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Bonnaroo 2009: Wrap-Up

Olaf — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:28:02 +0000

: Image by Olaf via Flickr

It has been a year since I went to Bonnaroo and I’ve just realized that I never wrote anything about the experience. At least nothing of any real length. Since it has been so long, I’m just going to hit on two things that really stand out in my memory.

For those of you that don’t know, I was asked to attend Bonnaroo to help out at a drum building workshop, Build-a-Drum by Stan Secrest. I attended one of his workshops in the previous fall and we stayed in touch afterward. It didn’t take long for him to come knocking on my door to lend a hand at the up and coming multi-day music festival.

The job began the moment I arrived and found our plot of land on which I would be spending the greatest portion of my time on. I immediately was put to work on painting a sign for the site. I also took stock of our situation, got some groundwork for what was to come, and freshened up my knowledge of the knots and sequence to build the drums. There were the pleasantries as well – getting to know the rest of the staff. That first day was the easiest I would know. We setup the site, readied the displays, organized materials, and then got back to our campsite and were fed by one of the helpers.

That night, it was a remarkable site to behold; the patrons arrived by the thousand. Car after car well into the night, continuing through the next day. Tent city had exploded over night – as far as the eye could see, there were tents. We had our marching orders and filed into the site seemingly a mile away from the vendor camping area (a very nice benefit, actually). The first day, everyone got involved in sales. We had to get people started in building their drums to give them the most time during the week to complete them. We also started taking on some drums to prepare as examples for others to see. It didn’t take long for people to start rolling in. It was as though some were there with the specific intention to find this booth! And why not, Stan has been doing Bonnaroo for nearly a decade. Once we had a good number of people working on drums, it was clear to see how much work was about to come down on us. Preparing a shell is largely on the customer, but preparing and tightening a head took all of our efforts to teach and assist with the process.

What started on that first day did not end until I packed up early and left the crew for my return trip home on Sunday. I hated to leave them as they were, but I really had to go and get back to my family! We spent up to 18 hours a day cranking out shells to everyone that came in. I forget the numbers, but I want to say that Stan sold 1,000 drums that week. There was an epic amount of work to be performed for all those customers. Most of them spent 6-8 hours with us throughout the event, so there were even friendships made in that time. I’ll break down the procedure, though it cannot do it justice:

Wrap the rings in cloth
Knot the rings for the pulls
stretch the skin
lace the pulls
tighten the pulls
tighten the pulls
tighten the pulls

Between tying the knots and tightening the pulls, the hands get quite a workout. I remember that it took a week for my hands to begin to feel like normal again.

The labor was intense, but it felt so good to just put everything you had into this process. To help so many people and really feel their appreciation of your effort. You bust your ass all day in the heat, then drag yourself out of the festival to crash back at the campsite by 3:00am every morning. The best was that part of our crew was dedicated to meals, and there were showers available in the vendor camping area. When I got back to the campground at the end of every day, I’d go take a good shower in the wee-hours to prepare for the next day. That was a treat!

Well into these hard-working days, I got my first real break. Stan had told us all that we’d get a chance to go see some of the festival while we were here, and my turn had come around. I was off to see Amadou and Mariam perform at a nearby stage. I had enjoyed their music having learned about it about a year prior, and this seemed like the only opportunity I would have to see the musical duo out of Mali, Africa. What I saw took my breath away. I found a modest crowd milling around the stage as the band started up. I knew what to expect from the music, so headed right for the front knowing I would have no wish to leave early. As I stood there and head-bopped, I began to notice a shift in the audience. I don’t think they knew anything about this band, but as they listened, and realized too that this was a blind duo, their attitude changed and there was a spreading joy throughout. People started receding to the edges of the venue where they shouted at passerby’s to come in and listen. This meager crowd was calling for everyone within earshot to come and hear Amadou and Mariam perform. The venue filled, and the energy was butane in the air to be ignited by a truly rockin’ performance! There were African dancers on the stage, a phenomenal djembe player, the expected assortment of rock musicians, and Amadou on the electric – singing along with Mariam on vocals. The performance was so intense, it brought tears to my eyes in the moment.

I have some certainty that my overwhelming emotional response was, in part, due to the stress of the trip. However, the performance was one of my personal favorites despite this. I’d see them again in a heartbeat.

So there are my two key memories of this experience in Bonnaroo. I’d love to do it again should the opportunity arise. Though next time, I’ll want my wife to join me and be a part of it. Perhaps on a second tour we could have more time for the concerts – the Bonnaroo experience – while still getting enjoyment out of the raw effort delivered in building drums for the hundreds!

