The LIGHTFOOT ORCHESTRA at MARIPOSA this year!

[charlene]

https://sunonlinemedia.ca/2023/06/22...early-edition/
Mariposa & Gord
Just added to the concert line up this week is a slot Sunday evening with Gord’s band; Rick Haynes, Barry Keane, Carter Lancaster and Mike Heffernan, on the main stage. There is no indication who will do the singing and MFF president Pam Carter said they’re keeping that secret. I got the impression there might be more than one person joining the band to sing.
Also it’s advisable to get there before the 5 p.m. main stage start on Friday instead of straggling in because the first set is The Way We Feel: A Lightfoot Celebration. Normally the folks at Mariposa pull some late nights coming up with the titles for the daytime side stage performances, but this time they just used the one Jory Nash, David Newland and Aengus Finnan used for their 15 year Hugh’s Room annual event.
Jory put the band together featuring Burke Carroll, Jason Fowler, Anne Lindsay, David Matheson & David Woodhead. The roster of people joining to do the singing includes Matthew Barber, Lori Cullen, Dala, The Good Brothers, Meredith Moon, and Kevin Fox. David Newland will be the MC of the set.
There are two other opportunities to enjoy musicians doing Gord’s tunes. On Saturday at 5 p.m. on the Village Stage Steve Porter, Scott Thomas, Michael Martyn will lead a sing-a-long, and Sunday Steve Porter, Scott Thomas, Geoff Booth will do a repeat set at the same time and stage.

[charlene]

https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/video?clip...Ul7D5aqRhQ8Tx8

[charlene]

http://www.davidnewland.com/?fbclid=...-gbauVnkV44uq0

From 2003-2018, I had the honour of hosting the annual Gordon Lightfoot tribute, “The Way We Feel.” On Friday, July 7, the show will be performed again, to open the Mariposa Folk Festival. Every iteration of the show has been different, but this will be the first time it has been staged without its central focus, fervent supporter, and frequent participant, the late Gordon Lightfoot. His work united an incredible, eclectic, and inspiring range of performers over the years, and this year we will be united in celebration of an unparalleled legacy in song.

Founded by Aengus Finnan and Jory Nash (who continued as the sole producer after year 5), The Way We Feel gathered musicians from across the roots music spectrum to celebrate Canada’s beloved master songwriter. Jory and I reminisced about Gordon Lightfoot’s support of the show in a recent video for Roots Music Canada.

It’s a host’s dream to get to work with the artists who have graced the stage for The Way We Feel:

Coco Love Alcorn, Matthew Barber, Barney Bentall, Christine Bougie, Kevin Breit, Cadence, Burke Carol, JP Cormier, Lori Cullen, Melwood Cutlery, Dala, Russell DeCarle, Digging Roots, Stephen Fearing, Rick Fines, Josh Finlayson & Andy Maize, Aengus Finnan, Mike Ford, Jason Fowler, Kevin Fox, Maury Lafoy, Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop, Arian Gillis with David Gillis, Jeff Goodes, The Good Brothers, Good Lovelies, Dave Gunning, Chris Hadfield, Caitlin Hanford, John Wort Hannam, Tim Harrison, Hart Rouge, Gregory Hoskins, Dan Hill, Ron Hynes, Michael Johnston, Connie Kaldor, James Keelaghan, Jadea Kelly, Dan Kershaw, Richard Knechtel, Gregg Lawless, Tom Leighton, Treasa Levasseur, Gordon Lightfoot, Meredith Moon Lightfoot, Anne Lindsay, Brian MacMillan, Madison Violet, David Matheson, John McDermott, Catherine McKinnon, Buddy Mondlock, Jory Nash, David Newland, Ron Nigrini, Oh Susannah, Old Man Luedecke, Dick van Raadshooven, Mark Reeves, Garnet Rogers, Nathan Rogers, Justin Rutledge, Scarlett Jane, Ron Sexsmith, Alex Sinclair, Laura Smith, Bob Snider, Bill Stunt, Kurt Swinghammer, Ian Tamblyn, Julian Taylor, Brent Titcomb, Liam Titcomb, Terry Tufts, Trent Severn, Twilight Hotel, The Undesirables, The Young Novelists, Valdy, Suzie Vinnick, Katherine Wheatley, Jenny Whiteley with Joey Wright, Ken Whiteley, Michelle Willis, Tom Wilson, Royal Wood, David Woodhead.

The concerts took place annually at Hugh’s Room in Toronto, with occasional forays to venues across Ontario and a farewell show at CBC’s Glenn Gould Theatre. A later, trimmed-down version (minus yours truly in the host role) travelled to a few theatres, but The Way We Feel appeared to be pretty much done until Mariposa elected to celebrate Gordon Lightfoot with the show he loved in 2023.

