Walkin’ fast, faces pass
Even if I missed one fire performance, another thankfully popped into my lap in the form of Jon Norton, aka “the Flaming Ginger,” who wowed the surrounding crowds with tricks such as balancing a lit torch on his face, climbing a work ladder with no support and riding a tall unicycle.
The only rule for the crowd, he said: Don’t touch the Flaming Ginger.
“The Flaming Ginger, he’s like Chick-fil-A on Sunday, you can’t have any — you’ve got to wait till Monday,” Norton joked while striking a pose.
Normally I am not a concertgoer, but as I navigated the local attractions and vendors, it was nice to hear the frantic John Stevens Polka Band and Dan Mies’ keyboard cover of what I thought was “Bennie and the Jets,” keeping the vibe nice and laid-back.
My favorite musical act, however, left those stages and hit the streets in the form of the Big Easy Easton Brass Band: dozens of performers who demanded to be both seen and heard with their drums, tubas, trumpets, saxophones and loud outfits of purple, green and yellow.
Founder Jeremy Joseph said he hoped to bring a New Orleans-style sound to the area with a show that encouraged any bystander to march with them.
“I want to create a platform that’s very inviting for all kinds of people to come together to participate,” he said. “I’d rather people not be a spectator and watch a parade go by, I’d rather you be dancing in the parade, wear something nice, bring your friends out, have a crew.”
As much as I enjoy the louder and more fun showcases at Musikfest, I was surprised to find a quieter and more moving experience with the Poets for Justice event at the Ice House, a short 10-minute walk from the Main Street area and much appreciated for its air conditioning.
Host Zena Goodwin said the showcase started to allow local artists to express themselves in the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing, with Sunday’s event allowing artists to perform spoken word and poems covering topics such as racism and relationships.
I wasn’t able to stay for the entire showcase, but I enjoyed these lines from Goodwin’s piece “Life is Good”: “A life is a journey. I used to not talk much, now I talk a little bit more, but it’s a matter of both what I say and how I say it. Sometimes it’s a win, other times it’s lose-lose, either way I’m teaching myself and others that it costs nothing to be kind, courteous and gentle with others.”