The Satsop River Rock Festival is now only days away. Even more startling is that the weather forecast is for a warm and sunny day! You may want to properly prepare yourself for this blast into the past by digging out some of your old albums. We happen to have tons of old vinyl, which qualifies me as an official ‘person of a certain age’. Some of those records are worn and scratched from intensive use, and one of my favorites is Eric Burdon and the Animals. Yes, I’m one of those people that you see driving along singing at the top of her lungs when ‘We Gotta Get Out of This Place’ or ‘The House of the Rising Sun’ comes on the radio. Being a teenager in the 60's, ‘Don’t Let me be Misunderstood’ was embraced by every kid as their personal cry of angst. Oh, it is so good to be all grown up! You couldn’t pay me enough to relive that time of life again, unless I could do it with all the accumulated wisdom of my 57 years.
The Satsop River Festival opens the doors of the Olympic Stadium at 10am on Saturday, and the bands begin blasting at 10:45. This is your classic all day long and well into the night Rock Festival, complete with food and craft vendors plus a beer garden. If it’s been a while since you attended an event like this, let me refresh your memory as to necessary items to pack for the day. Sunscreen, wide brim hat, cash, sunglasses, pillows and a blanket are the core basics. Personally, I always stash some toilet paper in my bag too, just in case of a shortage. I’m sure that won’t be the case with this well-managed event, but old habits die hard.
Can you imagine if we’d had cell phones back in 1971 at the original festival? Somehow word still managed to get out about the magnitude of the event, because people kept pouring in until an estimated 150,000 hippie wannabes were rockin’ out in the valley. Mark Swanson showed us aerial photos that he took, showing tents littered on the ground like pebbles. I’m thinking that my toilet paper stash would have been as good a commodity as gold at that event! No, I cannot claim to have been there myself, but my dear husband was one of the guys with a tent set up. Oddly enough, he is somewhat mute on the subject. Probably trying to spare my feelings, because I can detect the glimmer of some really fine memories when the subject arises.
The lineup of bands for Saturday is impressive, and I’ve printed out and marked up the schedule so that I don’t miss hearing my favorites; Wishbone Ash and Eric Burdon are playing in the evening, but there is fabulous music all day long on 2 stages. R.A.F. is one that I won’t miss, because Hoquiams’ own Duke Erickson, bassist extraordinnaire from Metal Church is playing. To think that this guy used to mow my lawn! He shudders now when reminded of it. His brothers had passed the job along to him, I think it was a rite of passage for the Erickson clan. Another band I am anticipating is Drive. We heard them open for an act at the D&R and were astounded by their sound. The lead singer is amazing, a Hoquiam High School student with a voice and stage presence well beyond his years. Bet he already has groupies. And Randy Hansen, an amazing Jimi Hendrix tribute artist will be back in town. We saw him this Spring at the D & R, and what a performance he gave!
If you are concerned about having food to keep you going, fear not! Deidra will have her extraordinary custom built sandwiches and soups available, Nancy is bringing oodles of her rightly famous cinnamon rolls, cookies, pies, and jams (including a fresh batch of Little Wild Blackberry with special Satsop River Rock Festival labels!), and our own Anthony Stricevich is grilling his mouth watering sausages all day long. Shirley Teague has been working feverishly making plenty of Tie Dye shirts and dresses- her newest designs are light years better than anything that you wore back in 1971!
Barbara Bennett Parsons, manager of the Hoquiam Farmers Market- another Oldie but Goodie. More berries and produce arriving daily! 538-9747 for orders!
|