More about Lightfoot
Because of my role with TWWF, I wound up writing writing, soliciting, or editing a lot of articles about Lightfoot. I helped create a 70th birthday package for the web portal Canoe.ca on Lightfoot’s 70th birthday. That tribute included good wishes from many of his peers as well as fans from across the country. I remember vividly what Kris Kirstofferson wrote:

Gordon Lightfoot is Bob Dylan’s favourite songwriter. That’s high praise from the best of us, echoed by the rest of us.

Tom Cochrane wrote an article for the occasion, which likened Lightfoot’s influence to that of the Group of Seven. Sadly, those articles have disappeared into the mists of internet past, but I have written a few things here at DavidNewland.com you may wish to check out.

Gord, On Lightfoot (2020)
The Way We Feel, Year 15 (2018)
Still feeling The Way We Feel (2013)
Lightfoot and me (2010)
The Voice of Gord (2009)
Please Play Again (2006)
Now What? (2006)
There is a Gord (2005)
The Tributaries (2004)

I still run into folks who were deeply moved by this show. I know I’ll meet many more of them at Mariposa. And the last time I spoke to Gord — an interview for Penguin Eggs magazine in 2020 — he led the conversation toward reminiscing fondly about what a great time we’d all had.

Did we ever!

[charlene]

https://www.orilliamatters.com/local...AsMbTonsv3m2WA

'Bittersweet' tribute to Gordon Lightfoot opens up folk festival
'Gord will be hugely missed and I think his absence will be really poignant this year,' says festival official of first event without the Canadian icon
Patrick Bales

At the first Mariposa Folk Festival in 1961, Gordon Lightfoot didn’t make the cut.

This year, the first to occur following his death, the spirit of one of Orillia’s favourite sons was front and centre as the festival began the programming for its 63rd year. The Way We Feel – A Lightfoot Celebration inaugurated the main stage Friday evening, a year removed from its last performance at the folk festival.

Only this time, the guest of honour wasn’t watching from the side stage.

Mariposa, without Lightfoot, is a foreign concept for many, including Mariposa Folk Foundation President Pam Carter.

“Gord will be hugely missed and I think his absence will be really poignant this year. It’ll be the first year he either hasn’t been hired to perform or just come loping across the parking lot with guitar in hand,” she said.

“It’s going to be a bittersweet kind of weekend. There’ll be a lot of cover songs, a lot of people reminiscing.”

Those cover songs began during The Way We Feel’s performance Friday afternoon, setting what will likely be the standard to meet for the weekend. The collective on stage Friday featured Matthew Barber, The Good Brothers, Meredith Moon and many more.

The Way We Feel first took the stage at Hugh’s Room in Toronto in 2003, and performed at least annually, often with Lightfoot watching in the wings, until 2017. It was the brainchild of Jory Nash and Aengus Finnan, two up-and-coming Canadian folk musicians at the time who wanted Lightfoot to be honoured by a tribute CD, which were hugely popular compilations in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

When they heard a competing tribute was in the works, featuring the likes of Blue Rodeo and The Tragically Hip, they shifted their focus to a tribute concert. Soon enough, the honouree became an attendee.

“Somewhere around year five or six, Gordon Lightfoot joined us. Took it in and borrowed my guitar the first year to do a song on stage, and kept coming back every year,” Nash recalled. “He just became a part of the fabric of our show.”

So much so, that when another tribute was being held in Lightfoot’s honour, he called Nash up to ask if some of the players from “our show” would take part.

After taking a few years off, the players reunited at Mariposa last year, timed to coincide with Lightfoot’s induction into the Mariposa Hall of Fame. Like so many, Nash was unaware it would be the last time he would perform in front of Lightfoot.

“None of us knew, so you weren’t thinking, ‘oh my gosh, this is the last time,’” Nash said. “It wasn’t until he passed that I framed last year’s show in that light: that was the last time we got to play it for him. So, this time was for him without him.”

Planning for the 2023 festival began long before the nature of Lightfoot’s health became known. Yet, when he died in May, organizers dropped everything to ensure his legacy would be honoured during the weekend in the most appropriate manner: on stage.

“Gord’s an icon in the industry. He’s beloved in Orillia because he’s from Orillia. He’s beloved in the industry,” Carter said. “(The Way We Feel) were more than happy to come here tonight.”

That sentiment was echoed by Nash. Soon after Lightfoot’s death, he and festival artistic director Liz Scott were in communication about a tribute to the Canadian legend. In theory, it had the potential to be a logistical nightmare. In practice, however, it came together almost immediately.

