vfmfmemoryproject

[vfmfmemoryproject]

A 26-year VETERAN VOLUNTEER'S MEMORIES

Beginning with VFMF #2, I'd been an inveterate, constant volunteer with the festival, eagerly waiting for that happy weekend in July every year. My family and friends knew that this yearly festival was my pilgrimage not to be interfered with.

My 26 years were filled with various committees, including Gate, Media Relations, Postering and office work, Admin, Dugg's Angels, and, in the last years, finally proudly coordinating my own committee, the T-Shirt Angels. Staff and committee coordinators, the GM and Artistic Directors got so used to seeing me around that they'd feel free to call on me to pitch in if they found themselves short of person power, and so I'd gladly put in double time working the Gate or running errands for Admin. Working with hundreds of volunteers, coordinators and staff was always a special time reconnecting with these folks, and we all shared the common love of the festival, the music, the artists, and the entire experience of just being there. Music from the most remote regions of the world like Mongolia, South Sea Islands, African, Egyptian and Middle Eastern communities as well as local Canadian artists like Katari Taiko, Sawagi Taiko (with whom I performed  during an amazing afternoon workshop), Ian Tyson and African American groups like Sweet Honey in the Rock, The Linda Tillery group thrilled me (and continues to do so) to the spine. 

Friends and family who would come out to visit me from out of town would be told that this was the time and place where love and respect would override anything negative, that it was the happiest place to find one's own belongings still remaining on the blanket in front of main stage after several hours of abandonment. And people you'd pass by would have smiles on their faces, which compelled everyone to smile and acknowledge one another purposely, to spread goodwill throughout the park. Throngs of gay and lesbian people could congregate at this park and be left alone to happily be themselves without fear of ridicule or harassment.

There was a basic trust between people not easily found in other public gatherings. One year I noticed a little girl on a nearby blanket pathetically trying to scoop out her yogurt with a plastic fork. So I ran as swiftly as I could to our volunteer mess tent and grabbed her a spoon, and gave it to her...her parents returned shortly and noticed this and weren't disturbed that their child would accept something given by a total stranger. Probably it had something to do with the volunteer Tshirt I was wearing.

Spending time in the volunteer/artist food tent was always a highlight for me, and sweet memories of talking with a flirtatious Greek pianist, sitting with Melanie of the Linda Tillery group and humming "My Girl" with her, chit chatting with Heather Bishop and Janis Ian...as special as making small talk with Buffy Ste. Marie in the CD tent. After giving Keola Beamer the Hawaiian "hang ten" sign at the conclusion of his Slack Key Guitar workshop, he smiled and then introduced me to his mother; he certainly lived up to his last name, the personification of the warm Hawaiian Island spirit.

Lining up for the volunteer/artist meals was always an event, getting my ID badge clipped by the smiling clown hostess, bestowing glowing compliments to the kitchen committee people, jokingly harassing Linda the visually impaired coordinator of the Disabled Access Committee about her not eating enough vegetables...through the years, this would become a yearly tradition for us both, my going up to her in the line and muttering in her ear about vegetables and her recognizing my voice immediately and giving me a boisterous laugh.

Decades ago, my brother told me he was planning his wedding for a certain weekend in July, and I simply told him that I couldn't be there for it, as it was the weekend for the Folk Festival, and that if he wanted me to be there, he'd have to choose another weekend. Rather annoyed, he then picked another weekend, and I consented to attend. Unfortunately, the Folk Festival lasted longer than his marriage, which did not surprise me. 

These days I am not able to volunteer, as rheumatoid arthritis has stolen my ability to use my hands and feet effectively and without chronic pain. So every July there is a lump in the pit of my stomach, knowing and seeing all the changes the festival has gone through all these years I've not been able to participate and I try my best to just remember the happy things I was able to experience way back then. And I think, if this new generation of volunteers and audience people are as blown away from being there as I was at the start, then that's a whole lotta more love out there for this special weekend in July. Remind you of the 60s? Well, I'm stuck in the 60s and proud of it! For me, the Festival was the closest thing I've experienced to give me back that fundamental love of music, peace and goodwill.

