Festival served rousing music to Sisters

On its 10th anniversary, the Sisters Folk Festival covered the full gamut of American roots music — and ventured down some unique branches.

At Sunday’s free gospel show, Ruthie Foster, a Texas-based singer-songwriter, introduced one song as gospel reggae.

“Walk into a record store and try to find that,” she said.

Much of the music at the festival defied genre, from The Bills’ mixture of classical music, bluegrass, Celtic and a capella sea chanties to The Subdudes’ gumbo of blues, country, cajun and jazz.

One festival-goer said that The Bills’ set on Friday night was “probably one of the best —maybe the best concert I’ve ever seen.”

The energy was even higher on Saturday night as The Subdudes turned the Village Green tent into a massive dance hall.

Diversity is one of the draws to the festival, according to long-time attendees Terry and Donna Davis. The Portland couple has been to eight folk festivals.

“I don’t come with a huge expectation of one thing,” said Donna. “I just come and get on the ride.”

Terry Davis particularly enjoyed the opportunity to see songwriting legend Steve Gillette perform: “A name I’d seen on songs for years on CDs and I finally got to hear him sing.”

Gillette was an instructor at the Americana Song Academy held at Camp Caldera in the days leading up to the festival. Some 30 songwriters from around the country camped there to share instruction and inspiration from the professionals booked at the festival.

The old pros got as much as they gave.

Ruthie Foster noted that being on the road can turn music into a job. As an instructor at the camp, Foster re-connected with the feelings that led her into a music career.

“Traveling to this area and getting to hang out with these fine folks reminded me that it’s all about being inspired,” she said.

Inspiration is what it’s all about for the Davises, too.

“We’re singer-songwriters and we get inspired,” Donna Davis said. “It’s real folks and that’s what the tradition of folk music is all about — real music by real people.”