Folk Fest

This is the first blogger image I have been able to upload in a while.

Also, if things seem unclear, I am now on 3 days of very little sleep. The rain has stopped, but my mind hasn't. I'm sure sleep will come, but right now I don't know when that will be.

I have to admit I am really bummed. I lost my memory stick from my camera and it had tons of pictures from yesterday's Folk Fest at our church. I did have a second stick and this is a pic of Julien- our exchange son and Cameron from our chuch on guitar.

I MC'd the Folk Fest show, as I have for the past 3 years. I'm the hook. There has been talk of putting me in a Lil Bow Peep outfit, but lucky for me, this is a church!

The bands were great. I'm not always into folk music, but as I have mentioned previously, live music moves me.

Since I've been doing this for 3 years, I've gotten to know the bands who are regulars. Live Bate, The Choir Boys, Turtle Creek Ramblers all are great bands.

I also enjoy seeing Ed Hall play. His is with at band called Trillium and they do mostly Irish Folk. I get a little dissapointed when he plays with the band. Ed Hall is by far one of the most talented guitar players I have ever seen. He can really play anything. I really enjoy when he plays blues -- but we don't get to see that when he is with his band.

As I MC'd my kids helped in the kitchen and my husband cooked brats. My other kid, the exchange student Julien, locked himself in a classroom at the church and was studying. Monday night at 7 PM auditions would be held for the our high school production of Into the Woods. Julien had a CD, the script, and was working away.

After about 2 hours, I sent some of the high school girls I knew into the room to draw him out. He reluctantly joined them in the kitchen to help serve nachoes.

It was about that time that I stuck up a conversation with Greg. Greg arranges the bands for Folk Fest. We were discussing teenagers (his son is a senior) and I mentioned that Julien sings in a rock band back in Switzerland, at his school. Greg mentioned that his son Cameron played guitar... That was it, our last act was set.

When I approached Julien with the idea, he was surrounded by the girls of our church. I asked him to come out of the room, as not to embarrass him or make him feel pressured. When I asked him his response was "What? Are you kidding?" As he himmed and hawed, my husband Jim walked up behind us and replied to Julien "No, we're not kidding. You're Playing"

Cameron and Julien practiced in our choir room for about an hour. I have to admit I was a bit nervous for him. We have played kareoke down stairs in the family room, but that was bout the extent of it. I knew he was in a band at school, but I never heard the band. Cameron is very talented on the guitar, so there were no worries there.

Well, if you want to hear how it went you can go to myspace.com/midwestcitymouse and look at the poorest quality video you ever saw, or you can take my word that they blew the crowed away. One of the women from church actually was crying when he sang "Tears in Heaven"

I think one of the best parts about this was that it was broadcasted on our local radio station. (Julien didn't realize it until he had gotten off the stage).

If anyone wants to meet the meanest mom in the world that would be me! I make sure I get my kids out of their comfortzones at all costs!

As I mentioned, tonight are tryouts for the play. Julien is going for Repunzules prince and my son Zach is going for Jack-- although I think he'd do better as the announcer.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for both of them!

As for me, well today there is work. I may try to find the lost memory stick too. 5 acres to look over...eeek. Maybe I'll try to take a nap.