https://www.simcoe.com/whatson-story...-of-folk-fest/
Orillia author dishes on Dylan/Lightfoot in history of folk fest
Movement to cancel festival in late 1980s
Mike Hill has enjoyed a front-row seat to the Mariposa Folk Festival’s long and winding story, both as audience member and artistic director.
Now, the Orillia author is dishing on the festival’s colourful past with a behind-the-scenes look in ‘The Mariposa Folk Festival: A History’.
“People in the music industry know about it, and certainly the people in Orillia know about it,” Hill told Simcoe.com. “But I thought, maybe there’s a broader audience that should know about one of our cultural icons.”
The book traces the festival from its humble beginnings in Orillia in 1961 to its banishment after rowdy crowds of drunken youth wrought havoc on the community in the third year.
The festival would drift from site to site for decades before returning in 2000, along the way generating more than its share of memorable moments.
Perhaps the most storied among them was Bob Dylan’s appearance at the 1972 event, held at Toronto Islands.
“They knew he was coming, but they made a decision that they weren’t going to let him play, no matter what,” Hill says. “They were afraid that if Dylan ever got up on stage that people would run from all over the park.”
The book is rich with stories rarely heard outside of the festival’s inner circle, including occasional political skirmishes inside the board and, at times, with the city.
More than that, there are telling and often funny anecdotes involving the stars that adoring audiences flock to hear.
There’s Randy Bachman, of Guess Who fame, encountering a slab of limestone near the backstage area and wryly remarking, ‘Oh, so this is where they buried Gordon Lightfoot’.”
Lightfoot is, of course, still with us, and makes numerous appearances between the pages.
Included is the now legendary sighting of a limo pulling up to the park’s entrance on an evening when Orillia’s hometown troubadour was performing.
Apparently dissuaded from entering by the line of vehicles exiting the site early due to a rainstorm, the limo retreated into the night. Hill remains convinced the hired car contained Dylan, who performed that evening at nearby Casino Rama.
“I had phoned Dylan’s agent (in advance) and said, ‘Bob’s going to be playing the casino the same weekend as Lightfoot is playing Mariposa, and I know they’re friends’,” he said.
Many a magical moment is recalled, including the brief reunion of Ian and Sylvia Tyson for the festival’s 50th anniversary, a performance that moved more than a few folkies to tears.
“It shows the power of the festival and the power of that kind of music to some people,” Hill added.
For all of the positive vibes, the festival has experienced its share of tumult, and Hill doesn’t shy from saying so.
In the late 1980s, he notes, a movement was afoot to end the festival amid waning interest.
“(Founder) Ruth Jones-McVeigh came all the way from Ottawa to this annual general meeting they had and she fought — figuratively speaking — to save it,” Hill says.
The Mariposa Folk Festival: A History is available through Manticore Books.