Folk festival rocks Sisters music fans

Willy Porter displays his prowess in guitar. photo by Lynn Woodward By all standards this year's Sisters Folk Festival was a success. The weather held up (only a few raindrops), the performers were spectacular, the spectators were appreciative, the organizers were organized.

Not much was heard about the couplet or McDonald's. People were too busy shuttling between the venues of the Folk Festival. The focus was on music.

The first performer on Friday, September 10, Chuck Pyle, got the audience in the mood with his mellow, captivating songs. Between songs he kept the audience warm with his stories and jokes ­ often aimed at himself.

The final performance was by Eliza Gilkyson with Jeff Plankenhorn on Dobro and guitar, and her son, Cisco Ryder, on percussion. Gilkyson had already performed earlier on the main stage, at the high school, and had been an instructor at the Songwriting Academy earlier in the week.

In between, world-class musicians performed at the Main Stage, Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill & Saloon, Sisters Athletic Club, Angeline's Bakery, Pine Meadow Village Clubhouse and Depot Deli.

The trio of Greeninger, Vccello and Kai took the prize for most performances. Although the official program listed five separate events for them, they were active behind the scenes all festival long.

By Friday evening, their first performance, they had already appeared at least three times at the schools in Sisters (see related story, page 5).

Saturday had them appearing with Nancy Cassidy at the Depot Deli's Americana Children's Stage and later that day they conducted a workshop at Angeline's Bakery and Cafe.

Perhaps the most energetic performance was turned in by Cape Breton fiddle sensation Natalie MacMaster who opened to a standing-room only crowd Saturday night.

MacMaster's energy and infectious enthusiasm soon spread to the crowd and before long everyone was standing, or at least moving to the beat. Toes were tapping, heads were bobbing, and smiles were everywhere as the audience followed her tireless fiddling and dancing.

The 31-year-old MacMaster first picked up a fiddle at the age of nine and has already earned worldwide recognition for her rollicking fiddle tunes.

She insisted that she and her band play tunes. "Songs are what you sing," she said. "And I don't sing."

A good-natured demonstration of her vocal talent verified that fact.

She is backed up by a talented band with dobro, banjo, mandolin and percussion.

There was a general feeling that the festival "arrived" this year. Many mentioned a high level of energy and the emergence of the Americana Project as a vital part of the event.

Performers and spectators commented on the energy, the welcome by the community and the quality of the performances:

-- "Probably the best run festival we've played at in a long, long time. They have really thought of everything for the performers and for the audience members. It's really well run with a good diversity of music. It's a pleasure."

-- "It's so much better than I ever anticipated. It's the best concert I've been to."

-- "It's just fabulous. I'm absolutely loving it. And Willy Porter, my goodness, the guitar playing coming out of those fingers is just the most phenomenal thing I have ever seen."

"Incredible energy" (Natalie MacMaster).

Sunday morning started with a free Gospel Show presented by the Leah-less Leah Larson Band. It was announced that Larson was in a Spokane, Washington, hospital with complications in the delivery of twins. Chris Stuart joined in to lead the gospel singing.

Later in the day, festival co-founder Jim Cornelius presented a framed Folk Festival poster to co-founder Dick Sandvik, who is retiring from the festival board of directors.

Cornelius related that the festival started in 1995. Originally, he and Sandvik planned to host a chili cook-off with music.

After researching the work involved in a chili cookoff, they decided to do a folk festival instead -- because it would be "easier."

"Rest assured, if we'd known what we were doing in the slightest degree, none of us would be here because we'd have never done it," Cornelius said.

He concluded, "Then a whole bunch of people came on board and said, 'Look, you guys, let us take the wheel.' And it is what it is now and I couldn't be happier with the results."

Sunday afternoon, Jay Howlett of Blah Blah Woof Woof Music, presented the winner of the Breedlove Raffle with a brand new Breedlove Signature Guitar. Performer Willy Porter drew the ticket of David Wells Whitney from Corvallis.

In another Sunday extra, a Deering banjo was presented to 15-year-old Alex Truax, winner of the Deering Banjo Pickin' Contest.

Later, his father revealed that at the age of "nearly" nine, Alex was presented with a discard banjo from a friend. Alex picked up the banjo and started to play -- the beginning of what looks like a promising career.

Alex Truax is a sophomore at the Oregon Episcopal School in Portland and has been a member of a touring band for several years.