Every year for the last four or five we have gone to a Celebration of Life in Barre, MA. It is a free event hosted by our friend Dylan Clark and his family on their farm that includes live music, vegan potlucking and camping with some of the greatest people you might ever meet. We asked Dylan once why he wanted to host such an event and he replied it was because he wanted for all his friends to hang out together long enough to become friends and want to help each other. This kind of camaraderie between musicians is usually only present when among those who consider or have gone touring. Most years the ratio of bands to music listeners leans heavily towards bands. Some bands come all the way from Georgia just to play in a basement filled with excited listeners who may or may not give them the "Barre-O".
Every year the CoL consistently improves mostly due to the Clark Family. Aside from being gracious hosts they tend to improve something each year esthetically or with furniture or various other things to share that they came across throughout the year. This year for example more space and seating for the show was provided by reorganizing an enormous wood supply and by building simple benches out of pine boards and cinder blocks. Also the stage was surrounded by flowing curtains with irises on them to disguise the basement walls behind. The field has always been hayed to make way for an impromptu wiffle ball game or campers. The grass is always mowed. The fire is always ready.
Every year at CoL I hear new music that I probably would not have otherwise heard!! I am so grateful that this festival has a consistent delivery of new music and performance. Not all festivals can boast this same legacy.This years show included an on stage engagement!
The renewal this event provides for many of it's participants is unmatched.
Gratefulness for the sharing, the beauty and good company washes over me and coats my mind. I will carry this feeling for the next year until we all can celebrate again.
~R.R.
shown from left to right Mark Mandeville, Raianne Richards, Hannah Peckham and her Mack
Photo: Paul Gandy
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