Folks flock to Sisters for festival

Sisters played host to some folk music legends and to an array of topnotch regional musicians and storytellers at the Sisters Folk Festival Friday and Saturday, September 27-28.

Large and enthusiastic crowds signaled success for the festival, now in its second year.

The Friday night performance of the festival was predominately a family affair. The audience ranged widely in age, with babies sleeping in, baby carriers or in their parents arms, little children quietly wandering through the aisles, teens chatting together and moms, dads and grandparents enjoying the festivities as they kept an eye on the children.

The performers were mostly local folks, including the Sisters Soundcheck Band and storyteller Susan Strauss.

The evening's featured performer was Texan by way of Tennessee, Guy Clark. He and his son and bass accompanist Travis held the crowd rapt with a laid-back and engaging run through Clark's originals. Clark gave several encores as the crowd shouted out requests and he entertained well past the 10 p.m. closing time.

Songwriters from all over the Northwest and Canada participated in the festival's songwriting contest, won by Glen MacPherson of Corralitos, California, for his tune "Small Town."

After a strong Saturday afternoon performance by an array of Oregon acts, Saturday night's bill drew a capacity crowd of 650 to the school auditorium.

A large contingent of out-of-towners -- some from as far away as Wyoming and Montana--turned out to hear storyteller Raphael Cristy perform as Charles M. Russell and to welcome legendary western singer/songwriter Ian Tyson.

The festival spirit spilled out across Sisters in the wake of the performances, with locals and visiting musicians gathering at Coyote Creek Cafe and the Hotel Sisters for jam sessions that lasted well into the wee hours -- keeping the folks in the folk music.