Hat? Check.
Sunscreen? Check.
Camera? Water? Binoculars? Check, check and check.
These are just a few of the items on inveterate fan Elizabeth Anderson’s list of things to take to the Roots and Blues Festival.
Anderson, who has been seasoned by a decade or more of the three-day fun fest, has lots of other items on her must-have list as well.
A tarp is a must because it can get damp in the evenings – along with a readily identifiable blanket to throw on top.
“Because after a while one blue tarp looks like every other blue tarp,” laughs Anderson, who also recommends a colourful ribbon or other marker attached to your (low-back, of course) chair in a veritable sea of chairs.
As well as sunscreen, Anderson says an umbrella can provide protection from the sun as well as from rain.
Anderson also like to carry wet wipes or a damp facecloth to tidy up after sampling her favourite dishes at the Global Food Village.
A pen is useful for circling favourite acts on the program and a flashlight helps with this and getting around the site after the sun goes down.
“A cell phone is handy but be sure to turn it to mute or vibrate,” says Anderson. You can use it to keep track of time so you don’t miss an act, and to keep track of friends and family if you are all at different stages.”
Oh, and don’t forget a bank card or cash to spend in the Artisan Market or the merchandise tent.
The festival has become an annual event for Anderson and her sister, who makes the trek from Vancouver.
“I love hanging with my sister for the weekend, I love discovering all the great acts that are new to me and I love all the people you meet,” says the gregarious Anderson.
As well as dining on-site all weekend, Anderson copes with the sometimes long lines to get onto the festival site by making new friends or reading a book to pass the time.
“We even enjoy getting up early in the morning to get in line,” she laughs. “We always meet friendly people and get to swap stories about the acts we saw the day before, or the year before.”
This year, Anderson says – with great enthusiasm – that she is especially looking forward to catching Five Alarm Funk, the high-octane Vancouver band that will close the main stage Friday night and the Boogie Bar-N Stage Saturday night.
“I love all the workshops too, where you get all the musicians, the songwriting and singers from different groups playing together. They feed off each and that’s when the magic happens,” she says, calling to mind her favourite – Ruthie Foster jamming with members of the Linda Tillery Choir. “It gave me goose-bumps; it was just one of those moments.”
Speaking of goosebumps reminds Anderson that warm clothing is essential for most people – even after a day of torrid heat.
Layering is the best method of dealing with a day-to-night festival, with a sweater and warm socks important for warding off the chill that often creeps in after sundown.
Anderson says one of the things that aggravates her is how some locals dismiss the festival simply because they don’t recognize the performers.
“They are so missing the point. They’re missing the whole point of musical adventure and discovery, of falling in love with new acts,” she says, pointing out her pride for the Folk Music Society and the well-run festival. “And it makes me feel proud to see the entertainers themselves having fun. You can see it in the smiles on their faces – their excitement and joy at being there.”
Anderson advises those who might be contemplating a visit to the festival to take with them a sense of musical discovery.
“Check out the new acts and be prepared to be blown away,” she says, noting with a laugh that her husband volunteers at the festival, while her contribution is to simply show up, rave about the show and spend money.
“I save up all year to buy my CDs. So show up, and it’s guaranteed that you will have fun, discover new music, make new friends – and walk away with a big ….eating grin.”
Get festival tickets and information online at www.rootsandblues.ca.
