| Atlantic Crossroads Newfoundland 2005 |
| Thursday, June 30th The day dawned for me at 9:30 when Vic called me on the ham radio. There was a lot to do today. We thought the programs were going to be done yesterday, but its going to be today. I ahd to run out to the office supply store and get a long stapler to accommodate the programs. There are 500 of them to be stapled today, before 7 PM, and we don't have them in hand yet. So I knew what I'd be doing at the Centre today! I have to pick up Ron at his house at 1:30 and bring him over to the Arts & Culture Centre along with Jim and Lillian. Jim and Lillian have worked really hard at advertising this Gala and also the festival. Lillian had these HUGE posters made for each one of the venues that were an attraction themselves. Jim did a series of radio ads. There have been two interviews since I�ve been here � one with Jeff Gilhooly on CBC radio and one with ? for the Express newspaper. That one came out yesterday and it was great! I wonder how much more we have to do to spread the word? So many people seem surprised when you tell them about it! I had to pick up Ron at 1:30 and was supposed to get a box of things from Erin�s Pub and then come back to pick up Jim and Lillian. When I got to Ron�s, he was ready. As I doubled-parked in front of Erin�s, I noticed there was a sign on the door that said, �Be back in 5 minutes.� I was ready to go get Jim and Lillian and come back but Ron requested that I drop him off at the Post Office and pick him up at the Rose and Thistle. I figured I�d drop him off and run back to Erin�s. That should take 5 minutes. When I got to Erin�s once more, John was there and had to help me out with the box. It was so heavy! Fire trucks blocked the street between me and the Rose and Thistle. I had no choice but to wait till we were directed elsewhere, all the time looking at my watch and worrying about getting Jim and Lillian to the Centre on time for rehearsal. At 1:45, I pull up to the Rose & Thistle and Ron tells me he is waiting for his manager to call him back with info about his performance at Stanfest the next evening. SO I hightailed it out of there and sped to Jim�s house. Too late! There was a sign on the door telling me they had left for the Centre. Back to the R & T, where Ron was ready to go and I wound my way up to the Centre. I had to track down the 500 sets of the Gala program that had been delivered by messenger to the wrong place at the Centre. Because of this, I now know the bowels of the Arts and Culture Centre pretty well. You just never know where a door is going to lead! I brought them down from the 2nd floor administrative offices and enlisted the help of all the performers to fold the already collated sets in half when they weren�t on stage. It was hard because they all wanted to stop and read them! There was only one stapler, so that job was mine. It was busy backstage, as you can imagine and I really didn�t get to pay attention to much of what was going on in the limelight. And I also made a quick supermarket run for the party after the Gala. I wanted a sneak peek at the program too, as I had written some of it. When Lillian and I got back from the supermarket, everyone was a little punchy. Darrell was a panic as the day got longer, getting everyone to laugh when it got tense. He�d sort of taken Clare under his wing and I think his family ended up practically adopting her! Darrell wasn�t as nervous this time around as he was in March and had written even more stuff since then. He seemed much more comfortable up there on stage but I missed the witty repartee I know he is capable of. Maybe when he gets more performance time under his belt. His songs are worth hearing, now to get them out there. When it was his time to do the run-through, he got up to the mic and began to sing. When someone said something about it (I think it was the wrong song), he sang, �That was Darrell�s sound check and I�m done!� (Or something to that effect) But that enabled the group to get out on time at 5 PM and gather their thoughts together before their big performance tonight. During the time before the Gala, I thought back on the 5 days of the Festival and the memories that made me smile. Colleen�s and Ron�s fan clubs managed to make it to the venues and those two played the most variety of songs. I think I�ve gushed enough about the two of them. Hugh and Ken didn�t ever need mics. Hugh performs always like a veteran, completely unflappable on stage, and Ken�s voice just kept getting stronger and better each time he performed. Martin was a complete surprise to festival attendees because he came equipped with a piano instead of an acoustic guitar. And they liked him for his funny as well as his serious songs. Pamela? Oh my! What can I say about Pamela? She is a veteran of the Newfoundland Folk World, having been involved with Figgy Duff since its inception. So many years later, you'd never believe she wasn't 25 years old. What a voice! You can't believe that anyone but a mythical siren would have a voice as sweet and clear and haunting as hers. Mark had a following all over the city. He really had a way with the ladies and they came out to support him at the shows. Plus he was the one who really seemed to enjoy singing. No matter where he was, there was a song. I�d love to road trip with him for this reason. Clare�s performances were in St. John�s were so much more confident than in Ireland. I hope her talent puts her out there soon. Her voice is as incredible as her songs. Niall�s giggle is most infectious and I think he was the most enthusiastic person of them all. Together with Mark, he was a willing participant in the spontaneous songs that came out any time three or four of the musicians would get together. I really enjoyed listening to his songs and he also had developed a bit of a following during the festival. He is definitely someone I�d like to hang out with. Mick and Ger made people want to take care of them. Mick came out onto the stage very hesitantly, as if we were going to throw things at him. He�d sit on the stool and hardly make eye contact with the audience. But this only served to make their connection with him even stronger. His songs sometimes seemed painfully personal and his demeanor made it look like he really needed a friend. And people sought out his CD and the younger people enjoyed his set very much also. Ger was the mascot of the Irish singers, I think. They all tried to take care of him as well as the Newfoundlanders. He is just so genuine in his dealing with people. He has such a thick accent and lapses into Irish at the drop of a hat. But he gladly explains what he said and will even give you a Irish lesson if you are willing. I loved speaking to him! I learned so much from every conversation. Ger loves to meet people and would chat with anyone who wanted to chat. Darrell was a lot like that in Cork, I understand, from comments made by his Newfoundland buddies in March. As endearing as this trait was, it made Ger often late. Today was no exception. At 2 PM, everyone except Ger was present for the final run-through of the Gala. He arrived in time for his song and the much ballyhooed bow practice. They must have practiced that for 45 minutes! And what can I say about Jim? Jim is such a wonderful person! And what can I say about Jim? Jim is such a wonderful person! To have had this vision with Ken Cotter in November and for the event to actually come to fruition � wow. The music that swirls around in his head touches each person who hears it in whatever form Jim chooses to release it. And he is a genuine person. He doesn�t put on airs, he treats people as he expects to be treated and is in general one of the most generous and kind people I know. Oh my! I could go on, but I�d better stop or this journal will never end! He made sure that the volunteers had some of the best seats in the house. I couldn�t have gotten better ones I think. When Jim said I could sit in a box seat with Susan and Dave, I gave my purchased ticket to someone who couldn�t have afforded to go otherwise. That was a pretty good seat, too, I understand. A stapled program was on my seat as I went into the box and sat down. I could see everything on stage and backstage on the right. Graham Wells� haunting whistle called everyone�s attention to the stage. The rest of the band came in on cue and the dancers joined them after a bit. The Gala was finally here! The thing that�s been in Jim�s mind since last November, had finally come to fruition. I couldn�t imagine how he must have felt! Must be like a baby being born after 9 months of waiting. |
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