July 15, 1972: Mariposa Folk Festival review

        The endless delights of the summer of 1972 peaked on this weekend in Toronto. I spent three days at the Mariposa Folk Festival, which then was on Toronto Islands, and retreated at night to the Royal York, the grand old Canadian railway hotel just a short walk from the ferry. Coincidentally, there also was a major concert that weekend in Maple Leaf Gardens, for which I also had a review ticket.

        Here’s my Mariposa dispatch, which appeared in Saturday’s paper (no Sunday edition back then). I forget how I transmitted it from Toronto, though. Either I sent it from the nearby Western Union office or dictated it over the phone to one of the copy aides back in Buffalo.   

Taj Mahal Shatters the Idyllic Cool 

TORONTO, July 15 – It was the old story of high-powered Americans against low-key Canadians Friday as the Mariposa Folk Festival opened on Toronto Islands. It continues today and tomorrow.

        American bluesman Taj Mahal, the featured name in a list of some 170 singers, instrumentalists and dancers, appeared solo and drew the biggest gathering of the afternoon – better than 1,000.

        He also broke up the overriding cool, the idyllic feeling that pervades the pastoral festival setting, by getting the crowd standing and boogieing to a preacher-like scat song accompanied only by handclaps. It lasted 20 minutes. After that, there was rain.

* * *

A GROUP of 1,000 was big Friday because the festival scatters its focus like a six-ring circus. No big concerts, just things going on continually in six areas from 10:30 a.m. to dusk. Plus the folk arts and crafts exhibits. Something for everybody.

        Before various American performers, mostly blues singers, started to thrill larger and larger crowds in the late afternoon, the festival had a tranquil, friendly air.

        Smiles everywhere. And huge puddles as well.

        Toronto had a torrential thunderstorm Thursday afternoon and another one before dawn Friday. Two performing areas were soggy and water covered large stretches of grass and paved paths. Detours and muddy feet were inevitable.

* * *

FESTIVAL GOERS – mostly young, mostly long-haired – were spread fairly evenly through the areas early in the day, catching things like workshops in humorous songs, banjo, folksong symbolism, fiddle tunes, sea songs, Indian dances – all full of valuable cultural insights.

        The group at New York City folksinger David Bromberg’s guitar workshop had to be prodded to ask questions, however. They seemed content to hear the former sideman on Bob Dylan records play forceful and humorous guitar and Dobro.

        The gifted Bromberg turned their attention to his stage mates – Fred McKenna, who plays lilting, airy guitar and holds it flat in his lap, and Scottish immigrant Adam Mitchell, who talked about songs of the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s, then played “They Needed a Songbird in Heaven So God Took Caruso Away,” among others.

Things started getting intense with blues singer Bonnie Raitt’s first appearance in mid-afternoon. Veteran bluesman Bukka White and equally veteran blues pianist Roosevelt Sykes sat on the sidelines, drinking from paper cups and nodding encouragement to her sinewy guitar and her tough sensual voice.

        Next, White got up on stage and did a little boogie dance to the crowd’s delight, then proclaimed: “If this girl don’t make it, then the world’s coming to an end.”

* * *

MISS RAITT, a bit overwhelmed, told White later she was tired from recording and said Sunday she’d really be in good form.

        John Prine felt the same way about his role in Jean Ritchie’s session on ecology when this reporter spoke to him in a snack bar line, even though he’d done “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You into Heaven Any More” with seemingly fine expression and humor.

        Setting the stage for Taj Mahal’s uprising were Bukka White, whose slide guitar wizardry and earthy wisdom seem to have no limit, and Roosevelt Sykes, whose good-time backroom piano brought cheers for more.

        “OK, I’ll do just one more,” he’d say. He said that five times before he left.

FOOTNOTE: That was just Day One of a weekend in which part of the fun was spotting famous faces on the ferry. For a complete wrap-up, let’s turn to the York University Archives for an entry (slightly edited) entitled “Mariposa: Celebrating Canadian folk music: 1972.”

        "The 1972 Mariposa Festival faced record rainfalls, turning parts of the island into a muddy swamp. Part of Saturday was rained out, resulting in shutting down sound systems.

        "Although the weather was poor, it did not affect the festival attendance as people huddled together under umbrellas and sheets to try and stay dry.  The reputation built from earlier years resulted in an increase in out-of-town festival attendees as well as musicians.  

        "The festival also attracted some well-known visitors. Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Dylan and Jackson Browne attended to see the ‘new’ Mariposa and some were interested in performing.

        "Since the festival had changed its structure away from big name acts, festival organizers debated whether to allow their guests to perform. In the end, Murray McLauchlan opted to forego part of his performance and presented it to Joni Mitchell. This was followed by Bruce Cockburn doing the same for Neil Young on Sunday.

        "This year proved to be of great excitement for the audience as they saw a wide range of acts such as Shelly Posen, Leon Redbone and the Original Sloth Band, as well as the unexpected visitors."