The following article appears in the Sept.-Nov. '98 issue of FolkNotes.

Kate Wolf Memorial Musical Festival: The Songs of a Lifetime

By Scott Strickland

About a year ago I read about a song Greg Brown had written over hamburgers and milkshakes one Saturday night. It was called "Kate Wolf's Guitar," and he composed it with Nina Gerber, the gifted instrumentalist and owner of Kate Wolf's last guitar, during the second annual Kate Wolf Festival on June 27-28 in Sonoma County California. Then around the first of the year, I learned that the web site for this year's festival had just been completed. With the talent line-up the opportunity was too good to pass, and Dee Schmoyer and I began making plans to attend.

The festival site resembles Falcon Ridge in form, but it is a winery in real life instead of a farm. Moreover, it is much smaller than the Hillsdale location, and there is no camping and no facility for night time performances. So at the end of the day, we all went our separate ways. If I have a criticism, that is the only feeble one I can muster. At any rate, the festival was top to bottom a wonderful experience, and I would recommend it without qualification. Saturday's stage was MC'ed by Utah Phillips and opened by the local old time band the Rincon Ramblers. They were followed by Sarah Elizabeth Campbell and the Cyrus Clark Band. But the real first "bang" of the weekend came from Canadian singer-songwriter Jennifer Berezen. Her set was out of sight, and she reminded me of Lynn Miles, another super talent from north of the border. Ramblin' Jack Elliot followed with a performance that might just as well have been phoned in for all the enthusiasm he conveyed. Fortunately, Laurie Lewis wowed the crowd with her singing, story telling and instrumental virtuosity. She was followed by Greg Brown. Then the day was closed by Nanci Griffith and her entire Blue Moon Orchestra. The day was beyond description. Sitting in the sun was hot but not uncomfortable; if it became too much, the shade dropped the temperature by a good 20 degrees. And all the while, as if Kate herself had planned it from her celestial home, hawks rode the thermals cast off by the grape vines and the folk music crowd. It was as if the whole event was taking place in poetic time.

Sunday started with a San Francisco-ish fog, but by 11 AM, it was burned off and we faced another beautiful day. Wavy Gravy of Woodstock fame MC'd and disrupted as much as he could get away with--that is, as much as any hefty hippie in his 60s wearing a one-piece red and white striped lycra suit could. Again the music was a mix of local northern California talent with national reputations--Barbara Higbie and the Cache Valley Drifters were most memorable. Then the more well-known folks followed. Cheryl Wheeler did a wonderful set and captured the crowd's admiration. She was followed by Guy Clark who did a set that included all of my favorites. What a devilishly handsome man he is, too; I bet it's gotten him both in and out of trouble all his life. Utah Phillips and Rosalie Sorrels came next and they were all that I had hoped for. Rosalie is recovering from breast cancer surgery and treatment, but her voice was as strong and beautiful as I've ever heard it - God bless her and carry her to full health and many long years of music and celebration. Greg Brown was their successor and he did what only Greg Brown can do. I don't think there is a songwriter who can compare in artistry and productivity. Then the day was closed by Ferron and Terry Garthwaite.

Everything about the festival was first-rate. It was closely managed so that the music was completed by evening, and cars were moved out in the most friendly efficiency. Food was great and all the vendors, mostly devoted to causes consistent with the life Kate lived, were interesting. It was a weekend I'll never forget. Dee and I then spent the week driving back south to LA and taking in everything from Point Reyes to Olivera Street, but that's another story. We'll do it again next year, though, and see what's north of Sebastopol this time. Anyone want to join us?

This page maintained by Dana Cooke. E-mail me at djcooke@aiusa.com.