The Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival

Dig that cat Wavy!
On a whim, DB and I decided to partake in the 3-day, 15th Annual Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival in Laytonville, California. With more than 40 hours of great music (primarily bluegrass and folk) on numerous stages, some of which sat in front of grassy lawns shaded by giant oak trees, a clothing optional, crystal-clear swimming hole, fantastic vegetarian and vegan food, great on-site camping, several art exhibits, free jamming and drum circle lessons, free-form jamming everywhere (!), and even a cool host who was none other than the most legendary hippie of all time, Wavy Gravy, it was a scene that I'll be sure to revisit year after year. Truly the sweetest festival I've ever been a part of.
An artist and his art. We saw this guy's stuff at Furthur Fest too - it was very, very good
A great, great scene.
Wavy's man Gino (a genuinely cool dude) put me in touch with Wavy - What an awful photo! But it's me and Wavy Gravy!

July 4 with the Merry Pranksters!

My cousin (once-removed) Marty and her partner Bruce were kind enough to invite DB and I to join them for the July 4 festivities in Dexter, Oregon, hosted by the Merriest of Merry Pranksters Ken Babbs and his friends and family. Many of the original Pranksters were in attendance, including George Walker, Chuck Kesey (Ken Kesey's brother), Mountain Girl, and Sunshine Kesey. Neal Cassady's son John was also there. Babbs' son Eli's band played well, covering several Grateful Dead songs, and there was even a surprise appearance by Bruce Hornsby, former member of the Dead! The food was great, the music and scene was fun, and the conversation with Marty and Bruce was second-to-none. Great stuff all 'round. We look forward to doing it again.
The Revolution Test
It's time to start the party! (...that's Bruce with the trumpet)
Ken Babbs and George Walker
DB talking peanuts with Mountain Girl and George Walker (as Marty looks on in the background!)
Pranksters Chuck Kesey and George Walker prep the cannon
Ken Babbs (left) and Bruce Hornsby (center) rapping and jamming on the 4th!

Crawdaddy! creator Paul S. Williams

Paul at home (photo by Cindy Lee Berryhill)
Paul S. Williams, the amazingly brilliant creator of Crawdaddy! (the very first American rock music magazine, which he founded at the age of 17!), friend of John Lennon, Jim Morrison and Timothy Leary, Bob Dylan biographer, and the legendary author of the underground hippy classic, Das Energi, is suffering from early onset of dementia after a traumatic brain injury sustained during an accident while riding his bicycle in 1995. He currently requires full-time care.

I am fortunate to have spent quality time with Paul, his wonderful wife Cindy Lee Berryhill, and their son Alexander. The experience only reenforced my belief that those who have the means should show them some love...please. The financial cost of caring for Paul has been tremendous.

Cindy Lee's touching blog:
Beloved Stranger
Paul's donation site:
Paul Williams Dot Com

Marty Noble

I thought I'd plug the splendid art of my mother's super-talented cousin, Marty Noble...



Marty's new website can be found here.