Home County Folk Festival...The Original

This past weekend was a weekend of renewing old friendships. Starting Friday with a 25th wedding anniversary of my good friends "Crow" and Sandy (followed by a local performance by Sean and Kevin Graham et al at the local), followed by a Saturday 60th birthday bonanza for my long time mate Jim Graham. Many familiar faces, known smiles and recognized laughs all gathered for 2 nights of long time,no see...what's up with life...so good to see you...remember when good times. Saturday night's festivities even had a flash from the past performance of local favorites Backstreet Jimmy (Larry Dingman, Wayne Ross, James Brown and Louie Santandrea, along with Stratford's very own Garth Logan and St. Mary's harpist (mouth harp, that is) Chris Campbell), playing as if they hadn't missed a note since they went separate ways at the dawn of the 90's. A perfect and ideal segueway into the relaxed and warm atmosphere of the 36th annual Home County Folk Festival in London's Victoria Park, whose welcoming atmosphere I hadn't felt in years either.
Started in 1973 as a fest for local folkies and their Leary inpired, intellectually free fans, the festival is still going strong and, although the sweet smell of pot inspired conversation has given way to a much more sanitized family atmosphere, the music and essence at the heart of the festival still beats strong. With the likes of Joel Plaskett, Jill Barber, Elliot Brood, Connie Caldor, personal favorite and moving lyricist Katherine Wheatley, local harmonica master Jory Nash, The Dixie Flyers, must see discovery Madison Violet, crowd pleaser Danny Michel and Canadian Legend Murray McLaughlin, most performances, with the exception of the 2 club shows, not costing more than a voluntary donation.
This year's festivities were bittersweet with the passing of long-time regular performer Jackie Washington who passed away only 3 weeks before the stage lights turned on in the park band shell. His spirit was felt throughout the performers who knew and played alongside him and when the sun broke through Sunday evening and painted the park in all it's rich and familiar glow, it was as if Jackie was giving his approval as another year of Home County drew to a close. As I wandered the green space, watching the children play, the teens enjoying a moment of beautiful urgency, the regulars sharing welcoming hugs all coloured with the sweet sounds of an acoustic palate, I certainly felt I was HOME:-)

http://www.homecounty.ca/index.php




...one of the best low budget videos ever made...and a GREAT song to boot...