GrassRoots

 GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance 2023 is in the past, and for many it will reign as one of the best.  It was good to be back to the pre-pandemic crowds and vibe, several new food vendors provided great food and the company and music were stellar as always.  It seems like the organization even figured out all the things they need to do to appease the county health department.

 The General Store was a huge hit on the Infield, just as it will be when it gets moved to Greenstar Market.

Seemed like the whole weekend there were parents standing around outside waiting for their kids to pop up in a window or door.  One friend told me if it hadn't been there, his kids would not have lasted an hour at the festival.  But because of it, they were able to stay all day and even visit other stages.

 The pavilion will be a good place to sit in the shade or out of the rain at Greenstar too.

When plywood is so bad it gets rejected by our crew, it becomes a skate park.

Thursday afternoon?  Bubba George.

 Connie and Andy brought the Fry Bread stand out of storage and we had the best set-up ever.  It was stored in their barn for over 20 years, yet Andy and I set it up in less than an hour.  It took longer to get all the pigeon poop off it.  Not surprisingly, it was determined Alan built it as his first project when he moved to Tompkins County.

Thursday evening? Donna the Buffalo.  When the drummer put a hole in the base drum, Jeb and Tara played a duet while it got replaced.  They've anchored Donna for over 30 years.

The Fall Creek Brass Band filled the stage and rocked the Infield.

The whole Hess/Kraskow family was in attendance.  Hannah was born during GrassRoots a hundred years ago.

I didn't get the name of this band, but got what they were putting down.

Something was different in porta-john arrangements this year.  When the wagon went past the walk-through men's urinal, it was possible to wave to all the kids in the upper windows of the wagon who were looking down over the barrier outside the urinal.  I'll point that out when they arrive during set-up next year.

I've been listening to the Mavericks for over thirty years, but this was the first time I saw them.  Raul Malo did not look like I had pictured him.  He looked 30 years older than I expected.

Rising Appalachia made a return and were a treat again.  I met a family from Ithaca at the end of the set who were attending their first GrassRoots and we had a lovely chat about how the festival has changed and stayed the same over three decades.

The next day, I stopped to see how the mural that will go on the side of the General Store was progressing.  The little girl from the family at Rising Appalachia's set was helping paint.  GrassRoots magic.

We've been to 18 GrassRoots together.  Already looking forward to 19.

Sona Jobarteh played an abbreviated set due to health issues, but it was 45 minutes of pure Wow!  She plays the Kora, unheard of for a female.  That's a glass ceiling that was overdue to be shattered.

It's always good to get away from the festival for a bit.  I walked the Rim Trail at Taughannock and slept at home, both twice.  And I finally got to attend one of Marvin's guided tree walks in Smith Woods.  Go there, guide or no.

While on the Rim Trail, I met a group of guys attending a wedding at the Taughannock Inn.  They had no idea there was a music festival a couple miles away.  Looks like they convinced somebody to change the venue.

 As usual, one of the largest crowds of the weekend was for Dakhabrahka.  This was their third appearance.

Gail took up her standard spot, right in front of Marko

 2022

 Alan and I made arrangements for one of my Ukrainian students, her sister and mother to be there for Dakhabrahka.  I didn't connect with them before the set so wasn't sure where they were or if they even made it.  Somehow, as the crowd filed out at the end, Luba spotted me.  Time to go back and meet the band. 

Luba and one of the members display two different styles of traditional Ukrainian clothing.  I was decked out in some of my finest traditional GrassRoots clothing.  I shook Marko's hand and told him he makes my wife cry.  He approved.

 Richie and Rosie doing their Sunday sunset set.  I'm so happy to be a part of all this.

I spent both Saturday and Sunday nights in Mark and Luche's camper.  Pretty nice couch they have in there.  I was a little surprised Donna, or at least Jeb, wasn't still playing at 5:30 when I rode out on my bike Monday.