By NICK LONGO
My last column was about the Vancouver Island MusicFest and my mission was to find some volunteers from Take 5’s readership area. The whole idea of volunteering for a large community happening such as the one in Courtenay fascinated me. The fervour of the folks who volunteered their time was captivating. I wanted to find out what it was like. So, I did!
Ray Bonneville. Photo: Nick Longo
In the ensuing weeks I found myself volunteering at the Islands Folk Festival atProvidence farm inDuncan.
Once again volunteers from the community were in abundance. Each had their own reason for being there. Me, I wanted to find out what all the hubbub was all about.
I have a friend that invited me to join the Security team. He said that he ran the most laid back security team of all the festivals. I asked him “How can that be? Don’t you have to be on top of everything and be prepared for trouble and people freaking out and controlling the crowd and keeping everyone in their place and…”
“Whoa, wait a minute, slow down.” said my friend.” If you’re going to be controlling or overbearing or looking for trouble, I don’t need you or anyone else that has an attitude. It’s a Folk Fest. The best thing you can do is wear a smile. Wear the security shirt. Have a communication system on you so that you can relay information to home base. That’s it. Your presence itself is enough of a deterrent. We don’t need anyone who wants to power trip. That’s not our job. We just have to be there, let everyone know we’re there by fitting in and by being approachable. Any real problems that show up will be dealt with in a professionally friendly manner.”
I said that sounds perfect. Sign me up.
So from July 22 to the 24th I was working security. Some friends showed up and said what are you doing here? I said “I’m Insecurity (Pun intended).” They laughed. I watched them laugh. As a matter of fact I did a lot of watching and laughing. I also did some smiling finger waggling at folks that were a little out of line, smoking in a non-smoking area, or telling some kids not to pull up the lilies in the pond, or one guy that produced a flask and was drinking from it rather blatantly. For the most part though I was there as an approachable deterrent. I just had to stand there and keep watch. Nothing more, nothing less. It worked and I got to see some fine acts on my rounds.
For my free camping and festival experience I did three six hour shifts. What I did after was my business and I was pretty much free to roam the farm and see what I wanted to see. It was during my rounds with a fellow security fellow that I learned about the real value in volunteering.
It’s important to take the responsibility to take care of the young and the old generations above and below us. Then he quoted the Queen Mother, “Duty is the rent we pay for life.” There’s nothing more satisfying than giving in this life. You can’t take any of it with you anyway, he said.
I found his and the Queen Mother’s logic quite right. I was glad that I was able to volunteer and meet a great bunch of folks that care about their community and give of themselves. I had a great time. I listened to lots of fabulous music. I met a terrific bunch of folks. And I learnt a lot about being “In Security”.
Here’s a burble about some of my favourite acts. I also want to congratulate Evan Miller from Ladysmith who was the winner of the 2011 Islands Song writing Contest with his tune “Song For Pistol”. That’s the way to do it Evan.
Alpha Yaya Diallo is a three-time Juno Award winner. A true world music cultural artist. Alpha performs in French, English and his native Guinean languages of Fulani, Malinke, and Sosoxi. Diallo’s band, Bafing, features high energy African rhythms, visually captivating dancers and a hypnotic percussion section. Truly remarkable feel and energy wafted through the crowd when Alpha and his band played.
Ray Bonneville is a one-man band, his songs are like short stories, evoking true-to-life characters that the listener can hear all the hope and despair that this travelling bluesman brings to life. Having honed his craft for the last 30 years, Bonneville’s gritty storytelling and deep-grooving blues style has won him much critical attention. Ray won the prestigious Juno Award for his third album Gust of Wind.
Traveler from Phoenix Arizona, combines World Beat, Reggae, Gypsy, Arabic and Celtic influences, then throws in a little rock ‘n roll for good measure. Imagine; crazy energy, whirring electric violin solos, and exotic instruments, incorporating a mesmerizing performance that’s guaranteed to take you on a wild musical journey.
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