Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival

Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival banner

For the last fifteen years, a grassroots festival of music and dance has been organized at Shakori Hills, part of the farming community of Silk Hope, North Carolina. Though I had heard much about it, I had never had the opportunity to attend until this year. The opening ceremony was in the afternoon of Thursday, May 4, 2017. Our preferred day was Saturday, but that was not possible due to a prior engagement (hint), and for our second choice, Friday, the weather forecast was pretty bad. We feared that attendance on Thursday would be very sparse, and this proved to be correct.

The people who performed during the opening ceremony were all very good: Cathy Brooksie and Amy Hall Durso of Trio Luna (I don't know what happened to Sheila Fleming), John Westmoreland, Gary Phillips, Django Haskins... they all would certainly have deserved a much larger audience. In the sixties, the festival would have been called a Happening with participants to match: hippies of all ages, champions of the environment and sustainability, proponents of honesty in politics (good luck!), peace advocates, in short, the kind of folks you can't help but think that the planet would be a better place if there were more of them.

We listen to great music, watched very interesting people, ate excellent food, admired beautiful arts and crafts, and wowed to be back, but not on opening day when there are simply not enough people to create the proper ambiance. We won't be in town for the fall session, but there's always the 2018 spring event!

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There were some pretty interesting vehicles in the parking lot! The ticket counter

There were some pretty interesting vehicles in the parking lot!

The ticket counter


One of the sales staff Sign post Silk Hope Line vehicle

One of the sales staff

Sign post

Silk Hope Line vehicle


Grassroots democracy Wall hangings

Grassroots democracy

Wall hangings


Pottery Glasswork

Pottery

Glasswork


The smaller stage is almost ready Excellent and refreshing water

The smaller stage is almost ready

Excellent and refreshing water


Peace Park In line with the Shakori Hills philosophy

Peace Park

In line with the Shakori Hills philosophy


Camp site Probably regular attendees

Camp site

Probably regular attendees


Waiting for the music to start Waiting for the music to start

Waiting for the music to start

Waiting for the music to start


Vacuuming the stage Testing the microphones

Vacuuming the stage

Testing the microphones


There are still very few people present Two thirds of Trio Luna with a shruti box

There are still very few people present

Two thirds of Trio Luna with a shruti box


Two thirds of Trio Luna Guitarist John Westmoreland Local poet Gary Phillips

Two thirds of Trio Luna

Guitarist John Westmoreland

Local poet Gary Phillips


Stopping for goodies Younger visitors

Stopping for goodies

Younger visitors


6:30 p.m. on Thursday is still too early for most people On the other hand, it's not too early for these guys

6:30 p.m. on Thursday is still too early for most people

On the other hand, it's not too early for these guys


Django Haskins in concert Django Haskins in concert Django Haskins in concert

Native Floridian but current Chapel Hill resident Django Haskins in concert. Great stuff!


Django Haskins performing A last look at the big stage

Django Haskins performing

A last look at the big stage


Opening ceremony video clip featuring most of Trio Luna, John Westmoreland, and Django Haskins


The photos and video on this page were taken on Thursday, May 4, 2017.




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