Lowell Folk Festival Meet-up? July 21, 2010 7:44 PM Subscribe
My wife and I will be at the Lowell Folk Festival in Lowell, Massachusetts this weekend if anyone else is going and would like to try to say hello.
We are staying at the Radisson in Chelmsford Friday and Saturday night, and will be around most of the day Saturday and Sunday. Of course, we don't know where we'll be at any particular time, but we are definitely planning on seeing De Temps Antan, Beat Ya Feet Kings, the Steep Canyon Rangers, and the Jeff Little Trio at some point during the two days (see the "schedule" link under the "event info" tab in the main link for details). Of course, there's lots more music, ethnic food and people all weekend.
I'll be the 49 year-old white guy with the ill-fitting Hawaiian shirt and shorts, carrying a blue and white polka-dot diaper bag retro-fitted into a carryall. Hope to see you there?!?
We are staying at the Radisson in Chelmsford Friday and Saturday night, and will be around most of the day Saturday and Sunday. Of course, we don't know where we'll be at any particular time, but we are definitely planning on seeing De Temps Antan, Beat Ya Feet Kings, the Steep Canyon Rangers, and the Jeff Little Trio at some point during the two days (see the "schedule" link under the "event info" tab in the main link for details). Of course, there's lots more music, ethnic food and people all weekend.
I'll be the 49 year-old white guy with the ill-fitting Hawaiian shirt and shorts, carrying a blue and white polka-dot diaper bag retro-fitted into a carryall. Hope to see you there?!?
I swear that said "Fork Festival", and for a moment there I was completely dazed, trying to figure out what the hell a fork festival would be like.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 8:23 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 8:23 PM on July 21, 2010
But if I'd planned a few weeks farther ahead, I might have actually had to talk to one of you people!
yeah, I didn't even think about mentioning it on MeFi until tonight, when we were planning out who we wanted to see
posted by yhbc at 8:24 PM on July 21, 2010
yeah, I didn't even think about mentioning it on MeFi until tonight, when we were planning out who we wanted to see
posted by yhbc at 8:24 PM on July 21, 2010
Hmmm, this is interesting and I may want to go...
Am I nuts (or just overtired), or is there a strange lack of ticket purchase/pricing on the site? Surely it can't be free...?
posted by rollbiz at 8:25 PM on July 21, 2010
Am I nuts (or just overtired), or is there a strange lack of ticket purchase/pricing on the site? Surely it can't be free...?
posted by rollbiz at 8:25 PM on July 21, 2010
Sorry, I'm an idiot and just noticed the "FREE!" banner at the top of the main page...Well, in that case I'm definitely interested. Any chance you'd not mind a solo MeFite hanging with you if I can't find anyone else to go?
posted by rollbiz at 8:27 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by rollbiz at 8:27 PM on July 21, 2010
It IS free! It's a combination of your tax dollars at work, grant funding, direct donation, and heavy sponsorship: "The Lowell Folk Festival is presented by Lowell National Historical Park, Lowell Festival Foundation, the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of Lowell, and the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau."
posted by Miko at 8:30 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by Miko at 8:30 PM on July 21, 2010
You will want to bring some cashola for the awesome ethnic foods, though.
posted by Miko at 8:31 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by Miko at 8:31 PM on July 21, 2010
You will want to bring some cashola for the awesome ethnic foods, though.
I'm from Worcester, so I never forget to factor for the awesomeness of ethnic food, trust me... :)
posted by rollbiz at 8:34 PM on July 21, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'm from Worcester, so I never forget to factor for the awesomeness of ethnic food, trust me... :)
posted by rollbiz at 8:34 PM on July 21, 2010 [2 favorites]
rollbiz, memail me for a cell phone number; if you do head in either Saturday or Sunday, give me a call and I'll let you know where we are at any point. I guarantee you will have a good time, even if our paths never do cross.
posted by yhbc at 8:37 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by yhbc at 8:37 PM on July 21, 2010
The Steep Canyon Rangers are totally excellent. If you've never had the pleasure of seeing them live, you should go.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 9:42 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 9:42 PM on July 21, 2010
I used to live in Lowell, up on Mt Washington St. - Larry's Comics was my second home. I will do my damndest to be there with wife and kid in tow, as I happen to have this weekend off.
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:58 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:58 PM on July 21, 2010
what the hell a fork festival would be like.
You can have a rare old tine.
posted by Abiezer at 3:29 AM on July 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
You can have a rare old tine.
posted by Abiezer at 3:29 AM on July 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
trying to figure out what the hell a fork festival would be like
It would be held in Lawrence instead.
posted by yerfatma at 5:29 AM on July 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
It would be held in Lawrence instead.
posted by yerfatma at 5:29 AM on July 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Might try to go on Sunday, when the weather is supposed to be less brutal. If we do, I will wear my MeFi Special Snowflake t-shirt for easy identification in a crowd.
posted by briank at 5:48 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by briank at 5:48 AM on July 22, 2010
guy with the ill-fitting Hawaiian shirt and shorts
Where do you get Hawaiian shorts? Cool!
Unfortunately I have promised my offspring that we'll be at the Stratham Fair this weekend, or I'd be there! Have a great time!
posted by theredpen at 6:29 AM on July 22, 2010
Where do you get Hawaiian shorts? Cool!
