Nini and Heather Eckles sat outside their antique, 1948 teardrop travel trailer in the meadow at the bottom of Reservoir Hill, among a crowd of 80 or so waiting vehicles. They were enjoying a simple, outdoor breakfast as the sun rose over the hill and the other campers began to stir out of their trailers and RVs after a long night of socializing and bluegrass picking.
And the Festival hadn’t even officially started yet. Continued...
Heather and Nini Eckels share a sunny breakfast among the trailers and campers awaiting the 11 am opening of the Reservoir Hill campsites yesterday morning. People waited in line with their vehicles from as early as Monday, hoping to get the best camping spots.
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The Eckels were just two of the over 1300 people who later set up their tents, pop-ups and RV among the majestic Ponderosa pines at the top of Pagosa Springs' largest municipal park, Reservoir Hill, a 130 acre hilltop overlooking downtown Pagosa, its two major hot springs resorts, and, beyond that, the San Juan Mountains.
In a large meadow in the midst of the campers, the 12th annual Four Corners Folk Festival will be presenting three days of American-folk-influenced music — a mix slightly heavy on the bluegrass and ‘new grass’ side of the record, but also including references to Old Timey, Country, rock, jazz and classic folk — staged in a huge white tent under blue Colorado skies. Continued...
Rusty, a camper from nearby Bayfield, Colorado, gets an affectionate punch from his friend Rick. Rusty decorated is campsite with dozens of colorful cloth banners and said he planned to win the "Most Colorful Campsite" award, if there was such a thing.
A group of friends were already picking and grinning Thursday afternoon, trying to learn a Grateful Dead tune. |
Although the three-day Festival officially opened its camping sites at 11 am yesterday, dozens of camper vehicles have been waiting in line in the grassy parking lot next to the Bank of the San Juans on Hot Springs Boulevard since as early as last Monday, hoping to get the choicest camping spots on the hill.
Nini and Heather said they came to Pagosa on Sunday, stretching their vacation out into a whole week. “We stayed at the Spa Motel and soaked — this is part of our routine — we went up into the mountains and just had a wonderful vacation already — and now, we’re waiting in line to start the second half.”
They got into the waiting queue on Tuesday and “went shopping at the antique stores and thrift shops, had the best burger I’ve had in a couple of years,” smiled Nini.
Hundreds of additional non-camping music fans will be joining the campers when today’s Friday lineup — the Boulder Acoustic Society (one of this writer’s favorite Colorado bands), the Hot Strings, Bearfoot, Millish, and The Wilders — serve up an eclectic mix starting at 2 pm. and winding up about 9 pm.
The professional bands performing on stage are only a part of the picture at the “Bestival” (as many long-time patrons reportedly call the 12-year old event). Campfires blazing long into the night are surrounded by the campers— many of whom are excellent musicians themselves — jamming to bluegrass, blues, folk and various other genres on guitars, fiddles, mandolins, banjos, dobros, harmonicas, drums, and just about any portable folk instrument you can think of. Continued...
What's a little blues between friends?
Hacky Sack in the forest, with a nearby banjo accompaniment.
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The “official” music continues all day Saturday — from 11 am until about 8 pm with Sweeet Sunny South, Cadillac Sky, The Infamous String Dusters, Ollabelle, The Darrell Scott Band, and Nickel Creek.
The Sunday lineup will include Ann & Pete Sibley, Casey Driesen, Millish, The Infamous Stringdusters, the subdudes (who prefer to avoid the capital “S” in their name, for some reason) and finishing up with the remarkable Jerry Douglas and his band.
The Festival is clearly family-friendly, with a free kids program and free admission for children 12 & under. In addition, some 24+ workshops are scheduled throughout the weekend for aspiring musicians of all ability levels -- everything from flatpicking techniques to vocal harmonies and CD production. “Music lovers come from all over the country and even as far away as Europe for the opportunity to enjoy a high caliber of musical performances in this remarkably beautiful setting,” reports the Festival web site.
Tickets are reportedly nearly sold out for the event as of Friday morning, but interested music lovers can call 970-731-5582 to find out what may be still available.
“This is our favorite festival — it’s low-key and it’s one of the most beautiful places to camp,” says Heather.
“And the town,” Nini adds, “we like the people.” |