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Location: PDX | Here goes --- it took Mark about a year to get the NW OFC gathering from concept to reality. Juggling so many schedules is just down right difficult, and planning them a year out even more so. However, Phil proposed an idea earlier, and I’d like to see how much interest there is. One reason for doing this early can be found in an email I recently received from Phil, quoted in part below:
“…. interested in the Vancouver Island Music Fest. The only urgency in deciding is buying the tickets by December when they're half price. $50-55Cdn instead of $110.
The camping is not reserved but it is fairly easy going. If I knew people were coming I would stake extra space in our campground area. It's no big deal at all if you're tenting. Pulling a trailer however, they park you where you fit when you show up.
Be great if any of the gang could make it. If I know how many, I'll buy the tickets. ….”
Anyway, by way of gauging committed interest I open this thread. The commitment comes from buying tickets six months or so in advance, and the time involved in driving to lands end, camping out, and driving back. I’d love to do this as a mini-vacation, and I think hanging out for more than a few hours with you wonderful folks would be a great time.
So who’s interested in NW OFC II at the Campbell River?
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gh1 |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I know that I won't be able to make the trek but I don't want to be closed to doing a gathering at my house or at least in my town some time inthe future.
Perhaps not THE OFC NW but A NW gathering of some sort. I was impressed with the relative simplicity of the last meet.
Keep it all going! |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | hmmmmm.. very interested.. not sure if I'll be able to pull off the logistics, though. Good idea to bring it up now! |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Oh, the music's usually pretty good too! ;)
And, unlike many larger festivals (this is about 8,000 people per day) you can walk to all five stages and the workshops within about five minutes.
It's a little bit bit hippy, a little bit R'n'R, a litle bit country, and a lot of World Music.
All in all, it's a pretty relaxed, fun affair. usually a lot of homemade music at the campsites too. There are a few rules and security, the only one's heavily enforced are No Canned Music! and um, yer not really supposed to have alcohol in the mainstage area...not that I've ever seen it confiscated... but a square of beer in a cooler will not get past security. :rolleyes:
( Lands End my hairy butt! :p More like A Little Piece Of Heaven On Earth! From Portland it's 10 1/2 to 12 hours driving time depending on backups at the border and whether or not you have ferry reservations. From Port Angeles you can probably make it before lunch time! ;) ) |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I want to be first to start the unsupported rumour that Kaki King will be playing next year! (check Kaki touring thread for confirmation.. ;) |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I'll be in San Diego at a Porsche gig. (The annual convention that was in Portland the week before our NW gathering.) |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | SOoooo, looks like,....and this is only maybe....
greg's the only one interested in taking in a little foreign culture? No probs.
And it's not like this is last call or anything, but if there IS any interest I'm just bringing this up so it doesn't fall off the page.
Did I mention it's a lot of cheap (think 3rd world cost, first world language) fun? :-) |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I think Lisa and I would be in for this. Of course I'll have to mention it to her :) |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | I might be interested...do you have any specific reviews of the festival/area? |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | What sort of review do you mean? This link in the first post takes you to the festival website which has lots of pics of the event.
I can mail you my old copy of the grounds map if you like.
Basicly, you're camping in two grass pastures on the fairgrounds. Same place they hold the annual fall fair. The mainstage is farthest from the campsites. (this can be a blessing if you go to bed before the music stops at 1AM.) At the very farthest of the far field, you're about a 7 to 10 minute walk from the main stage.
You will pass three of the other stages on the way.
Space in front of the main stage is 'reserved' every morning by staking out your blanket or carpet. In our campsite, the first person up (usually either me or Dave at 6:30) grabs the various carpets and blankets to stake out our space right beside the sound booth. This gives us the best mix IMO, and you can still see the stage when some folks get up and boogie a bit.
(most of the day, all danceing is off to the side of the stage, but the last 2 acts of the night usually EVERYONE is up and dancing)
Low riders, folding chairs with seats about 6 inches off the ground and relatively low backs are required for seating in the area we prefer. Regular folding chairs are allowed in the back half of the mainstage field. (see exact specs at website) Everything else is legal at all the other stages.
