A Message from Jennifer
 

              It’s a mystery to me how ten years have passed since I started out on my first ever road trip to the great northwest.  My “Brothers” and I were so Southern Ontario Green we thought we could drive to Ear Falls in one day... with a ‘drop in’ for coffee at some crazy  stranger’s house in Red Rock.  When Liz Harvey-Foulds was finally able to stop laughing and manage to catch her breath, she recommended that we check the scale on the OTHER side of the map - and offered to put us up overnight!

           Thus began a decade of  building wonderful friendships, sharing magical moments, watching incredible performances, experiencing remarkable weather events, playing, laughing, dancing, singing, crying...if we haven’t had a baby born at the Festival we must have come close.

     Together we’ve watched  a generation of children grow into fine young adults, mourned never to be forgotten friends, howled at many moons and never forgotten the smell of woodsmoke and oranges. (although occasionally the lyrics). Many festival friends come back year after year, filling us in on what we’ve missed, joining us around nightly campfires, bringing us coffee at dawn, listening to music from morning to midnight, admiring the works of artisans, and eating...oh my the food! Together we celebrate MUSIC:  Live...Original... Traditional… instrumental...a capella…(with hats)… home-grown, international, roots, country, blues, songwriters...if you love it...we have it ! Together we will savour and celebrate Artists, the North and our Community! 

       It has been my privilege and pleasure to have played a role in every Live From The Rock Festival; I’ve worn a Volunteer t-shirt, flashed my Performer tags with pride, and even managed to spread a blanket in the mint-scented grass of centre field to just listen. (Willie P. Bennett’s duet with the train is one of the moments I will never forget!) Just last summer my brand new grandbaby (Jack) shared the Live From the Rock experience with me; but not even that holds a candle to the honour of acting as Artistic Director for the 2011 edition of what, in my opinion, is the most  brilliant star in the Festival sky! 

    The responsibility of stepping into the shoes of a giant is daunting to say the least, but the performers who will be sharing their music with you are eclectic, talented, approachable, and eager to become part of the Live From the Rock family. Add to the three days with four stages of live music (11:00am– midnight) some interactive, instructional workshops, Science North’s Cool Caravan, yoga, craft sessions, our hands-on and friendly Family Space, Open Stage opportunities and sooooo much more, and you have the makings of a gathering   without parallel!            

     So come out this August and enjoy the natural beauty of the Red Rock waterfront, the good vibes and great people and add your rhythm to the heartbeat that anchors our place like the rock that holds fast our roots.

 

Jennifer Ives aka Jives

Artistic Director (2011) Live From the Rock Festival  http://www.livefromtherock.com/

Live@Jives:  http://www.liveatjives.com    

Performer/Presenter/Promoter www.myspace.com/livejives  

LEAD PIPE CINCH: earthy roots with a bend to the blues   http://www.liveatjives.com/Leadpipecinch.html

Barrie Folk Society  www.barriefolk.com