Harvest Media Center
Another Year, Another Bountiful Harvest
September 16, 2008
It's such a thrill to see what becomes of our beautiful city as 80,000 people make their way to downtown Fredericton during my favourite time of year. For some, it's been a year full of meetings, e-mails, phone calls, laughs and tears, struggles and joys, as the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival came together for 2008. For most, it was 5 days and nights full of extraordinary music, wonderful energy and unbeatable community spirit as the best festival in Atlantic Canada hosted legends and legends-in-the-making at 125 shows on 22 stages.
Eric Bibb's CD hasn't left my CD player yet, and a friend called seeing the Derek Trucks band "a religious experience". Bloc Party and Buddy Guy each had the crowds right in their pockets, and Ana Popovic and Grace Potter made me want to learn to play the guitar so I could rock like these women! What a week!
As Chair, I am absolutely in awe of how our community joins together- volunteers and patrons, sponsors and partners, musicians and technicians- to create the magic that is the festival. Every single action of every single individual all come together to make an event that is unlike any other. To all of you, and on behalf of the festival's board of directors, I extend sincere thanks.
This was a huge festival, and growing something this big will not happen without the occasional bump along the way. Unexpectedly high demand on two shows caused slow downs at the gates. But this I know for sure- we will not see the same problem next year as festival volunteers and staff are comitted to learning as we grow and will collectively work hard to make sure there is improvement year after year.
So for now, we'll take a short breather and then get to work right away so that we can do it all over again next year. See you in 2009!
Cheers!
Patti Graham
2008 Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival Chair
