Apart from the sweltering heat, it was a great day at Woodford on the 27th. The festival goes for 6 days, but I could only make it for one and my main mission was to finally see The Mammals. I've been reading posts, by other Blunderites, about them for months,so now it is finally MY TURN!!!
After a pleasant morning wandering The Village streets visiting various colorfull stalls, partaking of wonderful food and beverages, and listening to a wide variety of folk music, I and my daughter were lucky enough to get seats, front row centre, for The Mammels gig.

Everything is undercover of large tents and though out of the sun we were affected by the heat. (and we live here!) So I felt sorry for our visitors from the northern winter who were on stage under lights!! Despite this there came from the stage a rousing energy of banjo, fiddle, guitar and drums!! Beautiful songs and music!!For those that have experienced their music live, you know what I'm saying!!!

I was privileged after the gig to spend a little time chatting with Michael, Tao, Jacob, Ruth and Chris. They were so warm and friendly just as I had expected. They signed a CD and some postcards for me and agreed to a few photos. I hopefully will include some of these photos here (if it all works OK having never posted phots before).

If you view these photos pay no attention to the woman in the purple cheesecloth shirt. She is not a Mammal, but one of those crazy weird Blunderites! (she had been Blundering on to The Mammals about being a Blunderite!! )

I was also in for an unexpected surprise while waiting for The Mammels to arrive at the Meet and Greet tent. Sitting there, eating her lunch, with no one else around, was none other than Peggy Seeger! What a beautiful, friendly woman! I actualy managed to have a sane, relaxed discussion with her (unlike when I met up with Arlo last year,for the first time, in a group of only about 6 people but was so overcome that I just sat there like a stunned mullet!!)

She was also gracious enough to be photographed with me!

I have also included a photo just for Larry, Penelope was far out Lar!!!

If you can ever manage to get to The Woodford Folk Festival (maybe when some Guthries make it one day?) you'll have a great time!!!

Deb Louise

This link should take you to some photos

http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/debraw ... /my_photos

Nice photos, Deb Louise. Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the show.

I can tell you that The Mammals are all weather performers. A couple of years ago, a friend and I drove up to Woodstock to see the Mammals on a zero degree night at The Colony Cafe, the place got like no heat, it was about 30 degrees INSIDE. people were sitting IN the fireplace.....but the Mammals played on!

Ohhh yes! That was one heck of a show! Can you just picture Ruth fiddling, wearing those gloves with the fingers cut off and scarves and hats... (the stage was NOT near the fireplace)...

Say hello, for me, to the fellow you brought with you! Wish I could remember his name... nice guy!

Louise... great pics!!! I'm glad you had this chance to hear and meet the Mammals... and Peggy Seeger, too!!!! Woodford is definitely on my "I wanna go there" list!

Thanks for sharing the photos, Deb Louise:) They came out awesomely good! The one with you and Mammals is the tops .....I met Tao and Ruth up in UMASS after Arlo's show back in November and they were cool and intellegent, very nice to talk to

Peace

Thanks for sharing those WONDERFUL pictures. GEE- HOW hot was it?? Sounds and looks like a great place! Lucky you and I'm glad you had fun!!

Cyndy, it was close to 100F and because we're sub-tropical, it's the humidity that really gets to you at this time of the year!
You would all feel really at home at Woodford, it's a place where you feel like a square peg in a square hole, instead of in a round hole!!
Very peaceful, good vibes, no litter etc.
It's the biggest Folk Festival in OZ. They had to cap the tickets this year!
People come from all over the world.
We also have the biggest Bluegrass Festival in Oz, just south of Brisbane around June.

Plenty of room in the barn Wyld !!!! And only 20 mins drive from my place to Woodford! I'm planning on spending a lot more time there next year.

Tao said The Mammals will be back in 2007 so I'll be putting that on my calender!

Nice pics. Are you any kin to Tina Louise?

No Goof, I think I'd be more likely to be kin to Thelma and Louise!

Hark! I hear Maurice Chavilier singing in the shadow "Every little breeze seems to whisper Louise".........Here comes a massive breeze its Wilma telling me to get lost....Flintstone that is

Wow Loiuse! You lucky thing! We had hoped to get to Woodford on the same day, but our beautiful pussycat got mauled by dogs just before Christmas, so four days of too-ing and fro-ing to the vet, two surgeries, and ending up having to put him down not only was distressing, it blew our December budget out of the water. Good to hear The Mammals intend to return 2007- maybe if we drop enough hints The Folksinger Himself might even consider coming too! Your photos are great, brings back memories of last year! Woodford is certainly a special festival.

OHH sorry about your cat. Too bad you missed Woodford but it's doing so well, I think it will be around for a long time. Might see you there next year! Yeah and who knows, we might see the Folkslinger there some time too!! Wouldn't it be great to have adg and all the Guthrie clan plus The Mammals and Peggy Seeger there all at the same time!!

Pfeew finally made it back to sydney after a week of woodford. I make the pilgrimage (and thadts what it is) every year to this huge festival. I think total numbers are aroun 80,000 over the whole week.

I got to see the mammals 5 TIMES. It does seema little overboard but why not enjoy them while theyre around. I got to meet them several times and have a chat which was really nice. Theyre such a great group.

I also got to see the duhcs sp? a few times and even learned so me banjer from them. These are another rock band with that old time- string band sound to them.

I also got to see and and meet peggy seeger a few times. It really is a fantastic festival, despite it's move toard comersialism.

I would really love to see the Guthries there in the future, i've no doubt they would fit right in. I think if we keep dropping hints maybe it will become a reality. Could you image if three people dropped hints every day and walked out. he might think it's a movement.

Well seat_36C....there's you, me and BobbieB......... that's three........
and we could probably count on DaveX too!

Deb, GREAT story & pics! SO glad you had such a good time!