“It would be just hard, but the next day, Liz called me back and said ‘this is what we want to do,’” Nash said. “Within five days, I had everybody booked. Not one person said no. The Good Brothers are literally flying out to Alberta in the morning, and they came here. Anne Lindsay was on tour, she was playing in Alaska two days ago. She was on a plane late last night to get to this. They’re wonderful artists, but they know what this meant.”

This year marks the second Mariposa Folk Festival post-pandemic, and the second consecutive festival to sell out weeks in advance, with 2019 being nearly sold out. More than 30,000 people are expected to enter the gates at Tudhope throughout the weekend.

More than two decades since returning to Orillia and taking up shop in Tudhope Park, Mariposa might be as healthy as it has ever been, even factoring in the concert industry following COVID-19. Carter credited that, primarily, to the continued support of the Orillia community.

“The festival, when it came back in 2000, really got supported by the community,” Carter said. “The citizens of Orillia, the business community, really embraced Mariposa when it came back.”

Lightfoot, too, played a role in that success right out of the gate, performing in that first year.

“He was the headliner and that ensured ticket sales,” Carter said. “He donated his fee – we paid the band – and it set Mariposa up for financial success and we really haven’t looked back.”

Friday’s main stage entertainment also included artists such as The Wood Brothers and perennial Mariposa favourite Matt Anderson, joined this year by backing band The Big Bottle of Joy.

The diversity in the lineup, getting younger without forgetting its history, is how Mariposa can continue to be viable for years to come, as it puts its tagline of “true to our roots for generations to come” to practice.

“To me, it’s always the discovery. There are a lot of names that I don’t know, but young people do. I’ve got a young nephew who is like, ‘oh, my God, this is the best lineup ever,’” Carter said. “And without the youth and the young adults, we have no future. We’ve made really big gains in that demographic and that will ensure our success going forward.”

One of those youngsters was Nash’s son. Sharing the festival experience with him this year – his son didn’t attend last year – was a moment to remember for Nash.

“I didn’t know if I’d ever play another festival, and I remember being here last year and I didn’t bring (my family); it just didn’t work… and I just remember thinking ‘I wish they could be here, I wish my son could take in a festival like this,” Nash said. “And to be given another chance is very gratifying for me. Tomorrow we’re just going to come and enjoy the festival.”

The festival continues Saturday, with appearances from Tegan and Sara, The Rural Alberta Advantage, KT Tunstall, Martha Wainwright, Paul Langlois Band and scores of others before wrapping up on Sunday.

[charlene]

Meredith Moon Lightfoot at MARIPOSA-Steel Rail blues

hope you can view it..

Meredith Moon Lightfoot at Mariposa- Steel Rail Blues.
Hope you can view it..

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4803...1362&ref=share

[charlene]

https://www.orilliamatters.com/local...1d0c-318369853

Rain can't dampen spirits at sold-out Mariposa Folk Festival
Thousands jammed Tudhope Park to enjoy middle day of three-day event; Tegan and Sara wowed fans from the main stage Saturday night
OrilliaMatters Staff

A little afternoon drizzle and some light evening showers could not dampen the spirit of music fans at the Mariposa Folk Festival Saturday.

Once again, Tudhope Park was packed for the sold-out three-day festival that is expected to draw more than 30,000 spectators to the lakeside venue over the weekend.

While people enjoyed an afternoon of 'magical' workshops and learning to play instruments during the sun-drenched morning and afternoon, the main stage acts once again thrilled folk fans, culminating with a high-energy performance from headliners Tegan and Sara.

There is another jam-packed day of activities and concerts today to close out the 63rd annual festival, known as the 'grand dame' of folk festivals.

Tonight's main acts are Feist and Rufus Wainwright, among a lineup of many others.

There will also be a tribute of sorts paid to Gordon Lightfoot, an Orillia native and Canadian music icon who passed away May 1. The festival opened with a 'bittersweet' musical tribute to one of the world's best-known troubadours.

[charlene]

https://www.orilliamatters.com/local...7aaa-318369853

COLUMN: 'Special' Mariposa a weekend to remember — again
Mariposa finds its footing following death of Gordon Lightfoot and delivers something for everyone during a magical three days at Tudhope Park
Patrick Bales
about 3 hours ago

When someone you love dies, there’s always that daze between the death and the funeral. And often, though as impractical as it may seem, when the funeral ends, and you’re milling around on the sidewalk with the last couple of stragglers after the wake, everything is supposed to go back to the way it was. The mourning is over; it’s time to keep moving forward.

But it’s never really like that. There’s no mourning guidebook we’re all supposed to follow (nor is there a right or wrong way to mourn). However, I think many of the attendees and organizers of the Mariposa Folk Festival have hit that moment now, successfully completing the first event since the death of Gordon Lightfoot.

