tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852314667078059574.post151735849675579482..comments2023-12-03T09:37:03.572-08:00Comments on Seumas Gagne: Leaving FolklifeSeumas Gagnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10964080562144327910noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852314667078059574.post-62938341930236167762016-05-29T23:15:44.820-07:002016-05-29T23:15:44.820-07:00Folklife has become Bumbershoot Jr. The musical in...Folklife has become Bumbershoot Jr. The musical instrument auctions and the handmade instruments for sale were a big part of my weekends there. Countless hours were spent at the old "Bluegrass Hill" between the Flag Stage and Center House before it was reduced to small patch of grass. And I am guessing the stage you played with the nightmare sound was in the northwest court, because when I last played there several years ago, I could not hear my instrument among the muddy feedback, and had to play by sight and memory for an entire set. Felt like venting, I'm done bitching.tomahawkcountyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05785398760740303410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852314667078059574.post-83795815234694041212015-05-23T13:09:23.989-07:002015-05-23T13:09:23.989-07:00Very well said, Seumas, and very sad as well. Stev...Very well said, Seumas, and very sad as well. Steve and I never get in anymore, and I honestly think that Coventry got in for so long because we happened to be favoured by one of the programmers. If the Maritime Showcase was not bankrolled by someone, it wouldn't be there either. It would be lovely if it could be what it was, but it's a festival that is most definitely NOT for the performer any more. I'm all for finding a paying gig next year.Traepischkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334459582897652434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852314667078059574.post-92010047529541030592015-05-23T10:11:09.259-07:002015-05-23T10:11:09.259-07:00Good on you, Seamus. It's a pretty miserable ...Good on you, Seamus. It's a pretty miserable experience with the focus moving from the music lovers to the market killers. It helps to be young and beautiful (like you). We applied and got in this year, but we are not really looking forward to the crappy sound and abusive stage manager. Maybe if we add African drumming and an electric bass while covering Lady Gaga we might get a good spot between the dreadlocks steel drums and ukilele babes on Saturday afternoon.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04244563844105740031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852314667078059574.post-39566386764980675352015-05-23T09:47:19.531-07:002015-05-23T09:47:19.531-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13200467262883713060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852314667078059574.post-55916240748007587332015-05-23T09:47:18.713-07:002015-05-23T09:47:18.713-07:00In my mind over the years Folklife become more lik...In my mind over the years Folklife become more like bumbershoot, taste of Seattle, etc just like every other SC event filled with food booth and money to be made -but the unique offerings continue to disappear.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13200467262883713060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852314667078059574.post-31886399254962563812015-05-23T08:32:11.783-07:002015-05-23T08:32:11.783-07:00Well said, Seumas. I, too, remember the years that...Well said, Seumas. I, too, remember the years that I spent the whole weekend at Folklife, usually helping Rob Folsom break his sound gear down on Monday night. Things really changed the year they said no tarot readers and refused to let Leon run a booth so the readers could pay the city's precious taxes. The number of stages seems to get smaller every year. I'll go for a day this year to see some friends who were lucky (?) enough to make the cut, see a couple of vendor friends I only see there. But then I'll go home for the rest of the weekend.Sheilagh Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12586102188759913388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852314667078059574.post-55337117105441660062015-05-23T05:20:08.913-07:002015-05-23T05:20:08.913-07:00Sort of a sad story - as usual, well thought out a...Sort of a sad story - as usual, well thought out and well written. But it seems to me that this is a process of most, if not all, festivals. They start out idealistic and energetic with a group of people committed to the idea, they either fizzle or grow, with good and not so good years ... and if they grow, they get too big for their britches. Too often, the soul is sacrificed for survival. What ruins most successful festivals is that they become profitable enough to foster greed, either of money or power, and are used for personal gain of the persons put in charge. Yours lasted longer than most. <br />Sara Waltherynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8852314667078059574.post-67665612254117482092015-05-23T05:04:27.582-07:002015-05-23T05:04:27.582-07:00Damn right and spot on! Thanks for your excellent ...Damn right and spot on! Thanks for your excellent and astute post. <br />And I remember those early days--much fun and comradeship, but no more. Greenmanharperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00254298929152479767noreply@blogger.com