If you love a good hootenanny as much as we do, it doesn’t get any better than this.
Heartful, uplifting and moving songs, a room full of people singing along, a venue with perfect acoustics, lyrics posted on a screen above the stage, and the shifting stage backdrop created by a wall of windows framing a softly peach-coloured sunset fading into darkness over the Kichi Zibi river – the 15th anniversary of Gil’s Hootenanny had it all.
The powerful, beautiful voice of Ulyn Georgette, accompanied by Ron Decock on guitar, warmed up the room with a couple of Pete Seeger’s singalong classics – Turn Turn Turn and Where Have all the Flowers Gone?
When Annie Patterson, co-creator of the iconic Rise up Singing song books, took the stage, it felt like being in the presence of singalong greatness. Annie’s great voice and warm stage presence was backed up by her fine banjo playing and accompanied by Peter Blood on voice, guitar and fiddle, and Ottawa’s own talented Anne Downey on voice and stand up bass. Annie led the room through a repertoire that ranged from Woody Guthrie, Sally Rogers, Katherine Wheatley and other old favourites, to Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots are Made for Walking – a tongue in cheek “ode to Donald Trump”.
A haunting, enchanting moment was when Annie ended a sweet bluegrassy version of Jean Ritchie’s Now is the Cool of the Day by singing acapella into the back of the banjo. The room was still enraptured leading into the closing song, an African American spiritual, Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning.
A cherished tradition of this magical annual event is when Gil’s daughters, Tamara and Karen, tell the story of Gil’s Hootenanny – named in honour of Gil Levine, CUPE’s first Research Director, and a lifelong labour and social justice activist. Because Gil and his partner Helen loved May Day and loved hootenannies, Tamara and members of Ottawa’s folk music community have organized Gil’s Hootenanny every year since Gil’s passing. The event continues to grow and establish deeper roots as the place to gather on May Day for some good music and some good singing.
As always, the evening concluded with a rousing finale with all the performers up on stage and the audience on its feet. This year, If I Had a Hammer, seemed to evoke the presence of Gil and Helen Levine, there with us and singing along as they loved to do.
As Tamara and Karen said, “Gil would have loved this.”
Cathy Remus and Sharon Angel