Lightfoot was not only a Canadian music icon, but he was also in many ways the patron saint of this festival. Its return to Orillia nearly a quarter century ago was no guarantee for success, but his endorsement and his performance(s) set it up to become what it is today: arguably, the premier folk festival in all of Canada, and perhaps equalled only by Newport in the United States.

This weekend showed that. It was special. It was everything you hoped a Mariposa would be, punctuated by the continuous tributes to the ghost overlooking that will now watch over Tudhope Park every July, with his name adorning the main stage.

As I walked around this weekend, I really wondered who — or what — this festival is for.

First off, like the Wu-Tang, Mariposa is for the children.

During the daytime, the Folk Play area was lousy with future performers and artists, making inspired crafts and inspiring noise. If a seven-year-old walks into any store, particularly a music store, that child is going to be told not to touch anything.

Where else but Mariposa can the child not only pick up an instrument — or try to, as it might be bigger than they are — and start playing with it. Guitars, violins, washboards, all of these were put into the hands of youngsters who were told to make noise. As music education continues to be the victim of budgetary discretion, Mariposa is essential.

Mariposa is also for friends. While this wasn’t the first festival coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was certainly the first without the lingering thought that everything could be shut down again on a dime. And that meant more and more people got to reconnect with each other with big hugs and bigger smiles, or make new friends in the first place.

Early on the first day, while walking through the artisan area, one of the vendors was barefoot and flummoxed. “This is what happens at Mariposa,” she said. “I lose my shoes all the time.”

Without missing a beat, from another tent, a reply: “You can borrow mine.”
danny-paul

These folks were also surrounded by artists equally enamoured with each other, such as Paul Langlois bringing up Danny Greaves from the Watchmen for a tune. Greaves wasn’t on the bill, but he lives nearby, and the two musicians share a friendship that dates back to the early 1990s. Where else but on a side stage on a Sunday afternoon should they duet on a cover of The Tragically Hip’s Bobcaygeon?

Then there’s Danny Michel and Steve Poltz, who’ve become such good friends that they’re going on tour together this fall. They were regularly standing in the back of each other’s sets, when not joining each other on stage for a workshop, showing support and cracking jokes.

Michel opened his Barnfield Stage set Saturday with a re-working of Poltz’s Brief History of My Life — facetiously saying he hoped people thought his version was the original and Poltz’s was the cover — making it about Michel’s time growing up in Kitchener-Waterloo and replacing the baseball references with clips from Star Wars.

Poltz — who might be the unsung hero of the festival — drew huge crowds everywhere he went. He and Michel were part of the Phone Keys Wallet Glasses workshop in the pub stage at 12:15 p.m. Sunday, which meant there was a lineup to get into the pub tent by 12:10 p.m.

The introductory story to Poltz’s first song of the afternoon – You Were Meant for Me, the song Jewel turned into a smash in the mid-90s — gave a reason why. It was uproarious and almost as good as the song (and not entirely suitable for an all-ages publication).

It also showcased perhaps the thing Mariposa is most obviously for: discovery.

Mariposa is about discovering new artists. To Poltz’s left on stage at this workshop was Carsie Blanton, a singer-songwriter from Virginia keen to knock down fascists, misogynists and the wealthy, usually all in one song. Coming in Friday, few people knew what they’d be seeing come from this small woman with a mop of curly hair. By Sunday, her showcase at Barnfield was packed with new fans and her CDs were sold out at the merch tent.

Mariposa is also about re-discovery. I can’t imagine a scenario where I’d be sitting back and thinking that KT Tunstall would have the best main stage set of the weekend, but here we are. With no backing band, Tunstall stole the show Saturday, mixing in some new material, some choice covers and closing with Suddenly I See, which provided for one of the louder singalongs of the weekend.

Then there’s Judy Collins. At 84 years old, she was the connection to the Mariposa of the past so desperately needed.

She won’t be the reason a festival like this sells 30,000 tickets, but she spent an hour in the blistering heat Sunday night bringing tears to the eyes of everyone watching the main stage. Not just the people in the crowd either: when she began singing Both Sides Now, the Joni Mitchell song Collins first recorded in 1967, artists and organizers rushed out from the green room to watch in stunned silence.

Both Collins and headliner Feist came out during Rufus Wainright’s set to perform duets. It brought the house down. No disrespect to Feist, but nothing was going to top that.

At least not this year. Ideally, something will happen next year that will be just as awe-inspiring and create those “do you remember when” moments. And hopefully, the festival will continue to grow within its confines — metaphorically and physically, as there were some bumps in the road this year with security, parking and Sunday beer shortages — as it gets closer to its 25th edition at Tudhope Park.

Mariposa has become a festival for everyone. I hope that never changes.

[charlene]

Steel Rail Blues - Meredith Moon (Mariposa 2023)...

[charlene]

Meredith Moon performs "The Pony Man"...