Saturday, September 17, 2011

#23: Hollerfest, 2011

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Hollerfest has been running now for 5 years. Put on the by the King family on their farm, Frog Holler Farm, the festival is an intimate gathering for performers and patrons alike. The music is varied and the atmosphere is congenial. I joined several friends this year, at long last, for the festival weekend and had a wonderful time. I had not planned on doing a podcast for this festival so I apologize for any audio quirks as all I had with me was my iPhone. I think it turned out rather well. My heartfelt thanks to all those who gave me a bit of their time to take part in this podcast. I especially want to thank the bands I recorded under-the-radar as it were. In order that you heard them (I hope):
  1. Applessed Collective
  2. Dorkestra
  3. String Cheese
  4. Frank Allison
  5. Nutshell
  6. Blue Party
  7. Griff's Jams
  8. Isosceles
  9. Natalie Mae
  10. Lac La Belle
  11. Nervous But Excited
  12. Bliss
  13. Creole du Nord
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The cabin is easily 150 years old. It has one large room suitable for a cabin concert that can hold a couple score people in close comfort. An ante-room with a rather soft, probably very old, coach greets you, and along the left wall as you enter is a hall with nocks that contain a desk, shelving, and I think even some cooking stuff. It's definitely a building from the past. With its gas (kerosene?) lanterns you get the eerie light of life before electricity was commonplace. The cabin is utterly without power.

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Just some other views of the grounds at Hollerfest, 2011. Gazing out towards the crowd and the distant campsites from the lengthy line as I wait for dinner on Saturday night. The food is quite good, vegetarian though not necessarily gluton-free. The stage on the right is the small Second Holler stage that frequently hosted smaller and/or quieter groups than the Main stage would. That doesn't mean they were any less enjoyable.