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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 2018)
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon WILLIAMS: Focusing on what makes communities thrive FOLK FESTIVAL: Diverse line-up to perform on multiple stages Continued from page 3 Continued from page 1 things around her and she just started picking up songs along the way. “I wrote the title track of the record on I-84 on the way through Oregon, driving through the emerald gems surrounded by trees and riv- ers. That is where I find the best songs is looking closely for the little gems that sur- round us,” Williams said. One of Williams’ most famous songs, “When I Was a Boy” written in 1993, is still her most-requested song based on its message about gender equality. Williams said that she lucked out on writing that song. “I could’ve made the song a straight-ahead feminist song, but decided to change the ending verse to focus on sitting down with a guy talk- ing about when I was a girl. Then the song took on a life of its own and became not only about women empower- ment, but gender empower- ment,” she said. “On the sur- face of the song was a larger exploration of gender and gay and women’s rights, and I put it into a song that at the time, launched my career and still resonates today.” Williams not only writes stories in songs, she is also a critically acclaimed author. She has written two chil- dren’s books. Her most recent book, titled “What I Found in a Thousand Towns,” focuses on her philosophy of “posi- tive proximity.” Positive proximity is her idea that people within com- munities and towns need to learn how to live a positive lifestyle together and use each other for ideas and live together in close proximity. “It is my take on what people in various cities and towns have done to improve them for the community as a whole. I travel and perform and observe ways people have collaborated to make be in integrity in our response to ticket-buyers, artists, spon- sors and vendors,” said SFF Creative Director Brad Tisdel. “From the bookings and curating the festival standpoint, we’ve invited everyone back from (the 2017 lineup) and approximately 70 percent are returning. So the talent com- mittee and I needed to find the balance of the returning artists with the energy and musical diversity we strive for to make it a dynamic experience. I think we struck that balance well and patrons will love the acts...” The Sisters Folk Festival is more than two decades old now, and operates in a musi- cal landscape that has changed considerably in Central Oregon. From being a pioneer- ing music event in the 1990s, the festival has now become a fixture of a much broader and deeper regional music scene. The festival strives to refine its offerings and its work as a cultural institution. “I think the integration of all programming keeps us rel- evant — from youth program- ming with Americana Project, Americana Luthier program and Studio to School initia- tive, to the vitality of the year- round concerts such as the win- ter and (free) summer concert series, the diversity of offer- ings including visual arts in the schools and music education, as well as our two cornerstone events, My Own Two Hands and Sisters Folk Festival,” PHOTO PROVIDED Dar Williams will perform at this weekend’s Sisters Folk Festival. amazing things happen,” she said. The book is broken up into seven chapters, each chapter focusing on a differ- ent city or town. “Every place I visited had a different theme and vibe about it, relating to its own culture,” she said. “I think having hometown pride and sharing thoughts and ideas with people and encouraging the process of living together well is good for the strength of the country.” The title very literally describes the book and what she found within towns that she has had the opportunity to explore — Sisters and Bend being among those towns, too. “I almost included those as a chapter in the book because both towns offer having a way of life that emphasizes community involvement and people collaborating to make something special, such as the creation of the Sisters Folk Festival,” she said. Williams has played a few times in past years in Bend and in Sisters and always enjoys coming back and feeling the positivity and the identity the towns offer. Williams has never played the folk festival, but looks forward to attending it as an artist. “I’ve heard a lot about the festival and really respect that it’s kept its ‘music first’ attitude and I am excited to meet and see everyone involved and see the com- munity come together to make something wonderful, creating and emphasizing that philosophy of positive proximity,” she said. “I look forward to attending this fes- tival that has really kept its identity and look forward to seeing other artists and meet- ing those involved.” Dar Williams will be playing sets through - out the three-day festival, September 7-9. Some passes may still be available. For more information visit www.sistersfolkfestival.org. GET READY FOR FALL! Tables Aerator Fertilizer Spreader Dump Trailer NEED IT, RENT IT! 506 N. Pine St. 541-549-9631 Sales • Service Rentals • Accessories www.sistersrental.com 19 Tisdel said. “These help us deliver on our mission with a broad array of community impact and a sustainable model with our partnership with the Sisters School District.” Tisdel and the festival’s tal- ent committee work throughout the year to craft the line-up for each festival, with an eye to offering a broad palette while honoring the deep traditions of American music. “I think the diversity of the musical experience will be seen, from Ron Artis II & the Truth, to Gangstagrass, to Banda Magda, Battle of Santiago, Jerron ‘Blind Boy’ Paxton, Kaia Kater, Talisk, Tremoloco and more,” Tisdel said. “These are all artists we have become aware of by being on the scene nationally, and being introduced to great artists. There is something for everyone, and part of the fun is seeking out that which you love. That said, it is always a pleasant surprise to discover your next new artist you will track and watch their career develop and become fans of their music.” There will be a limited num- ber of weekend passes avail- able for purchase at the festival beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 7. The festival offers a num- ber of free events includ- ing the music at Fir Street Park’s Songbird Stage on Saturday and Sunday, music on the Sisters Coffee Co. stage Saturday and Sunday, and the festival’s Community Celebration Sunday morning at 10 a.m. at the Village Green. For more information and to download a schedule, visit www.sistersfolkfestival.org.
