TUMBLEWEED

For the third year in a row now, I've poo-pooed the cacophony that is Bumbershoot in favor of the Tumbleweed Music Festival in Richland, Washington and, for the third year in a row, I was not disappointed.

Described by some as the Anti-Bumbershoot, Tumbleweed is a laid back festival held on the banks of the Columbia River with the focus on acoustic music, story telling, teaching workshops, and dance. Some of my favorites from Saturday's line up featured two esteemed Seattle Folkies, Nancy K Dillon and Michael Guthrie, as well as the heavenly harmonies of Richland's own Humphrey, Hartman, and Cameron, and cowboy stories, songs, and Irish ballads from troubadour Hank Cramer.

Hank Cramer was also an excellent emcee this year for the Saturday Night Concert which featured the Sestishaya Marimba Band, blues guy extraordinaire PK Dwyer, sweet bluegrass sounds from the Badger Mountain Dry Band, and local favorites Squeeze the Weezle with the Comerford Irish Dancers. PK Dwyer gave a jive ass performance with some exceptionally hot harmonica work and was the stand out performer of the evening.

Early Sunday morning I was lucky enough to catch a little of Ruby Devine's mountain music and then was greatly entertained by the old time sounds and humor of Captain Swing & the Coney Island Corndogs. While strolling along the banks of the river I heard the Michael Carlos Band do an ear catching, folkish cover of the Clash's London Calling, an unexpected surprise.

I spent the early part of the afternoon watching and listening to John & Micki Perry, the main organizers and promoters of Tumbleweed and the Three River's Folk Society, give a humorous and heartfelt performance of their No Age Music while immensely enjoying a maple nut ice cream cone before heading back to Seattle.

If you missed out on all the fun this year, don't despair, 2006 marks Tumbleweed's 10th anniversary. Do yourself and your ears a favor . . . Be There.

TUMBLEWEED MUSIC FESTIVAL www.3rfs.org