The Sound and the People

Suoni per il Popolo Festival
Montreal, June 1 - 25, 2006

One of the great things about Indyish is that it’s more than a website. And as much as I feel a kinship with technology and the internet, I also adore “community,” when people come together, sometimes randomly, with a common purpose.

I was feeling this last weekend at the Suoni per il Popolo festival, the name of which roughly translates as “sounds for the people.” The festival, now in its sixth year, runs until June 25, with music from locals and out-of-town bands, playing (anti)folk, rock, jazz, noise and everything in between. The audiences have been really into the shows, super respectful, and the musicians seem to know that. It’s freakin’ interesting and awesome.

On Friday night I saw Diane Cluck and Josephine Foster, both singer-songwriters who play guitar as well as several other instruments. Multi-talented and beautiful. Sala Rossa was completely quiet, the audience enthralled. I felt floaty by the end.

Click on name above the image to open the video. (nb: these are windows media files, yeah yeah, i know, but if you’re onna mac and they’re not working for you, go to microsoft-land for mac stuff or go on a detour to my blip.tv page for the poorer quality flash version.)

Diane Cluck

Josephine Foster

I’ll post a bit more about the Sat and Sun shows later. To see what’s happening this weekend and next week, check the Suoni website or drop by Casa del Popolo to pick up a schedule. (I for one am going to the Bardo Pond show on Saturday, possibly Pink Mountaintops on Friday, Excepter on June 23 and, with luck/time, some other things!)

Robyn