Back to the Heron

 

  I had a bittersweet return to the Great Blue Heron Festival for a few hours this year.  I went to attend the memorial for David Tidquist, who was a co-founder of the festival with Julie.  He had the music promotion background and she had the property.  It was a perfect match that has kept festival-goers happy for over 30 years.  I met David at the first GrassRoots when he was "managing" 10,000 Maniacs and my neighbor introduced us.  He badgered me for the next few years to get back to Chautauqua County and I finally made it and became part of the organization for a little more than 25 years.

    David was a sign painter in addition to promoting music.  He always created hand-drawn posters for his shows.  All the musicians who spoke mentioned his generosity and support.  He booked Rusted Root for their first gig outside of Pittsburgh, and they really got a boost when they played at the Heron to bigger crowds.  He also had Lake Street Dive at the fest before many people had heard of them, and Old Crow Medicine Show, and the Avett Brothers, as well as being loyal and devoted to bands such as Donna The Buffalo.

  David was so much more than a sign painter, his ability to draw showed the true artist.  Many of his pencil, ink and charcoal drawings were set out for people to get a good look at, and it was heard over-and-over: I can't believe that's not a photo.  I wasn't really aware of this side of him, and always thought the Don Knotts picture on GrassRoots Security shirts was a picture, but no, it was a drawing he did.  Someone mentioned it took him just a few minutes.

  We're going to miss him, but those of us who love music and these festivals will have his spirit guiding us every day. 

 

    I had places to go, and things to do, but stuck around the grounds for a few hours after our moment dedicated to David.  Just like when he was bringing bands that gave the festival a celebratory vibe, the Heron is keeping it going.  The Rumble is a funk/ every other genre band from New Orleans I really enjoyed before heading out.

 

  Barbie and Dave, a couple friends from the Heron and GR from West Virginia who had a lot to do with both festivals succeeding had twins and those babies were the off-stage stars quite awhile ago.  Glad to say Gabe and Kemp are still stars, and handy to have around as they can put together or fix anything.

  

  Julie is seemingly ageless, and she has an admirable way of dealing with all the issues that go along with having many thousand guests on your property.  Here she was examining the schedule to figure out the best time to do the dedication of the main stage as David's Stage.

  

  Most of the guys from a West Virginia band that have played there for decades aren't making it anymore, but their kids are, and they joined in the jam session hosted by Fred, Allison, and Justine.  We had some memorable jams in the Orange Lot over the years and it was sweet to join them again for a couple hours.

   David always wanted old-time music to be at the heart of the festival, so after the memorial Tiger Maple String Band hosted an open jam by the stage that bares their name.  What a treat to sit between Fred and Shane McManus, son of the legendary Keith, another stalwart of old-time music.  In between songs, Shane told me this story.  Glad he was there to tell it, and sing and pick a few tunes.