October 6, 2001��
Take Root Festival
Assen is located south of Groningen in the north of the Netherlands, and we drove our eleven foot car to the Stadsbroek sports park. The fourth Take Root Festival took place in a huge building. There were two stages in the main hall, and there was a smaller hall for the singer/songwriters, even equipped with chairs and tables. There was plenty of live music. Lots of bars offered food and drink for everyone. Instead of tickets, we all got wristbands, so you could easily leave and enter as you liked. Later, we were told that some 2,500 people had come to the festival.
We came right at 4 p.m. when the place opened, and liked the atmosphere a lot. Most of the time, we stayed in the singer/songwriter hall at the Heineken stage, and sat at a table right in front of the stage.
Kim Richey was also there, a lady we had already seen in Cambridge: in 1999, she did the opening act for Raul Malo's solo tour in the UK. She was amazed to play in front of such a large audience, some three or four hundred people. She entertained us superbly with her very beautiful voice and her wonderful songs. Unfortunately, she had not brought any of her CDs. Then followed Kristy Rose & Fats Kaplin, then the fantastic Eric Taylor. In the meantime, the brilliant Jimmy LaFave played with his band at the main stage, and it was an absolute must to go and see him. He played a firework of songs, was the energy himself, the atmosphere was boiling. Many in the audience started dancing. Also Josh Rouse impressed us with his great songs and his beautiful voice.
Tension was already growing, and FINALLY, Kevin and Al Perkins came in; as you know, the best things come in the end! It was already about eleven thirty p.m. Many people had gathered, and we recognized lots of familiar faces.
The show started with "Another Long Story", and then followed seven other songs from Kevin's albums "Another Long Story", "Fear Nothing", and his new live CD. The audience knew a lot about him and his songs, and also enjoyed Al's fine talent playing the dobro; often, he sung the backing vocals as well. The way the guys presented the music was fascinating, they worked very harmoniously together. So the crowd listened to the fantastic music with attention, and got them lots of applause. Although the hall was much bigger than the venues where Kevin usually played, it was kind of cozy. Some even sat on the floor to be real close.
Outside, it rained cats and dogs, very noisily, and some drops even dripped in from the roof, but who cares about a bit of water?
Al's explanations about his dobro and his playing of two styles of music for this instrument, a bluegrass tune by Josh Grave and a blues number, were welcome enthusiastically, and much applauded. After all, you do not see such a beautiful instrument every day, played by such a magician and famous musician.
For the last two songs, Kevin asked Kim Richey on stage, to sing along with him to "Wishing" and "Fear Nothing".
As for the photos, I did like everyone, and moved right in front of the stage. It was actually the first time I kneeled in front of Kevin!
The fantastic show too quickly came to an end, but all the four hundred people stayed until the very last minute, although it was already rather late. They simply did not want to miss a thing. After the show, it was CD and autograph time again. It had to be done quickly as it was becoming really late. We said good-bye to Kevin and Al, happy to have attended three such great gigs.
We can only congratulate the organizers of the festival: they have achieved an excellent event, all worked out fine, and the artists were carefully chosen. Everyone who bought a wristband certainly had a good time.
And how comes that we have gone to several concerts, heard mostly the same songs we have known for quite some time, and still it does not get boring? At every concert, you get the feeling of a newly composed set, a different intensity of the way he sings, the brilliant songs of which you can grasp the feeling, Kevin's fantastic and emotional voice, his charm and friendliness, and his professionalism he does not even have to prove. All that gets his fans on the road for long drives to see him live, and to show him their enthusiasm.
This time, for instance, he had taken Al Perkins along, a fantastic and legendary artist, who was a superb addition to Kevin, especially with his dobro. They were two musicians who matched perfectly. Thanks to both of them.
Setlist
Another Long Story
Let's All Go To California
Red-Blooded American Boy
Tennessee Girl The Assen pictures
I Won't Close My Eyes
I Can't Drive You From My Mind
Wishing (with Kim Richey) HOME
Fear Nothing ( with Kim Richey)
www.thomaskirche-nuernberg.de
Take Root Festival,
with autographs
by Kevin and Al