Unfortunately I have promised my offspring that we'll be at the Stratham Fair this weekend, or I'd be there! Have a great time!
posted by theredpen at 6:29 AM on July 22, 2010
Hey, we'll be at the Stratham Fair too, on Saturday. If you're good at recognizing MeFites in crowds, say hi!
posted by Miko at 8:00 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by Miko at 8:00 AM on July 22, 2010
Hey Miko, I wish I could recognize you in the crowd -- I'd love to say hello! We're going on Friday, though. Hoping it will be slightly less insane. Probably futile. Have fun!
posted by theredpen at 8:37 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by theredpen at 8:37 AM on July 22, 2010
"Hey Miko, I wish I could recognize you in the crowd"
Just look for a cloud of awesome and rainbows.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 8:45 AM on July 22, 2010
Just look for a cloud of awesome and rainbows.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 8:45 AM on July 22, 2010
i presume miko wears a Press fedora at all times combined with a sensible fuzzy sweater she pushes up around her elbows to scribble on her notepad and also she has a lanyard of some kind. so there you go.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:03 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:03 AM on July 22, 2010
a cloud of awesome and rainbows
Unfortunately/fortunately, the Stratham Fair is just loaded with that stuff. The Press fedora is something I can look for. Or I'll just carry around a plate of beans and see who overthinks it.
posted by theredpen at 9:17 AM on July 22, 2010
Unfortunately/fortunately, the Stratham Fair is just loaded with that stuff. The Press fedora is something I can look for. Or I'll just carry around a plate of beans and see who overthinks it.
posted by theredpen at 9:17 AM on July 22, 2010
Maybe we can compete for the 4H ribbon in bean-overthinking.
posted by Miko at 10:10 AM on July 22, 2010
posted by Miko at 10:10 AM on July 22, 2010
:) I am sorry if that sounded like I think you are a particular beanplater -- not the case at all! -- I was just trying to think of useful, practical ways to identify Mefites in a crowd of NHites!
and that ribbon is mine
posted by theredpen at 11:52 AM on July 22, 2010
and that ribbon is mine
posted by theredpen at 11:52 AM on July 22, 2010
Anyone looking to make a MeFi weekend should also contemplate the other meetup we're having on Saturday which is the only thing keeping me from schlepping down to Lowell. I saw Beausoleil there one year and man it was great. It's theoretically the largest free folk festival in the US. My mom went and took a bunch of photos one year.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:32 PM on July 22, 2010
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:32 PM on July 22, 2010
Go Sunday. I'm going Sunday! Schlep down there for Sunday afternoon. I'll buy the Thai iced tea! (Best southeastern asian cuisine I've had was in Lowell.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:42 PM on July 22, 2010
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:42 PM on July 22, 2010
to identify Mefites in a crowd of NHites!
The absence of NASCAR clothing, smokes or Disney-related sweatshirts. Alternatively, for a true native you could look for a bumper sticker of Calvin peeing on the old Plastic website.
posted by yerfatma at 11:43 AM on July 23, 2010
The absence of NASCAR clothing, smokes or Disney-related sweatshirts. Alternatively, for a true native you could look for a bumper sticker of Calvin peeing on the old Plastic website.
posted by yerfatma at 11:43 AM on July 23, 2010
The fam and I are going to head up there on Sunday also. Looks like Slap*Happy, briank, yhbc, and possibly rollbiz will be there that day, also....
How about if we aim to meet at a specific time/place/act? From the acts yhbc references above, I love the name Beat Ya Feet Kings--they're apparently playing at 1:30 on Sunday at the Dutton Street Dance Pavilion. Maybe the MeFites can find each other there?
What could be finer than beatin' ya feet and shakin' ya booty with some fine folks from Metafilter?
posted by Sublimity at 6:24 PM on July 23, 2010
How about if we aim to meet at a specific time/place/act? From the acts yhbc references above, I love the name Beat Ya Feet Kings--they're apparently playing at 1:30 on Sunday at the Dutton Street Dance Pavilion. Maybe the MeFites can find each other there?
What could be finer than beatin' ya feet and shakin' ya booty with some fine folks from Metafilter?
posted by Sublimity at 6:24 PM on July 23, 2010
Late edit - may not be there after all. Wife does not like crowds, and gets double antsy when baby is involved. I lean something new everyday - will probably be at Sachuest Point in Middletown, RI, in that event.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:59 PM on July 24, 2010
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:59 PM on July 24, 2010
Back now; both days were great, but didn't meet any MeFites. Next year, in Jerusalem! (by which, of course, I mean I will make a concerted effort to let everyone know in advance, because it is a thing that a lot of folks would really, really, like and it would be nice to do it as a semi-group as well)
posted by yhbc at 8:05 PM on July 25, 2010
posted by yhbc at 8:05 PM on July 25, 2010
Yes, another year, with advance notice, I think it would be a really fun place to meet up. Something for everyone!
posted by Miko at 8:13 PM on July 25, 2010
posted by Miko at 8:13 PM on July 25, 2010
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I do hope people take you up on it. THat's a sleeper of a festival - totally unique, and fun. I've been hoping to put together a post about the history of the National Folk Festival, of which this is one outgrowth, but there aren't very many good links to online archives or visuals dating back very far. Anyway, have fun!
posted by Miko at 8:20 PM on July 21, 2010