My Cicadafest Chronicle

When I was "16-year-old-Kathy-" (when shoulder pads and teased hair were in fashion) I took time out from my listening to my “Get the Knack” LP to participate in a battle of the bands in Fonthill. I don’t remember the name of the event, but the essence of the day is carved in memory. It wasn’t because our band (tragically named “The Gap”) won – (though we did), or because we got to open for some killer bands later that night (and we did). What I remember is my 4hrs as a spectator- the blue sky, the green grass, the cold beer, my friends sitting around me. I swear to you, that if I close my eyes I can feel the plastic beer cup in my hand and the sensation of the kick drum pounding in my chest.

Later "16-year-old-Kathy" wrote (in her sad little “JR Tolkien Journal”) “I wish I could spend my whole life playing music and hanging out with friends".

Move over Charlie Sheen. I’m also winning.

Some girls think buying shoes makes them feel good. Some people do drugs. For me the combination of music, beer and friendship will get me every-time. Drug addicts call it “chasing the dragon”- that quest to re-capture the original high. Music...unlike the actual bad habits doesn’t damage your dopamine receptors. Making the next big high actually achievable. Music in fact, increases your brains capacity for love, trust, happiness. I’m not bullshitting you. It’s science.

Over the years I have made an effort to recapture the rapture. It’s been hit-and-miss for me. Happiness is a delicate cocktail and its ingredients can be easily mis-measured. I’ve been to a lot of events, always leaving the house with a shameful amount of optimism. Mostly these attempts fall short. Sometimes the music was lame, sometimes the booze was too strong, sometimes the people were just assholes. Too much wine, too many drum rolls, too many side-burns. If I had a dollar for every time a great buzz was ruined because a blues cover band stormed the stage with a 45min version of "flip, flop, fly"...well I'd have at least 5 dollars.

However, my friend Thom used to throw this backyard party. It was awesome. He invited bands- good ones and some not-so –great, he built a stage and the yard filled up with hundreds of people. We were all gathered there for the same reason- strangers and friends, listening to music, having a few drinks, eating food with the waters of the Henley glistening behind us. It was always a fantastic time. In my mind I have those year chronicled as:

2002 The year I broke my flip flop walking home
2003 The year Barnhouse Static lost our kazoos (little kid in the front row, you know who you are!)
2004 The year "the accordion player" sucked tequila rose off a cooler lid
2005 The time I did a cartwheel and hurt my back
2006 The other time I did a cartwheel and hurt my back




In 2007, Thom’s little backyard party became “Cicadafest”. I have been lucky enough to participate in various capacities- sometimes as a performer and sometimes as an organizer. This year my band-mate Peter and I will be running the indoor stage, bringing some local favourites and new talent together with some of the main-stage acts. We’ll probably play a few tunes too. But if not, you can find us after the show in the campground. Just listen for the accordion and the sound of a beer can being opened.

Cicadafest will be held at Henley Island (the place where a red elastic saved "16-year-old Kathy"’s virginity...which is a whole other blog). Anyway, beautiful tranquil Henley Island where the sky is blue even when it’s not. There will be cold beer ($3 special on Friday night!) and music- great music on the main-stage. Music from Texas and the far reaches of Canada, music from New York and great local bands.

Here’s the line up:

http://cicadafest.com/acts.html

If you haven’t heard of any of these bands- fear not! That’s all part of your chronicle.
eg:
2009 the first time I heard Scott Nolan
2010 the year CR Avery blew me away
It’s a Cicadafest tradition. Come to our festival and you will leave with a new favourite songwriter.

Friends, come to our festival. Not because I’m telling you so, and not to see me do a cartwheel (I am not that good and have probably learned my lesson)

not because it is a labour of love, for me and for my friends
or because a lot of people have worked hard to bring you some great music in a great venue
or because young musicians will be there, starting their own Cicadafest memories,
or because hometown culture is essential
or because Henley Island is magical
or because last week I coulda died carrying those new drums skins on the back of a motorcycle
or because camping is fun,

Come to Cicadafest 2011 (July 8,9,10) because you deserve your own memories of green grass, cold beer and the kick drum pounding in your chest.

See the website for advance ticket information.

And for the record:
My official Cicadafest Chronicle:
2007 The year I had to leave early (again...a whole other blog)
2008 The year of the underwear incident
2009 The year I drank and jammed with Susan Gibson at the camp ground
2010 The year of the best and biggest campsite jam in the history of the world
2011......tba