Rewarding Effort

Olaf — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 09:17:17 +0000

Today was one of the toughest yet at Bonnaroo in the Build-a-Drum tent. I didn’t get as early a start as yesterday so I was stirred awake by the massive heat building up in my tent at around 8:30. Not much time spent at camp and we were all off to the tent to start working. The day was hot with no wind to speak of. The music was tremendously loud, and I couldn’t believe the number of people pouring into our spot continuously. Indeed, we more or less started pushing people away around 3am.

Though today was difficult in terms of work load, it was also the most rewarding. I met some of the nicest people and talked a long while with them as we built their drums. Others that we had developed relationships with returned to continue working or just chat. One man that had given me a hard time the day before returned to apologize for his behavior. He had been way too messed up to manage the instructions before.

Some times life gives you lemons…build a drum!

Lessons from Bonnaroo

Olaf — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 07:15:31 +0000

It’s my first Bonnaroo and indeed, my first multi-day music festival. As such, I can impart some wisdom to others in the same boat.

Plan for showers. With 19+ hours of body sweat, festival funk, sunscreen, and bug spray, you better plan for some way to scrape the epidermal toxic layer from your osmotic organ daily. if not, burn your clothes and the seats you ride home in.

Munchies. Have snacks at your disposal, if not full meal planning on your non-festival dime. I have spent $3.50 for each cup of coffee I’ve consumed. It’s good coffee, but maybe not twice as good as at the local Starbucks.

Wait until 2am to use the portable toilets. If you can’t avoid waste byproducts all together, you’re at least not going to want to eliminate them in a plastic poop furnace when it’s 7000 degrees inside.

It’s Official, Bonnaroo is a Go

Olaf — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:10:49 +0000

I hadn’t talked much about this to anyone yet because I wanted to get verification that I was actually going. I didn’t really believe it myself – still don’t in a way, but only because I don’t have tickets in my hands. My first trip ever to Bonnaroo will be to work with Stan Secrest in his efforts to run an event-long drum building workshop for the masses. Hundreds of people will be building drums with Stan and thousands will be passing by us daily. I will be on task to assist with finishing the drums (string tightening, for instance) and drum circle facilitation. We may or may not take the stage and conduct an official drum circle at the ‘roo, but I’ll definitely be putting together some jams at Stan’s tent nightly. From what I understand from Stan and some of the people that have worked for him in the year’s past, it’s going to be an insane amount of work. I fully expect to ruin my hands for any sort of intricate handling of things to come.

A co-worker put together a great list of must-sees while I’m there. I doubt I’ll be able to do the list justice, but it’s really great to have a guide of what may be some of the finer acts to see at a live venue like this. If nothing else, I look forward to hearing the sets throughout the day while I work. There will be some bands I can see into the night, though based on the bit about hard work (and heat), I may just be crashing.

It’s going to be very difficult on my wife while I’m out. She’ll have to manage the two kids, and I know that’s no easy task! She is, however, supportive of me going and really thinks that it’s an opportunity I can’t pass up. It should do a lot to help me in my task of building a more substantial drum circle group in my own community, and push my skills as a facilitator. Who knows, I may run across people from my area that can help me out back home!

A Night of Amazing Celtic Music!

Olaf — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:59:13 +0000

My wife and an old high school friend of ours, Colin Blackledge, have put together a most remarkable double-event concert this Friday off the downtown square in Gainesville. Seven Nations and Emerald Rose will be performing in the small pizza bar venue that is the Monkey Barrel. For $15.00, you can get in to see these great acts as they jam Celtic-rock style! If you want to give up some information in advance, you can avoid the line and get priority entry to the event. Just call (770) 287-0970 and let them know you are interested in the Friday concert with Seven Nations and Emerald Rose.

Friday, October 26th
The Monkey Barrel
115 Washington St.
Gainesville, GA 30501

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Seven Nations is a five-man Celtic rock band that features bagpipes and fiddle. Their style is a fusion of traditional and original music. 7N has toured the world playing the Winter Olympics, Irish/Scottish Highland Games and Festivals, as well as traditional concert venues.

Emerald Rose is a four-man Celtic folk-rock band with a rich, traditional world fusion sound with influences randing from the Chieftains to Jethro Tull. Blending amazing vocals and driving guitars and bass, their music ranges from traditional jigs and reels to original folk rock and pop.

Missed Scandinavian Fest [again]

Olaf — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 17:24:37 +0000

For the 13 years now, I’ve missed Atlanta’s very own Scandinavian Festival. The problem is that it’s hosted on one day of the year and I always seem to discover that day after the fact. This year, I was prepared all week. Well, mostly prepared. I had planned on going, though I didn’t bother to see the times or days of the event. I had assumed that the festival would be taking place all weekend, but I was mistaken. It’s a 1-day event at Oglethorpe University. This year, it was on the 13th of October. This time next, this post will remind me of this fact and this entry might actually be about the Scandinavian Festival instead of about how I missed it. If any of readers plan on going, let’s help each other remember to check the dates in advance.

