"Thunder Rolls" - Another New Song

I've started playing around with a new tune during the folk festival.  Must have got some inspiration from somewhere.  Perhaps it was from the rain on Saturday night, or perhaps it was from the players at the festival.  More likely the latter. 

The new tune is called "Thunder Rolls".  it uses a muted G and C chord throughout to give it a sound of pending drama.  The drama of course is lightning, thunder, and rain.  Lyrically, it isn't a great piece of work, so I don't consider it a complete work.  This may take some time.  I do have lyrics, but they are not what I hope them to be when I'm finished. 

I won't post a sound track of the song until I'm finished and feeling secure about it.  Till then, this is just another song on the pile.   Can't wait to hear what Don and Brian will do with this. 

Edmonton Folk Music Festival

John Rutherford, Mighty Popo, Des Temps Antan, Deep Dark Woods

This girl is with Alpha Yaya Diallo and it is amazing to watch her dance

Tim Robbins

This year I became a newbie volunteer for the Edmonton Folk Fest.  This was the 31st year for the festival and it has grown into one of the best in the world.  Word is the musicians love the festival and want to come here.     Check the web page to see the line up http://www.edmontonfolkfest.org/

One of the great things about this festival is the location.  it is on a ski hill in the City's river valley.  14,000 paying customers cover the site.   Over 2,000 people volunteer to make the festival happen.  Janiva Magness was very thankful to the amazing organization that happens every year and the wonderful job done by the volunteers.  I agree.  Seeing it from the inside this year, it is amazing. 

The crowd that goes to the folk fest are a very seasoned crowd.  They know the music.  They know the routine.  They come prepared for anything.    As can be expected in Edmonton, the weather can change in an hour, so you need to be ready for anything.  Saturday night was no exception.  In the middle of the evening main stage show, there was a deluge of rain.    It is quite a sight to see all the rain gear come out and change the landscape on the hill within seconds.  No one left. It could have rained all night. They would still be there. 

My job was driving shuttle vans for volunteers and performers.   I did drive a few of the performers.  The biggest name that I delivered to the site is Tim Robbins and his band. You know Tim Robbins from the movies - Bull Duram and Shawshank Redemption.  Shawshank is one of my all time favourite movies, so to have one of the stars in that movie in my van, sitting beside me.  Very very cool.  But then he didn't say hi, ask how's it goin, nor did he even say thanks.  I didn't think it was my place to be intrusive either.  so it was a quiet ride.   Many of the other performers did talk along the ride and were very friendly and appreciative for the ride.  But then, they weren't big movie stars either.  they are working musicians and nice people. 

The festival has 7 stages.  6 side stages and the main stage.   During the day, all 6 side stages are active and picking which one to go to is quite difficult.  there is good stuff happening at them all.   Here's a few photos of the performers I did get to see. 

Janiva Magness

Guy Clark

Mary Gautier



At the end of each night the music doesn't stop.  The volunteers and performers head to the after party.  It ends some time after 4 am.  That's when I left.  

Heart of the City Festival

Edmonton is sometimes called "Festival City" because starting in June, there are festivals all summer long. The more famous ones are the Street Performers Festival, Edmonton Folk Festival, Fringe, Heritage Festival, International Blues Festival, and Jazz Festival.   The first festival of the year is the Heart of the City Festival.   The HOTC offers the opportunity for local musicians and artists to show their talents over a two day week-end.  The music ranges all across all genres and must be all original compositions.  Entertainers must work, live, or volunteer in the downtown area of Edmonton.   You can come and listen in to the Festival for free.   All the organizers, entertainers, and artists volunteer their time and it is a great venue to entertain folks who may not have the opportunity to attend the more famous festivals in the City. 

Each year, the organizers hold an audition for musicians.  Just the other day we, the Magpies, were invited to audition.  Hopefully we get accepted to play.  If so, this will be the 3rd consecutive year we play at this festival. 

Over the next two weeks, we'll be working hard to prepare for the audition and then even harder after that to prepare for the Festival.    The Festival takes place on June 4th and 5th in Giovanni Caboto Park, which is located in Little Italy at the corner of 95th St. and 108 Ave

Here's a poor quality sound track with photos from our performance last year.  Song is called Sittin' Here. One that I wrote a couple of years ago and has a bit of a ragtime feel to it.