This is only the second running of this festival. Billed as ‘European-style’ all the performers move between the four venues in the busy downtown area. The idea is that the audience stays in either Erin’s Pub on Water Street; Bridie Molloy’s, The Fat Cat and The Carriage Works on George Street. All intimate venues in themselves, but that’s not how the pub-crawling Hectic likes to do things.

The evening opened in The Fat Cat with local stalwart Dave Panting introducing his daughter Maggie Meyer. She’s only 18 but already shows much promise with her songs of unrequited teenage love; like an early Joni Mitchell.

The pace of this festival is fast and furious with set of about 20 minutes each. The consequence of this is that we’re talking solo performers in acoustic guitar mode as they dash between venues. So onto Bridie Molloy’s for some slide blues guitar by Hugh Scott and a great little show from Jackie Sullivan.

Colin Harris was at the Carriage Works also with Jim Fidler. Fidler was interviewed some 20 hours earlier on CBC Radio One to advertise the event, and was very on good form. One of his fans of many years was in the audience who was on a visit home from Toronto. It seems many Newfoundlanders had returned to the Island this week and were catching up with their favourite local performers.

In fact, we caught up with Jackie later at the Fat Cat and finally got to hear Dave Panting. Panting was in ‘radio’ mode and played one of his bigger songs ‘You Will Always Have My Heart’.

After that it was time to get to Erin Bar. However, there was just enough time to get side tracked by another band, The Idler’s who were appearing in one of the many other bars/clubs in the area. They are a very proficient ska/reggae band who ended their set with the Clash’s. ‘Guns Of Brixton’.

The evening’s entertainment was from 10pm to 3.00am and by the time I got to Erin’s Bar, I’d just missed the last act. However, this city likes to party and there was still time for some nosh and a beer nearby.

Definitely another successful Festival and a welcome alternative to the stereotypical Irish-based folk music found on the tourist trails.

Links:
www.atlanticfest.com
www.republicofavalonradio.com podcast coming soon
www.davepanting.com
www.jackiesullivan.com
CBC Radio One St. John’s www.cbc.ca/nl/
Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, August 4 - 6 ~ St.John’s “The festival promotes & preserves the cultural tradition of the province through music, dance and crafts”. www.gov.nl.ca/tourism
www.musicnl.ca