from the "back from Salmon Arm" dept.

Salmon Arm stories:

It's tough to recap three days of go-go-go mixed with amazing music and super cool people. Such was this past weekend.

It began Friday (08/18/06).

After a rough start (owing to my moodiness from too much work and too little chill-time recently) Brent and I loaded up the semi-new car and hit the road for Surrey. It was 7am or so.

The purpose of the trip: to shoot more material for Brent's documentary on Leroy "The Grandmaster" Young. He's been playing in many festivals this summer -- and the Salmon Arm fest was to be his last appearance in Canada. Brent's been following GM for several years now, and this is a very important chapter of GM's story.

In Surrey we hooked up with Brent's sister and her hubby and kids. We transferred our stuff from my car to their packed-to-the-rafters minivan.

And we were off. It's not a short drive to Salmon arm - about four hours. Although there is the excitement of paying a toll on the way up.



We arrived at Brent's extended family's summer retreat just outside Salmon Arm. We dropped off the family and continued on to Salmon Arm where GM would be waiting. We'd be sharing a room.



GM wasn't there but his stuff was. We dumped our stuff and headed over to the festival office and to get our paperwork and passes.

We met GM there... and started formulating a plan... which included a visit to the media tent and a surprising setting.

Unlike other festivals, Salmon Arm set up a large tent for media that was also a hang out for musicians. Packed with retro-furniture, groovy carpets and funky lamps, it was an oasis of coolness right next to the main stage.

That night we caught African artist Lagbaja on the main stage. Funky and fun, but no Salif Keita.




Saturday:

Grandmaster had a light schedule, but there was still lots to do. We discovered more interesting music and then shot a workshop with GM than included Apache Indian and the Reggae Revolution:



That afternoon, we headed to Sorrento to have a big family BBQ with Brent's kin and GM. The big question: what would happen when GM was plopped into the middle of a rather white situation. The answer: a heck of a good time!



The deep fried turkey was a hit as well.

We shot more b-roll and interviews and that night we watched Feist...



... and part of the Apache Indian & the Reggae Revolution performance on the mainstage.



And called it a night.

Sunday:

The busiest day. GM had several workshops, including one with the incredible Mirhirangi - an Maori singer/songwriter/loopguru from New Zealand.



GM absolutely cooked and had the crowd hopping at his second workshop Sunday.



We were knackered by the end of it all. But there was more to come: the four hour drive home.

We left S.A. around 8 got to Surrey around 11:30 and I arrived home after midnight.

Luckily, Monday was a day off. Aaaah.

That's the short summary. More photos to come.

Cheers!