I hope many of you have/will be enjoying the Harmony Festival! I'm re-charging for another day. I know I can...
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to share some photos, stories (Long lost friend? Amazing synchronicity? New discovery?), and reviews of the bands, speakers and other offerings from Harmony.
Here's an environmental breakthrough I stumbled upon:
Regarding music, the 7 Walkers was the highlight for me so far. The combo of Papa Mali and Steve Kimmock begins to fill the fat man's shoes...:syf:
Jaya Laskmi and friend were sounding real good around 2am this morning, but I ran out of steam...
Please share some of your Harmony experiences with us!
Barry
06-18-2010, 12:06 PM
Please share some of your Harmony experiences with us!
Anybody home?
I caught some more good music on Sunday at Harmony with Diego's Umbrella at the lovely Goddess Stage (see video of their Hava Negela (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnBzPNJ23Vs)) being a real find!
Galactic, the Main Stage closer, was also excellent, including a great rendition of "Manic Depression" that was probably lost on most of the (younger) audience.
One bummer was that my backpack was stolen from the camping area. So I am sorry to say that you can not trust that everybody is cool, even if 99% are.
Hot Compost
06-19-2010, 02:33 PM
One bummer was that my backpack was stolen from the camping area. So I am sorry to say that you can not trust that everybody is cool, even if 99% are.
Sorry to hear about your backpack !
How was the attendance compared to past Harmony Festivals ? more people, fewer people ... just wondering how that part of the economy is doing.
Barry
06-21-2010, 05:45 PM
How was the attendance compared to past Harmony Festivals ? more people, fewer people ... just wondering how that part of the economy is doing.
From what I've heard, the festival did better than has it in recent years, including the best Sunday ever! They may even turn a small profit, but that remains to be seen once all the bills are settled.
They received some feedback that the Main Stage sound was too loud and they seem to be taking that to heart, and it certainly jibes with my impression.
Barry
Sabrina
06-22-2010, 08:25 AM
My favorite places to hang out were the Goddess Grove and the Harmony Cafe, mainly for the quality of music (interesting world fusion stuff most of the time) and for the shade. The main stage was not only too loud (louder than I ever remember it being and it drowned out other sound systems at the fair) but it was WAY too hot mid day. I would suggest fair organizers to have a back up plan to rent some additional shading / tenting materials on hot days like that (some years the festival has had cooler weather). I was also extremely pleased that they allowed ticket holders to leave the fest. and return with a stamp, something that was very frustrating the last two years when they did not have a stamp for ticket holders (I live right in the neighborhood and like to go home to change, etc.).
From what I've heard, the festival did better than has it in recent years, including the best Sunday ever! They may even turn a small profit, but that remains to be seen once all the bills are settled.
They received some feedback that the Main Stage sound was too loud and they seem to be taking that to heart, and it certainly jives with my impression.
Barry
The California Mermaid
06-23-2010, 12:42 PM
The California Mermaid was at the fest Sunday. Always a great festival ! I personally feel the entry price is too much! I go to see the ECO Area and shop for mermaid wear. Maybe they could do a half price if you come mid day as i did.I feel the venders get the shitty deal !!!! How can people afford to buy enough to pay the booths back for booth fee?
Another thing is i always go as a mermaid with a messege. This year i spent the whole day with a hair matt (absorbs oil) straped to my tail! You would think they would atleast give discounts to those of us that sacrifice our fest day of freedom to get across such valuable information. www.matteroftrust.org (https://www.matteroftrust.org) can be looked up and further my messege endeavor. Also please support Mermaidfest ! Always the Sunday before Holloween. $5.00 donation to get in . Crafters are on an honor system . If they made enough money they pay 20%back to the fest. This way everyone wins! Sonoma County resident only can have booths.Fest takes place on Russian River. Go to www.thecaliforniamermaid.com (https://www.thecaliforniamermaid.com)
hales
06-23-2010, 09:59 PM
Thanks for the interesting link about using hair and other natural materials for oil booms, California Mermaid.. It looks like another nearly overlooked alternative solution that works much better than the standard, conventional "solutions" ..
Scott
The California Mermaid was at the fest Sunday. Always a great festival ! I personally feel the entry price is too much! I go to see the ECO Area and shop for mermaid wear. Maybe they could do a half price if you come mid day as i did.I feel the venders get the shitty deal !!!! How can people afford to buy enough to pay the booths back for booth fee?
Another thing is i always go as a mermaid with a messege. This year i spent the whole day with a hair matt (absorbs oil) straped to my tail! You would think they would atleast give discounts to those of us that sacrifice our fest day of freedom to get across such valuable information. www.matteroftrust.org (https://www.matteroftrust.org) can be looked up and further my messege endeavor. Also please support Mermaidfest ! Always the Sunday before Holloween. $5.00 donation to get in . Crafters are on an honor system . If they made enough money they pay 20%back to the fest. This way everyone wins! Sonoma County resident only can have booths.Fest takes place on Russian River. Go to www.thecaliforniamermaid.com (https://www.thecaliforniamermaid.com)
Scott McKeown
06-23-2010, 11:06 PM
The California Mermaid was at the fest Sunday. Always a great festival ! I personally feel the entry price is too much!
I appreciate that the California Mermaid comments that the Harmony Festival is always a great festival. (Thanks for that!) However, as one of the long-time producers of the Harmony Festival it always perplexes me when someone comments that it is too expensive. $40 for 12 hours of Harmony Festival time on Saturday or Sunday ($3.34 an hour) is about 1/2 the price of other comparable festivals around the country. I was the coordinator of the speakers at the Festival this year and $40 was worth just the speakers program alone if you really looked at the lineup each day (we had over 60 speakers this year at the Harmony Festival, many of them internationally well-known).
I would be interested if anyone could point to a better deal anywhere given the international world-class lineup at the Harmony Festival. (Kate Wolf Music Festival this weekend, for example, is $70 for a one day only ticket no camping -- great festival and well worth it). Sure, there are cheaper festivals. But any one of our many headlining acts would command a higher ticket price on their own, let alone everything else you get at the Harmony Festival.