The other stages have something happening from 10-12ish until 6PM. Then it's just mainstage events.
There are 15 - 20 different food consessions and a beer garden. But you can bring your own food. (beer regs well......we'll talk ;-) ) There are also craft booths and massage available.
Kids play area where they can keep 'em occupied and supervised all day.
What else would you like to know? |
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Location: PDX | Just to remind folks of the great time we had at The Gathering I, i put some pics of it in my gallery.
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gh1 |
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Location: North Idaho | The wife and I are interested. In trying to find this on Streets and Trips map, is this near the Comox Museum? What camp grounds do you use?
Thanks. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | No,the whole thing happens at the Comox Valley Fairgrounds. Music, camping, beer garden, Saturday morning Farmers Market (make a nice stew with fresh goat!) everything.
For the sake of mapquest or whatever, it's near the corner of Headquarters and Dove Creek road....I think. at least close to there. That is...if Headquarters and Dove creek meet, they may be parallel. It's definatly only about three (country) blocks north of the Island Highway and Headquarters road, on Headquarters road.
Or try locating Vanier Highschool. It's pretty much right across the street. |
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Location: North Idaho | Thanks, fillhixx. Found the area. Looks like getting there will be half the fun. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Well, your trip will include one of the most inexpensive and beautiful ocean cruises in the world through a gorgeous archipelago.
For the Island part of your journey, I recomend the 'old Island Highway', now called the Oceanside Route. It will add about 10 minutes to the trip and include more than 50 postcard perfect moments.
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REMEMBER: Absolutely no jokes at the border!
(this applies more to southbound than northbound traffic. heading home from the gathering at gh1s place the Canadian guard asked the reason for my trip. I told him it was a gathering of guitar players.
He told me he played, had some beater guitar or another. Told him this was for lovers of Ovation guitars only. He puffs right up, raises and eyebrow and says, "So now my guitars crap is it!? .........Welcome home.") |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | So, how many people are interested in this? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | with that crowd, you'd think once is enough...
the vaccinations alone put me right off... |
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Location: PDX | Phil:
Sheri and i are interested. However, it takes a chunk of vacation, and i'd like to get a decent size group of NW OFC'ers up there to warrent the trip.
Even with that said, we're considering it regardless of who commits to it. Probably take the whole week and do some touring of the island. We'll commit before the end of November.
As to the rest of you bums ( :) j/k) if you can possibly swing it, this really sounds like a great chance to hang out over the weekend. I mean, if you guys can put a half a dozen, or more, guitars in your stable and stay married, with this trip you can even bring her!
Oh, and my vaccinations are up to date, thank-you very much!
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gh1 |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | In Canada, vacinations are unneccessary, we're all immune to BSE, WNV, and CNN.
For everything else, you just have to learn to say no. |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | Canada, the cultural equivalent of the Mac. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Culture? We got culture?
Beer, hockey, checked shirts, and them damned frogs...but no culture! |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Early bird tickets are now available for this event. $74.00 Canadian. Full price is usually around $150, but I can't log on their site right now to confirm.
They are promising 3 major headliners this year, compared to the previous 1 on Saturday night. Previous headliners have included The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Earl, and Bruce Cockburn (the ck is silent, Jeff)
Anyone interested in coming? Let me know and I'll buy your tickets now before the price goes up. They are limiting advance discount ticket this year as it sells out every year anyway. |
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Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
the vaccinations alone put me right off... Good enough, those were to protect us, anyway... |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Phil, thanks for the invite and trying to pull this together.
Unfortunately I will be on the other coast that week for Independence Day festivities with the in-laws. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I'll see if I can get a SW Gathering going that week, when I'll be down in San Diego. I just want to check out Tony Calman's guitars, even if nobody else shows up. If you can't make it, Tony, just tell me where you hide the key. |
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NW OFC Gathering II