[vfmfmemoryproject]

Acessible Van meets Accessibility Team Member

We have varied jobs on the Accessibility Team.  When we’re not wrist-banding folks and otherwise directing traffic, we could be called to sign to a distressed hearing impaired fellow or rescue wheelchair occupants stuck in a sand.  But the task on Saturday around noon was different.  We had to break into a van. An alert fester noticed that lights had been left on in a SPARC parking pass on the rear view mirror.  Rightly so, the man making the report worried that a dead battery at the end of the night could result in a kaleidoscope of challenges.  The passenger window was down enough to try to open the door so in broad daylight I started to gain access.  Then along came a Park Ranger. Thinking fast I enlisted his help before he could ask me why I was obviously trying to get into a vehicle I didn’t have keys for.  Lucky for me, and the van owner, this Ranger was awesome! Working together, we were able to pull the window down enough to open the door and quickly turn out the lights.  The Ranger was long gone when the van pulled out of the parking lot just after Cat Empire’s closing show.  I was back on the gate and watched for it to go.  I smiled as he turned on his lights.

[vfmfmemoryproject]

Bob Bossin & a weary volunteer

This was many years ago in the Festival's early days - early 80s I think - can't remember exactly which year. I was a volunteer on the Environment Committee and was trudging out to the bus stop in the dark after spending hours cleaning up cigarette butts, disposable diapers and other such lovely leavings on the grounds of Jericho Park. I was weary and wet (it was one of the rainy festivals).  As I was leaving the park, Bob Bossin came out of th shadows, greeted me and offered to sing me a song in thanks for my efforts. I accepted and he did. I wish I could remember which song but I remember the feeling - a warmer heart and a lighter step on my way to the friends' house where I was staying. Thanks Bob.

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New Pornographers at an afternoon stage in 2016. They're playing an amazing acoustic version of their original song Spanish Techno.

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In 2012, for the 35th anniversary of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, festival goers and artists were encouraged to submit their fond memories of years gone by right here on The Memory project. And you certainly did! We commissioned Veda Hille – singer, songwriter, composer and all-round creative force – to pour over these, and from your words she created The Memory Project.

Some memories are ephemeral – here one moment and gone forever. And it might have been that way with last summer’s Sunday evening performance of Veda Hille & The Memory Choir. The concert was not recorded.

But thanks to Veda Hille, Geoff Berner, Dan Mangan, Patsy Klein, Marta Jaciubek-McKeever, Ford Pier, Martin Walton, Barry Mirochnick, Dawn Pemberton, Doug Kellam, Dylan Rawlyk, Eric Napier, Gráinne Sheridan, Heather Meori, Jennifer Gibson, Kate Henderson, Kelsey Zachary, Lucas Hille, Pietro Sammarco, Rachel Strobl, Robin Anne Grier, Sammy Newton, and Tyler Morgenstern, along with the engineering of Colin Stewart and Mariessa McLead at The Hive, you can hear it again.

As a 35th anniversary gift, all these artists went into the studio this spring and recorded the songs. Now, in the quiet of your own space,  you too can relive those 25 minutes and be reminded of what fantastic artists we have living in our city, and just what an incredible place this weekend is each July.

Having just finished up our 36th year, we invite you all to continue posting any new memories you may have made!

[vfmfmemoryproject]

The Folk Fest Blew My Mind

I was 12 and shy and new to the city still don't know why some cool kids took me under their wing snuck into the folk fest and blew my mind

I was trying to hula hoop if that were the orbit of the sun the universe would end said my friend

(ooo) naked women painted blue danced in the highland fling we sidled into the front row, spat watermelon seeds (ooo finishes) we were dicks it blew my mind it blew my mind

folk fest hit me like a freight train. a fun train. a great train I rode my bike down in the pouring rain everybody in the crowed waved their shoes over their heads and I dreamt about kissing ani like everybody did

in the 80s my parents became socreds so I guess I was a socred then a pretty girl licked the stamp on her wrist pressed it onto my wrist we waltzed into the folk fest it blew my mind

billy bragg, on stage 3, sang the world turned upside down the words to the world turned upside down actually turned my world upside down..... the sin of property we do disdain no man has any right to buy and sell the earth for private gain by theft and murder they took the land now everywhere the walls spring up at their command

it blew my mind it blew my mind

folk fest hit me like a freight train. a fun train. a great train I rode my bike down in the pouring rain everybody in the crowd waved their shoes over their heads and I dreamt about kissing ani like everybody did

I was a 14 year old prairie kid from Saskatchewan made my pilgrimage in 1991 landed at the folk fest it blew my mind it blew my mind it blew my mind

~ Veda Hille and the Memory Choir

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Dear Old Folk Fest

F is for all the fun you gave us O is for topless lesbians   oh!  oh! L is for lucky that we have you K is for keeping it together, together

another F is for freedom and for foolishness and finally a beer tent E is for everybody everywhere enjoying except those who dislike the beer tent S is for Sunday night     oh Sunday night and T is together, together,  together

Oh Folk Fest you are our alma mater in the sense that means “bountiful mother” beautiful beautiful dear Already I look forward to next year.

