47th Annual "Spirit of the Woods" Brethern Folk Festival

We've lived within 'striking distance' of Bretheren all our lives and have never managed to attend this wondrous low-key festival. And that's what makes this, now, one of our favorite events - - this is the 47th annual Bretheren Folk Festival and, yet, after all these years, we were able to find a roadside parking space within a 100' of this modest, but beautiful, wooded park. Attendance was excellent, but not overwhelming. The groups cut across several genres including, in addition to folk, enough banjos and fiddles to qualify as blue grass, some more modern ensembles - - their precise categorization, we're unsure - - but thankfully avoiding hard rock. We especially enjoyed the closing ensemble, the Great Lakes Brass - - it didn't take long to discover that this is a jazz band. Very talented and entertaining performance (but in retrospect, all of the performers here today were very talented). If you stick through to the end, you'll enjoy what was, for us, a surprise ending where the group, left the stage, marching in single file past us to a picnic table at the rear of the festival attendees, all to the tune: I'll Fly Away. The crowd picked-up the spirit and joined in song, following the band to the noted picnic table.

It seemed that every aspect of this festival was well planned and executed. Excellent food was available. Numerous craft vendor tents, and, we're told, the washroom facility is new - - replacing porta-potties of prior years. A well-staffed and informative "information booth".

And the price was right (free), although donations were encouraged to help fund future events.

We were particularly impressed with the sound system (rather, the guy running it). Absolutely clear sound, at a reasonable volume, and, to witness this master rearrange 6 or more microphones, multiple direct connections to the musical instruments, then check and adjust as necessary, that dozen connections for volume, equalization - - all within the 10 minutes allowed between groups was a delight.

We hadn't intended on posting a video, so we apologize to Ruth & Max Bloomquist (the opening group) for nearly missing them and to Hildaland, which we heard, but managed to miss a segment of their performance for this video.

Strongly recommend this festival to all.