Archive for festivals

Falcon Ridge 2011

Just in time for the 2012 festival, I am finally posting images from 2011! It was another grand weekend of music, though also one of oppressive heat so I was not nearly as mobile as I’d have liked to have been. Trying not to fall over in a heat exhausted heap was a challenge. Thankfully, copious amounts of water and Gatorade with able assists from water soaked bandanas and precious time in the shade made a big difference.

John Gorka - Summer's Eve Song Swap FRFF 2011

The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival takes place each year in the Berkshires over the 4th weekend of July. One can always count on a wide range of musical acts covering Americana, folk, bluegrass, blues, Celtic, and more to entertain. And if sleep is not important, music can be found playing somewhere on the grounds literally 24 hours a day, from organized song circles at places like the Budgiedome and Loozer’s Lounge to just people hanging out at their camps, playing and singing whatever strikes them at the moment. I tend to collapse at night and not make it to the song circles.

Aside from the amazing community of people who attend this festival, I love that I can go each year and hear any number of my favorite acts, and always come away with some new discoveries as well. My new fave from 2011 was Spuyten Duyvil. And one of my favorite sets every year is the Sunday morning Gospel Wake Up Call. I’m not a religious person, but I don’t think you have to be one to really enjoy this set. The energy alone is just fantastic. Judging by the number of photos I posted from it, I’d say it was a good one.

Mary Gauthier. Falcon Ridge Folk Festival 2011I took a LOT of photos. I edited a lot out. But I still had a lot remaining to post. So please feel free to wander into the Festivals page and revisit parts of last year’s Falcon Ridge. I never made it to the Dance tent or the Kids tent – hopefully this year. And my fingers are crossed for more moderate weather, no excessive rain or heat. See you on the hill? Meanwhile, enjoy the photos! Will be adding previous years to the Festivals page, too, and of course this year and onward (hopefully in a more timely fashion…)

One more thing… One of my absolute favorite acts closed last year’s festival, Mary Chapin Carpenter. I don’t get to see her as often as I’d like, and get to photograph even less often, so I took full advantage of the opportunity. While highlights of her set are in the Sunday part of the Falcon Ridge 2011 albums, I put a much bigger array of photos into their own album, under 2011 concerts.