~ Veda Hille and the Memory Choir

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Famous blue raincoat

During last year's very rainy and muddy folk festival, we went to the Folk Fest shop and bought a plastic raincoat for $5. It was blue, so of course we tore it at the shoulder, and then we sat huddled under it for the remainder of the weekend. That famous blue raincoat now lives in our suitcase and travels everywhere we go - reminding us that good times are possible, even when it rains.

~ Heather Mitchell (Vancouver, BC)

[vfmfmemoryproject]

Family History

Henry in his regalia in the woods (with his Bob Marley t-shirt underneath!) on the walk talking about a photo taken 65 years before - of his grandfather. Henry's family was one of the last Musqueam people to live in the Endowment Lands.

Photo by Heather Hogan

~ Celia Brauer (Vancouver, BC)

[vfmfmemoryproject]

Musqueam Welcome!

The Welcome from the Musqueam people on Friday night at the opening of the Festival. That is Thelma Stogan on the left, Henry Charles, John Stogan Junior drumming and Thelma's daughter Nicole Jack on the right. Thelma's dad Vincent Stogan Sr. used to welcome people to the Festival and Thelma was there as a kid when he did this. Vince Stogan was a well-respected and very knowledgeable elder with the Musqueam people.

Photo by Janine Bandcroft

~ Celia Brauer (Vancouver, BC)

[vfmfmemoryproject]

Musqueam First Nation

Henry Charles is a Musqueam speaker, a Native historian and storyteller. He has great knowledge of stories and is one of 2 speakers left who is fluent in the Musqueam language. He led the First Nations History walks on Saturday and Sunday in the woods behind the Festival and down the west side to the ocean. This is the 2nd year we have done these. I am with the False Creek Watershed Society and spoke about the water, plants and sealife. Henry told stories about the Musqueam people who originally lived in the area for thousands of years. Jericho Beach was originally a village site called "Ee-yulmough".  The first photo shows him drumming and welcoming us at the beginning of the walk near the east gate. He's wearing his tie-dye t-shirt in honour of the Festival!

Photo by Janine Bandcroft

~ Celia Brauer (Vancouver, BC)

[vfmfmemoryproject]

A Real Workshop

1978 - before the evening rain there was still a high grey overcast. In the true tradition of Festival workshops I brought my banjo and sat with Cathy Fink beneath the Stanley Park totems and finally learned how to frail. Thank you Cathy, thank you Gary Cristall and Mitch Podoluk and thank you VFMF

~ Eric Posen (Vancouver, BC)

[vfmfmemoryproject]

Lost & Found Baby pt. 2

Hello Festival Folks,

A friend just sent me a scan of the 2012 festival magazine. I was touched.

I was introduced to the festival by my brother Brent Gibson (there was a tribute to him in your magazine this year).  He lived and breathed the festival, and it was contagious.  At our celebration of his life in April--the festival spirit was there--between the people, the music and the stories.

That is my picture with that beautiful baby on my shoulder(lost and found). That was 1987 and my daughter's first Festival and she loves music too! (it is one of my favourite pictures ever--and I am so happy to see it again--would love to receive a digital copy)

Whenever I listen to Nancy Griffith, Connie Kaldor or Christy Moore I am back at the festival.

I live in Haarlem the Netherlands now------I know I will be back at a Festival one of these years.

Thank you all of you.

~ Shelley Gibson (Haarlem, Netherlands)

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Thanks to that caller

For a few years I lived close to Jericho and as I worked nights and weekends in the movies I could never get a parking spot when I got home. Then one year I was listening to CBC and a guy called in to say how happy he was that he got the chance to see Stan Rogers at the festival before he died. I had just discovered Stan's music and that was it for me.  I have been taking the weekend off and going to the festival ever since. So thanks to that caller and to CBC radio.

~ Leslie Murray (Vancouver, BC)

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[vfmfmemoryproject]