunters unless they’re looking out for us specifically… as a group, especially one so adaptable as the Hunters, the individual identities are far less important than the movement and music of the whole, so that our recognition is through the stability and coordination of our rhythms.  Any and all of us are replaceable, and probably will be at some point, through injury or choice.  It remains to be seen what will happen after Woodford; how the group will take off (if it takes off), what people will want from us.  I am just deliriously happy that I get to be a part of all of it.  We have an amazing opportunity in front of us… How did I get so lucky?  What are the odds that my life would work out just like this?  I am amazed and in awe of the universe.  There is nothing but potential in front of me.  May I work hard to deserve it and shape it.  This new year, my resolution is to be the person who is worth all of the luck I’ve had thrown at me.  I’ve got tall boots to fill, but I go into it with eyes fully open, arms wide, and with great love in my heart.  Let 2010 begin!

image courtesy Alexander Ross

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