The Edmonton Muse September 2017 | Page 38

5:00PM, back at stage 7 after having escaped Stage 6’s heat

 

Cecile Doo-Kingue thanks the festival volunteers, Terry Wickham and the organizers before launching into her tune, ‘Thankful’.  “They do it for the love not the money”, she says. I’ve known working musicians throughout my life. While they may be some of the coolest people on earth, their ability to speak in the common language we all understand at birth (music) does not pay the bills for many. Volunteering doesn’t pay the mortgage either but it does come with many many perks here at EFF. I’ve always wanted to volunteer here but my duties at the Fringe Festival never allowed it. I’ve been told by many friends who’ve had the opportunity, the food provided , the after hour jam sessions and the endless swag is well worth it. I’ve been craving fresh steamed veggies, for instance. I can’t get that here. The volunteers & EFF staff can and do in their own dining tent. And so they should. Without the volunteers there would be no festival. That’s not hyperbole.

Monday, 8:30AM on WestJet flight 151

 

Sitting in my cramped seat, exhausted yet unable to sleep as I fly back home to BC comes as a bit of a relief. I’ve re-upped my dose of Edmonton enough to get me by for the next few months at least. Edmonton Folk Fest is strong medicine. As my girlfriend & I chat about returning to our daily routines, we take a few moments to lament the fact that we did indeed bail before the final, ‘Four Strong Winds’ Folk Fest finale. Ali opens the Folk Fest app to see a picture of Dallas Green playing the main stage from within the crowd as rain falls on those who remain. One of our first concerts together was a City & Colour show so we could not help wonder what his EFF main stage show might have made us feel. I’m glad we had the chance to see his workshop. Ali and I will be married by the time Folk Fest rolls around next year. Though we did not fall in love at EFF, when I first introduced her to the festival 4 years ago, I could see that she fell in love with EFF. As I will always be an Edmontonian at heart and as Folk Fest to me represents the best of Edmonton, Ali’s falling in love with it came as no surprise. That we now continue my tradition together with my family makes me feel good about the world. Next year Ali’s step-dad and Mom decided that they want to join us too. Our family is growing, my community is part of that and Folk Fest is my most cherished community. For now, I’m happy to get home to some normalcy and most especially my two cats and a dog.

3PM, at home alone

 

Rhiannon Giddens, ‘Freedom Highway’ spins on the old turntable back at home as I reminisce about the past weekend. My community has dwindled to a couple of cats, my dog Bowie and my girlfriend away at school. It would be too quiet here if not for the records. I sip my coffee from my Folk Fest ceramic mug. I’m glad to be back in my adopted hometown of Chilliwack. I’m perched up on a small mountain here. If I squint my eyes and have a few edibles, I can almost see Gallagher Hill lit up by its candles. A beautiful sight to be sure. One I will always feel connected to.

-Chris Fassbender

www.edmontonmuse.ca