Atlanta Scandinavian Festival

Migration

Olaf — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 20:35:26 +0000

We’re spending an otherwise crisp and chilly November weekend on the sunny beach of Pensacola Beach, Flordia. We arrived last night in time for dinner – a lovely time to arrive anywhere. While not ideal for making a trip to the beach, it allowed us to rest up for a pre-7am wakeup call from Balthazar. The sun comes in bright well before 7 here, so Balthazar was wide awake and on the bed requiring our attention. 7am is typically a good time to take a long stroll down the beach to Bagelheads, though in November that means it’s around 40°F and windy to boot. So we bundled up as much as anyone should bundle up on the Gulf of Mexico and started walking. Balthazar actually ran the whole way – a little more than a mile, I estimate – on soft sand. It might have taken us 20 or 30 mintues to get there. Then it’s hot coffee, bagels, and cinnamon buns. Mmmmm! So we’ve spent a good first day on the beach – the morning has brought about nap time for the rest of the family. I expect we’ll do more of the beach, or perhaps try and hit a Native American Indian festival going on in Pensacola. We only have the weekend, so we’re trying just as hard as we can to relax and enjoy it.

Stilt-Walking at Atlanta’s BrouHaha

Olaf — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 04:41:27 +0000

99x and Scion put on Atlanta’s BrouHaha this year. A festival of ghouls, musical entertainment, and miscellaneous performers of all types. Toyota’s Scion division sponsored the show this year and added the “Car-nival” exhibit including yours truly on stilts and a a whole host of customizes Scions from around the nation. Prizes were given for the best interiors, exteriors, best in show, people’s choice and others. I think best in show was a Floridian that put together a really nice Thundercats motiff on a white Scion. Attending the Car-nival with me were Atlanta’s greatest burlesque troup, Dames a’ Flame, a magician, and a really great foursome fire group. I don’t remember their name, so I’m hoping they seek me out and get in touch. The show was really nice including several types of entertainment. There were live graffitti artists working on large plywood pallets, XBOX 360° competitions, carni events, and some really good musical acts. I was especially impressed with D.J. Clever. He lives up to his name and spins some really awesome rhythms and melody. Despite the excellent job put on by 99x and Scion, there were far too few people that braved the outdoors tonight. I don’t know if it was the cold, the wind, or the fact that it rained solid *yesterday*. Maybe people thought tonight would be a repeat. It wasn’t incredibly cold unless you were a burlesque performer wearing very little. I had a sweater underneath my clown costume – I actually sweated quite a bit. So as of 9:00pm when I left, the show still ahd not seen its expected crowd. Such a loss. Hopefully they’ll work it out by next year and invite us back out again to do it again.

There’s a Rock in My Nose

Olaf — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 02:25:18 +0000

Sunday afternoon, Balthazar looked at me and said, “there’s a rock in my nose,” while gently prodding inside his nostril with his finger. I had a look and concluded that he had a rather solid booger lodged in there – possibly combined with blood to give it a dark color. I told him not to mess with it and we’d get it out later. We were, afterall, in the middle of the Dalohnega Gold Rush festival. I told Amy his problem and she took a look herself. She’s the type of mother that will happily insert her finger nail into whatever orifice her child requires for proper grooming and cleanliness. Behold, she popped out of his nose a small, dark pebble. That boy stuck a rock up his nose and told us about it.

Whoa! Big Weekend Approaching

Olaf — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 02:06:15 +0000

I’m physically preparing myself for a substantial weekend to ring in the first of October. I did some heavy drumming Sunday as you may know. Well, now I have a damaged joint from that and a a crushed pinky from some stupid folding chairs. I wasn’t thinking about my weekend, which includes several drumming performances with our illustrious dancers. So now I’m working to heal my hands faster than they may otherwise choose. Any advice will be helpful there. I’m using epsom salts so far – hopefully that’ll do the trick. Friday we’re playing at Smokey Springs retirement home. They have been working diligently to play along with some basic rhythms, so we’re looking forward to that integration. Saturday, we play at Art on the Square – a local arts and crafts festival in downtown Gainesville. If you find yourself near Gainesville this Saturday around 3:00, we’d love for you to see us. And then Sunday we’re [supposedly] performing for Pagan Pride in Decatur. I’m a little unsure about that one because Sunday is fast approaching and we still don’t have confirmation or a specific time in which to play. October is typically a busy month for us on all fronts. These few performances this weekend are certainly a sign of things to come. Come and enjoy the sights and sounds if you can!