Mariposa Dreamin'

It was one of those endless summer weekends that might well have been a dream: perfect weather, a sold-out crowd of thousands wandering peaceably under the tall trees of Tudhope Park, gentle waves lapping on the shores of Lake Couchiching, and, most importantly, real live musicians, finally able to send their voices out into the open air. It really doesn’t get any better.

Dala and Alysha Brilla, MCs on the Friday night main stage - (Photo by Ian Sinclair)

This year was our fifth time performing at Mariposa, and it was without question one of my all-time favourite festival experiences. While the weekend started off with a slight hiccup (I basically lost my voice due to a common cold, remember those?), Amanda and I embraced the challenge and decided to switch up our vocal parts: she would sing lead on all our songs, and I would improvise whatever harmonies I could manage. As is invariably the case when things don’t go according to plan, it ended up being way more memorable and exciting than a so-called "perfect" show. It didn’t hurt that when we looked out at the crowd, everyone was all smiles in their sun hats and lawn chairs. Festival audiences have a way of making you feel completely at ease being yourself.

Sneaking a backstage peek of Kathleen Edwards' set - (photo by Sheila Carabine)

There was an undeniable sense of joy permeating the atmosphere at Mariposa this year. I think everyone was overcome by the simple fact that, at long last we were all able to have a little fun and feel something other than worry. Amanda and I got fully into the spirit, dancing like wild women to the music of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, standing in awe before the force that is Mavis Staples, singing along to every word of Kathleen Edwards’ spectacular main stage set, seizing the once-in-a-lifetime experience of singing “The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” with John Prine’s band, and relishing the golden afternoon magic of the Sunday Gordon Lightfoot tribute set.

This last concert was organized by our dear friend Jory Nash, and it featured some of favourite artists performing Lightfoot songs, all accompanied by the world class “The Way We Feel” house band (Jason Fowler, Anne Lindsay, David Woodhead, Burke Carroll, and David Matheson). A few of my favourite moments: Tom Wilson singing an understated and magnetic duet of “Cold on the Shoulder” with his son Thompson; Stephen Fearing taking us on a journey with his spacious version of “ Early Morning Rain”; Meredith Moon bringing high lonesome banjo plaintiveness to “Steel Rail Blues”; Jory Nash commanding the astounding songwriting feat that is “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” and Lori Cullen casting her signature artistic spell with “The Way I Feel”.

Gordon Lightfoot sat side-stage for the whole show, in the shade of an old oak tree. Amanda and I sang “If You Could Read My Mind”, and afterwards we got to shake Gordon’s hand and say the one thing that truly summed up our feelings: thank you. A Mariposa memory we’ll never forget.

Thanks to Artistic Director Liz Scott, the tireless Mariposa tech crew, and the 650 volunteers who made this year’s festival such a success. Here’s to more fun and more festivals in the years ahead!

Love Sheila (and Amanda)

Mariposa Dreamin'

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