DIXFIELD – The Countryfolk Music Theatre will host a Mountain Man Rendezvous & Legend & Lore gathering as part of its Youth Music Scholarship weekend July 25-26.
“We are looking for trappers, gem and mineral displays, old Maine primitive craftspeople, canoe makers, snowshoe makers, moose and deer antler displays, and Indian Pow-Wow participants,” said project organizer Larry Bisbee.
The scholarship weekend will feature more than 50 musicians (from banjos to bagpipes), potluck meals, gold panning, tomahawk and knife-throwing demos by Ben Bowie of Carthage, Shadagee snowshoe relacing and ash basket-making with Georgia Tolman of New Sharon.
In addition, there will be Carrabassett Valley Trappers displays and demos, campfire pickin’, a country dance, an on-site chain saw demonstration with wood carving, wood furniture and moose antlers by Steven Stone of Bethel, cowboy church with Hall of Famer Ginger Mae Dyer and a country jamboree with scheduled acts and an open mic.
Western Maine Mineral Adventures of Paris will put on an operating sluice demonstration; and Joe Ross of Wilton will demo Maine fly tying, There will also be day and night dancing, tailgate trading, the Bullwhip Enthusiasts of Maine demo with Christy and Bill Green of Greene, chainsaw carvings by Zeke” Elliot of South Carthage, and gem and mineral displays by Countryfolk and Jody and Zoltan Matolcsy of Paris and S&L prospecting of Dixfield.
Guest performers include the Old Crow Indian Band of Farmington. “This year’s Countryfolk Youth Music Scholarships will be given in honor of the Old Crow Band celebrating the community music it’s provided since the early 1950s and its members who have passed on,” Bisbee said.
All vendors and tailgater display and demo folks, Indian drummers and primitive artifact crafters who would like to participate should contact Bisbee as soon as possible.
Re-enactors, tailgaters and display vendors are offered free space and camping to set up for the weekend. They may come in as early as Thursday and Friday to set up; van camping for participants is free.
Bisbee said all Youth Music Scholarship weekend activities are conducted by volunteers and are free; any donations go directly to the scholarship project. Countryfolk also has free Friday night and Sunday afternoon jams throughout the summer.
Countryfolk Music Theatre is on U.S. Route 2. For more information, call 645-7531.