SHOW REVIEWS

Richmond, VA, Cain O'Rear, October 2006 Toe tappin' at the Folk Festival The National Folk Festival was a smashing success this weekend, with incredible music, blue skies, and a festive crowd that officials estimated at 100,000. Though the corn dogs and hand-crafted walking sticks were an integral part of the experience, the music was clearly the main attraction. And it was battered state of Louisiana that was best represented musically. Among the performers from the hurricane-ravaged state were Don Vappie and the Creole Jazz Serenaders, a traditional jazz group from New Orleans. Vappie, a Creole himself, led his crack band through a variety of old Dixieland standards early Saturday afternoon, including "Buddy Bolden's Blues" and "When the Saints Go Marching In," which sounded as joyous and buoyant as ever. For a brief moment, Brown's Island was Jackson Square and the muddy James became the murk of the Mississippi. Another Louisiana group was the Lost Bayou Ramblers, a Cajun band from Lafayette, La., a southern part of that great state known as "Cajun Country." By the end of their set Sunday afternoon, the Ramblers had whipped the crowd into a frenzy with their hard-stomping, Cajun rhythms, with lead singer and fiddle player Louis Michot spouting out backwoods French to one of the band's accordion-driven dance numbers. It wasn't the King's French Louis was singing, but it sounded damn fine to us. There was also no shortage of moving and shaking to the Skatalites. While church service was ending in some parts of the city on Sunday, on Brown's Island the beer had started flowing and the Skatalites were taking the stage. The band delivered a spirited performance, playing their hits "James Bond Theme," "Phoenix City" and "Freedom Sounds." Vocalist Doreen Shaffer, who at times sounded like Brenda Lee, took the stage half way through the show and led the band through some of their signature tunes. Equally as entertaining as the band on stage were some of the fans in the crowd, who were performing some kind of centripetal dance which may or may not have an official name. Bluesmen Willie King also delivered a scorching set Sunday. Some of the songs went on for 15 minutes, with Willie at times making his way out into the crowd for extended jams on a fire apple red Fender Stratocaster. One of this best Saturday performances this writer witnessed was that of Hazel Dickens. The old-timey Appalachian singer, who told the crowd she had been touring relentlessly since recovering from two strokes last year, played "California Cotton Fields" and a song she said was strongly influenced by the Carter Family. All in all, it was the three greatest days of music Richmond will hear this year. And best of all, we'll get another dose of it next fall. -- Caine O'Rear, Richmond.com

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