Will McLean folk festival hasn't lost its allure

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By JAN GLIDEWELL

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 9, 2001

Come with me.

It may be a little cool for a rite of spring.

And, if county and state fire bans aren't lifted, we may have to settle for Coleman lanterns instead of campfires to huddle around as we listen and sing.

But sing and listen we will at this, the 12th annual Will McLean Music Festival beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sertoma Youth Ranch 7 miles northwest of Dade City.

As others disappear or grow to such unwieldy size that they lose their focus, the McLean festival has done neither, evolving slowly from a memorial gathering of a few friends to a two-day event that draws just enough -- and never too many -- folk music lovers.

I've been going to and participating in the festival for 10 years now and can tell you that the weather and fire condition won't make a difference.

We've done it with and without fires, wet and dry, hot and cold, in three different locations -- all of them beautiful -- but found a home five years ago at the youth ranch, where a friendly management team and beautiful site have combined to make for about as perfect a combination as you will find in the folk music business.

And this year's music lineup makes me feel like I made up the schedule.

Saturday's offerings include Floral City's own Pete Hennings, Dale Crider, Ken Skeens and Leigh Goldsmith, Grammy nominee Jean Fitchen and folk icons Frank and Ann Thomas.

Val Caracappa, at times the funniest and most direct person to pick up a guitar, will be playing Saturday, as will Stan Geberer, a top-notch harmonica player.

I would call a couple of acts "new acts with old people," if I would then be allowed to get out of the campgrounds alive.

Dennis Devine, a solo performer in his own right who was part of five headlining acts the last time I checked, has teamed up with fellow New Sand Mountain Wildcats vocalist Rochelle Morris as Dennis and I, a gospel-oriented act with some non-gospel twists.

Mary Ann DiNella, who performs alone, with Devine and with the group Southwind, and her daughter, Jeannie, will be on stage together, formally for the first time.

The DiNellas have performed informally a few times, but this is the first time they have worked up an act.

Morris, by the way, also will be appearing with Hot Flash, a recently formed pickup group that started slow, simmered for a while in a studio producing its first CD and then began knocking 'em dead.

Also performing on Saturday will be Ron & Bari Litschauer, Joh Semmes, Sue Grooms, Whitey Markle, Amy Carol Webb, Southwind, champion fiddler Wayne Martin, Boomslang Swampsinger (yes, that is his legal name) and others.

Sunday offerings will include Chuck Hardwicke, Chet Atkins-style player and singer Clyde Walker, Joey Errigo, Marie Nofsinger and Mindy Simmons.

The ever-reincarnating group Myriad will be on hand (it's always fun to see which members are on stage).

And guitar sensation Sam Pacetti is scheduled for both main stage and song-circle performances.

And that's only a piece of the action. Song circles, workshops, a storytelling tent and a special closing hour of songs written by the late Will McLean also are part of the action.

I am tempted to make one of those absolute statements that are always getting young reporters and columnists in trouble.

I have learned my lesson from a guy who just waits for me to say nice things about a restaurant or place and then writes to tell me how bad the food was and what a miserable time he had.

That guy could manage to come to this festival and have a bad time.

Someone else might, but they would really have to work at it.

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