August 23-25, 2002
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I was only able to attend for Saturday, but couldn't miss performances by Richard Thompson. Thompson, from Britain, has been around since the 1960s, when he was a member of the folk group Fairport Convention. Since then, he has gone through many phases, including a period in the 1970s and '80s when he played with his ex-wife Linda Thompson.
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Colin Linden is an outstanding blues
player, who has also participated in the Willie P. Bennett tribute group
Blackie and the Rodeo Kinds, and was part of the "Down from the
Mountain" tour of music from the film "O Brother Where Art
Thou."
Linden commented that when "Down from the Mountain" performed during Ottawa's Bluesfest in July, he was the token blues man among traditional country and bluegrass performers. Ottawa's Bluesfest is most noteworthy for its non-blues performers. I caught Linden's solo show, when he replaced the absent Oscar Lopez, but missed his mainstage show (Friday) with the other Colin -- Colin James. |
| Mad Violet is a celtic-influenced folk duo consisting of Lisa MacIsaac and Brenley MacEachern. Lisa (left) is Ashley's sister. |  |
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Garnet Rogers (left) is a prolific and
talented folksinger and guitarist. His style is quite distinct from that
of his late brother, Stan Rogers.
At right is Bill Morrissey. |
| I caught Richard Thompson's
performance of a few songs at a workshop Saturday afternoon, but for me
the festival highlight was his Saturday night main stage show.
Although Thompson's CDs often feature a more electric sound, he is amazing on acoustic guitar, which he played solo. It was hard at times to believe it was just one guitar, as he banged out several rhythms simultaneously. Besides being a master guitarist, Thompson is also a brilliant songwriter. His songs are often dark and sometimes bitter, but they include incisive stories about human nature. |
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Thompson's performance included a mix
of old classics, some from his 1999 Mock Tudor CD, and some new ones.
He was brought back for an encore with a standing ovation, and would have played even longer if the audience had its way. |
© 2002 Richard McGuire: digital photos, text & design.