We just played the Clearwater Folk Festival, the Hudson River Revival started by Pete Seeger decades ago. I was very excited to be included in such a great roster of musicians. My family and I drove up on Saturday morning and settled into our cabin before our show. We played a great set, then hurried over to see Pete singing with a bunch of his friends – Janis Ian, John Gorka, Vance Gilbert, John Hall. It was real loose and sweet. Then Pete got out this huge sledge hammer and started hammerin’ on stage, singing along. I couldn’t quite hear what song it was, but what a sight to behold – 87-year-old Pete, wailin’ a heavy ol’ hunk of steel – I swore I was lookin’ at ol’ John Henry in the flesh!! He finished his set by leading the crowd in a teary-eyed, heavenly version of Amazing Grace – everyone singing along – real slow, swelling up and down, so powerful – just like that hammer!
We hung around for the rest of the day, playing ball by the river with family and friends, having some food…then we happened to hear a band called Peace Train, led by the South African musician Sharon Katz (www.sharonkatz.com ) They had the dance tent jumpin’! Real liberating, joyful and powerful stuff. I definitely recommend seeing them live if you have a chance.
Later, I was hangin’ backstage after we’d bought these cool, real big funky hula hoops. I had three of them in my hands, and just as I put them down to get something to eat, Pete Seeger came over and asked me about them. After seeing him with that hammer, I thought right then and there we’d start hula hoopin’ together! We had a brief but warm chat; I told him that I make music for kids, and that his work has been a big inspiration. You know, kind of dorky but what else do ya say? I kinda wish I asked him if he wanted to play a few songs … he then bounded out of the backstage tent, down a hill and out the main entrance of the festival – disappearing on foot through the cars in the parking lot.
We were pretty bushed by then and returned to our cabin for the night. Our kids haven’t had many camping experiences but they are troopers. We had a few issues like “this mattress is too thin,” “this blanket is itchy,” “it’s too hot,” etc… but the real kicker was the commotion. We were just a few feet away from the cabin filled with members of an Afro-Haitian Drum Ensemble; they were laughin’, telling stories and raisin’ a ruckus. The kids eventually did fall asleep, though, and we dozed off to the wonderful sounds of one of the musicians practicing his little African Thumb piano right outside our window…
We woke up Sunday, Father’s Day, and had some coffee and breakfast at a lodge by the cabins. Very, very warm folks pitchin’ in and helping out. Real nice to wake up to no computer, no TV, no phone, no getting ready for school. My son Gus and I used the communal bathroom – standin’ in line to use the showers and taking a shower with yer son on Father’s Day – it just doesn’t get much better than that!
The first band on the Main stage was the Mammals. I was looking forward to hearing them after catching a few songs on our local NPR station. They were incredible – beautiful, strong, heartfelt, political. Pete Seeger’s grandson plays in the group and sure enough, Pete joined them on stage for a few songs (this time without his hammer!)
We then played our set in 90 degree weather and had a good sweat fest! As a special Father’s Day gift, my daughter Daisy came up and sang backup with Liz and Claudia on “Mama Hug.” A real nice show – saw some old familiar faces, and met some new folks, lots of fine families out there groovin’ with us.
I was cooling out after the show when Claudia came rushing over. She brought us over to a shady tree and there he was, once again, Pete Seeger just sittin’ there with his famous banjo, a smile on his face and a few friends pickin’ and singin’. I felt like I had been transported to another time and place - people calling out songs, and everyone singing along. He led this small group in that other-worldy version of Amazing Grace, then sang a few classics like Down by the Riverside and Michael, Row the Boat Ashore. An incredible, once in a lifetime experience; as Claudia now says when she’s asked about her experience at Clearwater, “Hey, I got to sing with Pete Seeger!!”
I saw Michele Shocked’s set before we had to leave, and that too was incredible. I love her voice, her songs, and all that she gives in her music. To hear a song like “Anchorage” live was truly an inspirational treat.
So that was our Clearwater experience. Hopefully we can get back there next year –The Little Band and I would really love to play a hoppin’ set for families in the Dance Tent! And if we do, you better believe it, we’re bringin’ our hammer!!
