Joe Connor - Posted - 06/22/2014:  07:20:54

This weekend, they're holding the first Clearwater Festival since Pete's death. music.msn.com/music/article.as...ws=874148  It's still hard to believe that he's gone.

UncleClawhammer - Posted - 06/22/2014:  14:47:40

Sadly missed. Pete Seeger is the reason I'm a banjo player.

JedZeppelin - Posted - 06/24/2014:  06:05:00

I got back from the festival yesterday.



While it was a great weekend and a highly successful festival (20,000-25,000 visitors according to festival director Steve Lurie), things did seem a little off. The closing ceremony, in particular, did not seem the same without Pete there. From what I've heard from long time organizers and volunteers at the festival, it was really Toshi that was the driving force behind the festival. Pete was very much a part of it, but was largely a symbolic presence, particulary in recent years. Clearwater and the Great Hudson Revival will carry on. The leadership is dedicated and well organized and there are over a 1,000 people who volunteer their time every year to make sure it continues.



So as Pete himself sang...



"And so keep on while we live"

Until we have no, no more to give

And when these fingers can strum no longer

Hand the old banjo to young ones stronger"

Edited by - JedZeppelin on 06/24/2014 06:06:52

Dr B - Posted - 06/24/2014:  10:07:58

quote:

---

Originally posted by JedZeppelin

I got back from the festival yesterday.



While it was a great weekend and a highly successful festival (20,000-25,000 visitors according to festival director Steve Lurie), things did seem a little off. The closing ceremony, in particular, did not seem the same without Pete there. From what I've heard from long time organizers and volunteers at the festival, it was really Toshi that was the driving force behind the festival. Pete was very much a part of it, but was largely a symbolic presence, particulary in recent years. Clearwater and the Great Hudson Revival will carry on. The leadership is dedicated and well organized and there are over a 1,000 people who volunteer their time every year to make sure it continues.



So as Pete himself sang...



"And so keep on while we live"

Until we have no, no more to give

And when these fingers can strum no longer

Hand the old banjo to young ones stronger"

---

As the Asst Production Manager of the festival, and someone who has been with the organization for 21 years, I can tell you that all elements of the festival were planned with great consciousness and reverence for the legacy of Pete and Toshi. I am responsible for most of the elements of the closing ceremony and spent time with the artists structuring the performance in a way that we felt Pete would be proud of. We included Native American Margo Thunderbird because she was a dear friend to Pete and was included in every closing ceremony in recent years. David Amram is part of the Clearwater family, a close friend of Pete, and the most natural leader and patriarchal figure in the community. Josh White Jr grew up around the Seeger family through his father's friendship with Pete. And Rick Nestler, a long time Clearwater fixture, sang his song about the river that Pete loved and included in many closing ceremonies. There were several iconic artists who wanted to participate but their schedules conflicted and they needed to travel right away.

Toshi was the driving force of this festival. Her involvement has been minimal in the last 10 years. Pete was more involved than her in recent years and even he participated minimally. Toshi ended her leadership with the festival years ago and remained a casual consultant. 

JedZeppelin, I am not sure what you meant by "things did seem a little off". I am guessing you maybe meant "empty". We all felt a certain amount of emptiness at the festival in losing both Pete and Toshi. We're hoping we built a festival and lineup that Pete and Toshi would be proud of. I think we all missed Pete at the closing ceremony very much, but at the same time I think the performers and setlist were very fitting. I know the artists felt that way. Among the directors, managers, and volunteers there was an overwhelmingly positive vibe going on. I believe Pete would have loved this festival.

btw, as a banjo player I hope you got to see the banjo tribute and individual sets by Tony Trischka, Cathy Fink, Tom Chapin and many others.

Joe Connor - Posted - 06/25/2014:  09:20:59

Dr. B, could you share some anecdotes of your dealings with Pete and Toshi? The stories from people who dealt with Pete are really fascinating, especially to those of us who never had a chance to meet him. I had my chance about 25 years ago and blew it. My wife and I arrived early for an outdoor concert and were walking around the grounds when we stumbled upon Pete and Toshi walking on a parallel path about 20 feet away. I really wanted to approach them but they were involved in an intense conversation and I felt as if I would be intruding, sort of like the baseball fan who asks a player for an autograph while the player is eating dinner in a restaurant.