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All the Way from Chad
With accompaniment only from percussive hand-claps and large painted gourds, Les Aunties take to the Friday Evening Concert Bowl Stage to sing joyful songs of protest against oppression.
From the First People of Comox Valley, Canada, to the landlocked central African nation of Chad; from acoustic guitar folk harmonies to cross-cultural genre-bending musical layers; from unaccompanied voices and percussions to complex and layered instrumental blends – the Vancouver Island Musicfest in July had no apparent boundaries. Even if I’d had an idea what to expect, I still would have been surprised.
I was meant to be attending the festival with a friend who had taken part before; unfortunately, she became ill and couldn’t make it. But, I love live music (see: Music in the Snowy Mountains) and I already had my ticket and my accommodation in nearby Courtenay – so off I went.
I had a lot of difficulty deciding how to organise my pictures. (I also had difficulty taking them – more on that some other time!) In the end, I’ve simply grouped them on a timeline.
So, this short set is from Day 1, Friday evening July 12th, when only one stage was running. Technical difficulties meant that things kicked off late, but started with the Welcome from the local First People’s Kumugwe Dancers. In addition to welcoming us to their traditional lands, they invited three Maori visitors from New Zealand to the stage to present their cultural dance. I spoke to one of the New Zealanders afterwards: he had never before performed in public! The dance they had conducted on stage was usually part of their family cultural gatherings.
The nine energetic singers who form Les Aunties were on next, with their musical entreaties to educate and empower women. They sang to us, in their charmingly accented native French overlaid on rhythmic African harmonies, about the ongoing hardships for women in Chad in Central Africa. In complete contrast, Second Moon, who had just flown in from South Korea, thrilled the audience with traditional Pansori sounds mixed with Irish instruments. The lead singer, Danhae Oh, can hold a note longer than I have heard in a long time! Their set was cut short by organisers trying to get the timing back on track – much to the disappointment of all those seated around me.
Folk-duo the Milk Carton Kids from Los Angeles followed, with their distinctively Simon-and-Garfunkely sound. For those you of not from North America, back before the days of plastic bottles, the faces and descriptions of missing children were often printed on milk cartons – in the hope that someone would recognise them. Those were the original ‘Milk carton kids.’
Then, another complete shift, and we were treated to four gifted virtuoso musicians: multi-Grammy-winning banjo player Béla Fleck, pre-eminent classical tabla artist Zakir Hussain, outstanding double bassist Edgar Meyer, and brilliant classical Indian flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, play together as As We Speak. It shouldn’t work, but it does! I was not the only audience member smiling and breathless.
Join me for some musical portraits:
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“Welcome”
Chief Wedlidi Speck, Hereditary Chief of the G’ixsam Clan of the Kwakiutl, with cultural connections to the Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Northern Vancouver Island Coast Salish tribes, …
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Blankets, Buttons, and Fringes
… opened the music festival and introduced the Kumugwe Dancers.
Wolf Headdresses
The Kumugwe Dancers performed a number of dances. In this region, the wolf represents loyalty, strong family ties, good communication, education, understanding, and intelligence.
A Sea of Hats
Temperatures were in the comfortably low 20° C (70° F), but it had been a cold spring and there was little shade. Locals (and I) kept well covered. (iPhone15Pro)
Traditional Dress
More Kumugwe Dancers in blanket capes and fur headdresses – traditional dress on Vancouver Island shows a lot of cross-over with First Nation groups from further north, like Haida and Tlingit.
A Sunny Afternoon
According to rules posted everywhere, chairs or tarps are not meant to be left unattended. Even so, there are a lot of empty seats where people have staked out their territory.
Stories of Tchad
Les Aunties took to the stage with their wonderful voices – and sad stories in charmingly accented French.
Singing for Les Aunties
The Republic of Chad was a French colony until 1960; the official languages are French and Arabic. Ongoing conflicts and structural challenges have resulted in a serious deterioration in the living conditions of women – which these strong women sing about.
Food Trucks
One of the great pleasures of festivals is enjoying foods I wouldn’t normally eat.
Yunjeong Jo on Violin
The seven-piece Second Moon from South Korea took to the stage with vigour – in spite of just arriving into the country.
“Traditional Pansori Meets Western Music”
I can’t quite get a handle on what Pansori is, but one description says the traditional Korean style involves a ‘clown’ singing of his trials and tribulations to the accompaniment of one or two drums.
Danhae Oh
In Pansori, a clown sings with a fan in their right hand. Danhae Oh had us gasping over his vocal range and breath control.
In a Gat – a Korean Hat
Multi-instrumentalist Hyunbo Kim plays Irish whistle …
Hyunbo Kim
… and electric bagpipes, among other instruments.
The Milk Carton Kids
Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan formed their folk duo in 2011 and have recently released their seventh studio album.
Vocal Harmonies
The beautifully blended voices of The Milk Carton Kids have a distinctly Simon & Garfunkel feel.
Sound Check
Even watching the technicians getting the balances right for As We Speak was riveting!
As We Speak
A true collaboration among virtuosos Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia, this ensemble alternated between working together and showcasing individual talent.
Edgar Meyer, Rakesh Chaurasia, and Zakir Hussain
Double bassist and composer Edgar Meyer has Western classical music roots, while Rakesh Chaurasia has mastered techniques of Indian classical music. The superb tabla of Zakir Hussain had me dreaming of India and camel riding.
Béla Fleck on Banjo
American banjo player Béla Fleck plays music including bluegrass, jazz, classical, rock, and various world music genres.
As We Speak on the Stage
The combined effect was breathtaking, and well worth the price of the ticket.
That set alone was worth the price of admission! I bought the CD (which, unfortunately I cannot share as my computer doesn’t have a reader), and took myself home for a shower.
And, I was not the only audience member to call it quits at that point, feeling quite sated – and quite looking forward to the next day.
Until then,
Enjoy the Music!
Pictures: 12July2024
