“Palestine is the best festival ever! We met a guy that played guitar and said he paid lots of money over the years for lessons from teachers that wanted to impress him with the way they could play—so he literally did not get very much out of his lessons. He told us that he learned more that weekend of the festival than he had ever learned from his lessons….so there ARE people that get something out of Palestine.” Mary
“You did it again. The festival this past weekend was absolutely terrific. I had several friends from Tyler who attended and I was talking to one fellow today. He was in Margaret’s gentle jam that was held down in the basement by the log cabin. He was still thrilled with being able to be included in a jam where the chords were called out. I think one of the most impressive things about the Old Pal festival was the way you two did your best to accommodate everybody regardless of their instrument or ability. That was special. I love the flavor of the Old Pal festival. Thanks for all your hard work.” Johnny
“Just wanted to let you know what a great time I had at the Palestine old-time music & dulcimer festival! WOW!!! I started going to some music festivals a few years ago, mainly the dulcimer festival in Glen Rose and the big one in Winfield, and am very happy to add yours to my favorites list. I have already emailed my fellow band members to put your festival on their schedule for next year. I sincerely hope you will be able to continue holding this wonderful (and comparatively close) event for the foreseeable future. I wore out my fingers playing rhythm guitar over the weekend, but met so many wonderful and talented players doing so!. You and your entire staff and helpers have done a TREMENDOUS job organizing and putting on this event, along with the willing museum staff and local community support. I cannot begin to say enough great things about people such as yourself who nurture and promote the wonderful old-time music I have grown to love and appreciate. This music takes us all back to a simpler time and place before modern technology gave us it’s diversions and distractions, and I really hope that old-time music will continue to have an ever-growing audience of appreciative listeners and players. I especially enjoyed jamming with and listening to Tom, Brad, and Alice! You’re right! – they really are the “big guns”!” Mark
“Congrats on another wonderfully planned festival. Gene and I enjoyed immensely Brad, Tom, and Alice. Having them here in Texas was really a treat. Especially I want to mention how good Beverly Smith did in the fiddle workshop with the bowing patterns. To my ear, that’s just what most of us can benefit from. Hope you are planning 2004.” Marynell and Gene
Dear Jerry and Margaret,
What an extraordinary weekend! I loved every minute of my Palestine time, and even brought home the banjo of my dreams (Lloyd gets my undying thanks – he’ll tell you why if he hasn’t alreadddddddddy)))… Came home to fresh snow, and now the temp has dropped into the 20s. More snow forecast for tomorrow night, but I have my bluebonnet and dogwood dreams to warm me. Thank you for including me in the festival.
All best wishes, Lorraine
“Thanks for another wonderful festival. Well worth the drive down from St. Louis. I honestly can’t think of anywhere I’d have rather been than in Palestine this last weekend. The music and camaraderie were the best and the building is beautiful. It fairly rings with the joy and laughter that happens all through the weekend. You should be very proud of what you, Margaret, and the boys are giving to people. Old Time Music is a communal thing and you do a great job of promoting that sense of community and sharing. And your enthusiasm for the music and the musicians is obvious and infectious in the very best way. A quick word about the schedule: Don’t sweat it. I know some folks had problems with the looseness, but I thought it was fine. I get more than enough of having to be at a certain place at a certain time in my day job. I didn’t miss it a bit at the festival. Those that were bothered by it probably benefited the most from the relaxed atmosphere if they could take a moment to reflect on it. Another quick word about the headliners: Please, please, please bring as many of them back as you can next year. Especially Lorraine Lee Hammond and Don Pedi. Lorraine’s singing workshop was a real eye-opener for me and her explanations of dulcimer technique and musical sensibility were very inspiring as well. And, of course, Don is always a treat to be around. A nicer man you couldn’t find (unless maybe it’s Carl). I learn more from just listening to Don play and talk than I do from any other workshop I’ve ever attended. He just never ceases to amaze me. Anyway, I’m being more long- winded than I intended, so I’ll sign off. Best wishes to you and yours.” Sean
Jerry & Margaret, I just want to tell you how much I enjoyed the festival last weekend. I don’t think it could have been done any better. The concerts were superb, the headliners were extremely friendly and helpful, the location in the schoolhouse museum couldn’t have been more fitting, and the jams…well, I don’t know if this old banjo player has ever had that much fun. Even the drive up to Palestine was beautiful with the wildflowers all abloom, and you even arranged to have gorgeous weather. The only other thing I can say is “What a WONDERFUL way to spend a great weekend.” Chuck
Margaret (and Jerry), et al,
What a blast! I loved it all: the building, the classes, singing in the hallway, the concerts, the jamming (I played SOMETHING at every jam I went to)… I hope we can be there next year! On the way home we did the “what was your favorite thing” game. Mark loved the classes with Wayne Henderson (I brought Wayne’s video home from your house last summer because I knew he would like Wayne). By the time the 4 of us told our favorites we had covered the whole weekend! We felt like we were family!
Thanks for everything!
Darlynn
Jerry and Margaret, As always the festival was one of the highlights of my year. I really appreciate all you do to produce this wonderful event. I enjoyed all the headliners and performances, but, I wanted to especially commend Hem and Haw for their beautiful music and personalities. I sat in the bluegrass mandolin workshop and felt it to be one of the most informative, practical, and useful workshops I have ever been to. Maybe it was just what I needed in this stage of my bluegrass mandolin playing. As I talked with several others attending the workshop with me, they expressed the same satisfaction I had. I will really be looking forward to seeing them and all the others at the Mill Fest Festival in November.
“Thank you again for making it possible for so many of us from all over the country to experience a short timeout from this crazy world and just enjoy music and genuine fellowship. May God Bless you and your family. “ John Curbo, Palestine, Tx.
“We’ve been to many, many festivals around the country at this point in our lives, and I have to say, yours will always stand out in our minds as one of the most fun and relaxed and nurturing events we’ve ever attended. And all of your performers were so good — we love your family’s music, of course, and you couldn’t choose better old-time tune-mongers than Don Pedi and Rafe. And we loved the concertina sounds, blending right in with the fiddles, dulcimers, guitars and banjos. What fun we had. The fest was great, the motel was perfect, and loved the jamming. And unlike a good many festivals, we actually had real time to visit with fellow performers, and with festival attendees.”
“I attended Friday night’s concert and was amazed at the glorious music. I had never heard of this festival before as I recently moved to Texas from Illinois. I was attending a training session at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center when one of the other attendees asked if I wanted to come to the concert. I am so very thankful they invited me. Now that I know about the festival, I am planning on being there during the whole festival next year and bringing my guitar. Thank you so much for giving all the musicians a wonderful venue to meet and pass on their love of music to others.”
Margaret and Jerry, Just wanted to tell you again how very much I enjoyed the festival .I am so glad I was able to go this year. The concerts were great. Eulberg and Carpenter were good teachers and prepared for their workshops. Thanks for all your work to make such a good festival.
The festival was jam-packed with special memories for me: My first time to meet Wayne Henderson, seeing Alice and Don and Cathy and Dave, and Mark Gilston, David & Dana… Meeting Earl, great workshops, great jamming, fun concerts, thoughtful and cheerful people…everything I always hope for when we get together to share music. This festival is a fine reflection on its leaders and many excellent volunteers! Well done, good and faithful servants!!
I know it is common to say that “this was the best festival” every year….But what I think really happens is that each year the festival lives up to and usually exceeds our expectations and we just forget how great the previous years were. The fun lingers and we take it with us and the “high” lasts for a while…I enjoyed every minute of it, visiting with you and all my friends…can’t thank you and your family and all those that made it possible enough….
