10:00 a.m.: A man named Bill opens the Make a Joyful Noise workshop with a slow burning cover of “Lord of the Dance,” which is so slow that, for the first time in my life, I realize it’s actually a gospel song.
Onion Honey them introduces “Digging Holes” by saying it’s for all the dogs out there. Full disclosure, dogs aren’t allowed at the festival — or any festival that I’m aware of. If you’re a dog owner, I’m sure you understand why — but I promise I will find it on Bandcamp when I get home and play it for our dog.
Jeremy Penner from the Stanley County Cutups wanders over to play some sweet sweet fiddle on the track, and the band returns the favour by giving him a solo.
Onion Honey’s Dave Pike then pays it forward by adding some lovely mandolin to Willem James Cowan’s song “Appartment,” and we have ourselves a classic festival workshop here with artists collaborating all over the place.
Isaac Matthews is next and tells everyone, to much laughter, that this is his first ever festival and he’s learned he needs to figure out what key his songs are in because he has no idea.
That doesn’t dissuade fiddle virtuoso Jeremy from jumping right in.
The song, “Summer Nights,” is a wonderful upbeat little number that fits the theme of the workshop perfectly and earns enthusiastic applause.
The Cutups close the first round with a cover of “Knocking on Your Door.”
I have to say that the lineup on this stage is a tad unusual for a Sunday Morning gospelish workshop because Willem and Isaac don’t have a lot of the sort of joyful, up tempo, churchy or spiritual numbers they are known for.
But the contrast actually serves as a great showcase for them, allowing them to stand out. Both have really demonstrated their vocal power and range and their ability to write songs that make us feel things. And Isaac’s a pretty funny dude with lots of confidence on stage, no doubt owing to his time spent in the New York City musical theatre scene.
Isaac’s last song, the vulnerable love ballad “Apple Picking,” is a stunner, made all the more beautiful by Jeremy’s tender fiddle. It gets an enthusiastic round of applause.
Now I want to take a moment here to single out Onion Honey for some praise because they really deserve it.
First, their sound, which is a little sweeter, lighter and less twangy than, say, the Cutups or the Lonesome Ace Stringband, was an absolute delight on the mainstage on Friday, their beautiful harmonies a perfect complement to the sunny skies that welcomed us to the festival site.
But they are also consummate workshop hosts.
They understand how this Sunday morning festival workshop is supposed to roll, and they’re playing up-tempo numbers and urging the less experienced festival performers to jam along, which they start to do. (The Cutups need no encouragement in that department and leap into action whenever the Onions launch into a tune.)
They close the workshop by leading everyone on stage in a rousing rendition of “I’ll Fly Away” with the audience clapping and singing along.
It’s such a joyful noise that the crowd, which is spilled well out of the tent, erupts into a roaring standing ovation and starts loudly demanding an encore.
At this point, Martin Kerr, who was supposed to be on the stage this morning but missed most of the workshop, is invited to the stage to play his song “Curious Heart.” Another standing O ensues before the crowd disperses.
12:15 p.m.: I mentioned in a previous report that Shy-Anne Hovorka is kind of a pillar of the artistic community in northwestern Ontario. As if to make that point, she announces more than once during her mainstage set that she is donating all proceeds from her album sales this weekend to the evacuees from the horrendous forest fires in the region. She isn’t keeping a dime.
The festival has also invited evacuees to attend free of charge today, and anyone who took them up on it is doubtless enjoying Shy-Anne’s set, which is showcasing her considerable artistic range — from the Latin-tinged “Soulmate” to the percussive “Bones” and the blistering new blues-meets-opera number she debuted yesterday, which I now know is called “I am the Thunder.” (Have I mentioned I can’t wait ’til this comes out in a couple of months’ time?)
This time it’s the full band version featuring keys by Craig Smith, ex of Honest Heart Collective, and Martin Blanchette, ex of the Thunder Bay Symphony, who was inexplicably renamed “Frank” by the stage host.
Shy-Anne closes her set with a cover of the Tragically Hip’s “Bobcaygeon” and a shout out to Gord Downie for his advocacy for Indigenous rights.
Up next is Phil Drost, who the stage host inexplicably calls “Paul.” I’m starting to wonder if AI was involved in the creation of this festival.
The program also lists a fictional album called “Wonder” as the debut album by Cassidy Houston, which Cassidy has been correcting from the stage all weekend.
It’s a testament to the kind of guy Phil is that he doesn’t correct him.
And that’s not the only nice thing I have to say about Phil.
His set was fantastic!
The man has a voice like Neil Young’s, and I don’t think I’ve heard a single song that I don’t find captivating.
I had never heard of Phil before this weekend, but I’m paying attention now!
3:00 p.m.: Truth be told, I had expected dancing for Tanglefoot’s set. In fact, I had situated myself in the dancing zone preparing for it.
But perhaps the two nights of tent-quality sleep and the heat from a blazing sun had zapped the will from our collective feet.
It certainly wasn’t for lack of energy on the band’s part. The five-piece, originally founded in the 80s and currently on a reunion tour of sorts, plays boisterous, traditional-inspired Canadiana featuring soaring five-part harmonies.
And they were in perfect form this afternoon.
Large audiences had been following them around all weekend.
So my criticism of their set is not directed at the band; it’s directed at the audience.
What the hell was wrong with us?
They shut the festival down with “V’la l’bon vent.”
How did we not dance to that??
I head back to the campground to pack for departure still buzzing from the music.
Thank you for the great festival, Live from the Rock. Hope to see you again soon!
