By Claire Paradis/Special to the Revelstoke Times Review
Deep in the heart of the mountains on the western shore of Kootenay lake mid-way between Nelson and Nakusp is the small and charming town of Kaslo. Well-kept Victorian storefronts fill the narrow main street, and the sky and mountains are interrupted only by a few sailboats.
We were visiting for the Friday night show of the Kaslo Jazz Etc Fest which kicked off a weekend packed with jazz, blues, folk, rock and even a little electronic music. Parking behind the lovely Kaslo Hotel, we walked down toward the floating stage. It was a beautiful sunny day, and from the crest of the hill you could see the stage and the treed seating area where spectators were setting up their blankets and chairs.
Just inside the gates merchants sold bright recycled plastic lanterns, summer dresses, and toys and games for adults and kids. Nearly a dozen food vendors offered everything from Indian to Greek, crepes, bratwurst, and sushi. Stomachs rumbling, we decided to put the blankets down first and come back for a bite.
Just as we came on to the beach area to claim our blanket space for the night, The Crackling began to play. After a riveting and rocking open number, front man Kenton Loewen remarked that the band was used to playing in dark basements and clubs so playing on a floating stage moored in a lush green mountain setting was a new and unique experience.
“I don’t know what’s more beautiful,” he said, “what you’re seeing or what we are seeing.”
He was not alone in this observation. Every performer on stage that night was overcome and remarked at least once by the natural beauty surrounding them, and the hundreds of happy spectators who filled the natural amphitheatre.
The Crackling played songs from their latest album “Keep Full Ambitious,” a collection of well-crafted tunes that was a great introduction to the band for those of us lucky enough to get to discover them at the Kaslo Jazz Etc Fest.
At the end of their set, the crowd was invited to head to the merchandise tent and meet the band who were happy to sell CDs but also liked “hugs and good conversation too.”
In no time at all, Dan Mangan was on stage with his band who turned out to be a reconfiguration of The Crackling. Mangan was just as filled with gratitude and compliments as his bandmate Loewen, remarking on the beauty of both the mountains and the audience. What a charmer!
Mangan, along with his bandmates, is from Vancouver but his reputation is spreading rapidly. The Kaslo Jazz Etc Fest is just one date on a list of international shows the band will be playing before the year’s end.
And no wonder. The songs are well-written and the band is tight. Not many performers can write about heartbreak, post-traumatic stress disorder, or their mother with humour and tenderness and still rock out. There were moments during the set that put the jazz back in the Jazz Fest, treating the audience to the kind of spontaneous performance that comes from musicians who love playing together.
The Kaslo Jazz Etc Fest prides itself on its small, intimate feel where performers and spectators can come together and share a unique experience. Dan Mangan took full advantage of the opportunity, stirring up the audience into singing the refrain from “Robots,” then getting down into the crowd to play his guitar through the singing people. It was one of those exceptional moments of live performance when everyone present knows they are taking part in an unrepeatable and unique experience.
At the end of their set on the flower-festooned stage, Dan Mangan again extended an invitation to come meet him at the merchandise tent for a CD and some conversation.
As the sun began to sink behind the crowd, the few clouds floating overhead blazed pink in the oncoming night. Behind the stage, the kayak patrol kept the water clear of boats sailing to and from the marina and a few ducks flew over the stage. It was the end of a fantastic afternoon and the start of a great night.
After thanking Dan Mangan and Kenton Loewen for their excellent performances, I bumped into Bub Patience at the merchandise tent. Patience is the artistic director of the festival, and while he was excited about the great performances we’d just seen, he was realistic as well.
“We won’t get Dan again,” he said, “He’ll cost too much next year.”
It is clear that Dan Mangan and The Crackling’s star is on the rise, but the Kaslo Jazz Etc Fest has had some big name performers in the past. I asked Patience how they attracted such high calibre performers.
“Look around,” he said.
Watching the sky turn dusky over the lake and mountains with all the happy people sharing the relaxed atmosphere, I could understand what he meant and why the festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
“Excuse me,” said Patience, as he turned to talk with a festival volunteer.
“That’s great!’ he said, “we just reached twelve hundred!” At 1,100 people in attendance for the Friday night show, the festival broke even.
“Now we’re in the black,” said Patience. Good news for the future of another rare Kootenay experience.
By the time Delhi 2 Dublin took the stage, everyone was on their feet and ready to dance. Even so, the crowd was respectful and kept their feet off the crazy quilt of blankets that covered the ground. The Vancouver band’s high energy performance was contagious and got everyone moving to their infectious beats. With an eclectic high-energy blend that incorporates tabla, fiddle, sitar, dhol and electronic beats, the music was irresistible. The night came to a close with an encore that had all the festival kids dancing on stage. At the end, the stars shone out across the sky and guided the contented festival-goers home.
