2009 Richmond Folk Festival
The government of the City of Richmond is criticized heavily, some deserved, some not. Now, after three years of hosting the National Folk Festival and two years of replicating it in the Richmond Folk Festival, the city can proudly proclaim a smashing success.
This year's Richmond Folk Festival was the second version of the local spinoff from the National Event. From Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11, the area around the Tredegar Iron Works and Brown's Island was filled with the melodious and rhythmic sounds of roots music from the corners of the United States and from countries around the world.
The western music of Wylie Gustafson and his Wild West came from Montana; Jeffrey Broussard and the Zydeco Cowboys brought Louisiana music; Swamp Dogg dished out Virginia rhythm and blues, and Paul Williams and the Victory Trio wowed crowds with bluegrass gospel. From around the world there was La Gran Banda from Colombia, the Irish music of Martin HAYES and Dennis Cahill, the Jamaican reggae of Clinton Fearson and the Boogie Brown Band; Korean Dance by Sounds of Korea, and Puerto Rican bomba from Puerto Rico by Jorge Negron's Master Bomba Ensemble. From Kenya was the rumba and soucous Samba Mapangala and Orchestra Virunga. From the streets of Washington, D.C. came Trouble Funk and their bass-laden rhythms that had the jam-packed dance pavilion swinging and swaying in one giant mass.
The three days of music and music workshops was a musicologist's dream and everyone's time out from the day-to-day. Dedicated fans block out all other events for these three days and ensconce themselves in front of one of the several stages or in the dance pavilion to see and hear their favorites and some newfound musical treasures.
The wonder is seeing masses of people of all sizes, ages, colors tuned to the same cheerful vibes that float like a cloud above the gathering. A feeling of unity of people of community pervades and makes the shared experience all the more precious.
May the Richmond Folk Festival live on year after year and remind us of our commonality and the power of diversity.
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