Folk festival offers rousing good time

The Nashville Bluegrass Band headlined this year's Sisters Folk Festival.

More than 1,000 roots music fans and musicians descended on Sisters last weekend for the three-day Sisters Folk Festival.

The festival lived up to its "blues to bluegrass" motto, providing a diverse musical palette.

"Every festival has a new discovery," said banjo player Peter Heithoff of the local trio The Haymakers.

"Someone new we can learn from. Although it will take us several lifetimes to catch up to The Waybacks!"

"And we get a chance to reconnect with old discoveries," added guitar player Patrick Lombardi. Embracing the new and connecting with the past was the theme that seemed to flow through this year's Folk Festival.

Jim Cornelius opened the Friday evening session at the Main Stage with a tribute to the late Dave Carter.

Carter, who had performed at the Folk Festival many times with his partner Tracy Grammer, died of a heart attack last July at the age of 49.

"Dave wasn't scared to go," said Cornelius. "It was just another adventure, another step on his journey."

Many in the audience wept openly as Carter's haunting tune, "When I Go," played over the sound system.

Carter's presence and talent were missed at this year's event, but, as he would have wanted it, the festival carried on.

Chris Smither, a foot-stomping, finger-picking blues musician from Boston, received an enthusiastic standing ovation after his rollicking performance.

He was followed by The Waybacks, a versatile five-piece string band whose style veered wildly from Texas swing to bluegrass to Celtic.

"They kind of remind me of a folk version of the Grateful Dead," commented one listener.

Tom Prasada-Rao and Brad Tisdel perform.

Besides the events going on at the Main Stage, other concerts, workshops, and the songwriter's contest were held at various locations throughout Sisters.

Pointers on song writing, banjo picking, or fiddle playing could be gleaned at the Sisters Athletic Club or the Pine Meadow Clubhouse.

Open mike performances could be enjoyed at Angeline's Bakery.

The songwriting contest finalists performed Saturday afternoon at Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill and Saloon.

The six performers each had 15 minutes to persuade the packed crowd -- and the three judges -- that they deserved to win.

"We drove over from Portland this morning to hear Katie Cavanaugh play," said Robert Muth, Cavanaugh's son-in-law. Cavanaugh's daughter, Chelsea, and grandsons, Logan, age five, and Ayden, six months, also came to cheer her on.

"Logan has his own guitar and Mema (Cavanaugh) gave him his own handmade heart-shaped pick holder," said Muth. "Logan loves to hear his Mema play."

So did the audience, in response to Cavanaugh's three Irish-flavored songs.

Songwriting contest winner Christopher Smith from San Anselmo, California.

But the competition was fierce, and in the end, second-time finalist Chris Smith took the $500 prize and a chance to perform at the Main Stage Saturday evening.

Smith, who teaches kindergarten in San Anselmo, Calif., has been writing songs since he was 16.

But he's quick to point out that his talent has slowly evolved.

"I sucked for many years, though," Smith admitted.

"I improved my skills by going to song writing schools like the one you had here (see related story).

"My advice to other songwriters is this: Just keep sending them in. I wasn't accepted so many times. Oh, and speak your own truth."

Smith got his chance to strut his stuff on the Main Stage Saturday evening, following an incredible performance by Tom Prasada-Rao and friends.

Prasada-Rao, whose parents come from India and Ethiopia, brought an ethnic flair to the festival.

"I'm one of those starving millions you had to eat all your peas for," he told the audience. "I want to thank you all for cleaning your plate!"

Slaid Cleaves and the Nashville Bluegrass Band finished off Saturday night at the Main Stage.

Sunday kicked off with a free Gospel concert at the Main Stage. Garret and Wescott, David Jacob-Strain, and Misty River were just a few of the performers who took the stage throughout the day.

Even some of the Americana Project students got to share their music.

"For me, one of the highlights was the Americana students' performances," said Rima Givot, a teacher at Sisters High School.

"Ben Scharf had a great song -- and Kerani (Mitchell) really expressed her heart."

Before the festival's final act -- a last performance by the Nashville Bluegrass Band -- a $3,800 Breedlove Focus guitar was raffled off.

Tickets had been selling at five dollars each, or three for ten dollars, throughout the weekend.

Local patron Gary Miller got the winning draw.

"I love this Folk Festival!" he announced to the crowd as he claimed his prize.

After the last song was played, and instruments packed up and carried away, many folk music fans were already making plans to attend next year's festival, which will be held the second weekend in September.