ByGD
I’ve written a bit here and on Three Imaginary Girls about my family’s first experience of of the Pickathon music festival this summer. I also made my 14-year-old write a teenager’s review. But Pickathon is truly a festival for the whole family, so I made my 9-year-old do a write up, too. I think you’ll find it helpful.
I made only very slight edits for spelling and punctuation (and added headers) to the following review, which was written without supervision or adult input.
ByGD
This year was the 20th anniversary of the Pickathon music festival. The festival is older than my kids. Maybe Pickathon was always family-friendly, but they definitely think like parents now. But why take my word for it? My 14-year-old daughter attended the festival on my press pass. So like me, she must sing write for her supper tickets by sharing her experiences online.
The following is a teenager’s review of Pickathon. It is edited for punctuation, spelling and formatting. Enjoy!
ByGD
I’ve been hearing about Pickathon for a while now. This summer was the 20th iteration of the festival in the woods outside of Portland. Over the years the festival has grown into an eclectic lineup that includes rap, punk, electronic and indie draped over its bluegrass spine. This year the festival ran from Friday, August 3 to Sunday, August 5. This was my first Pickathon, and as I always do, I went all in on the festival experience. That includes showing up for Early Thursday Entry. It was a good thing I did.
ByGD
My freshman year in high school, I had to read the book The Gossamer Years. I think I was the only person in my class who actually finished the diary of a lady of Heian Japan. It was a hard read, but I was fascinated by the world it described; it seemed stranger than anything out of science fiction. I think that book was the first time I heard of the New Year being connected to plum blossoms.
Growing up on the desert, plum blossoms were an exotic concept to begin with. I didn’t know about lunar calendars then, either, so I imagined these magical flowers blooming in January. I was so excited when, nearly 15 years later, I bought a house with a plum tree by the kitchen door.
For most people, cherry blossoms are the important Asian flower obsession. But for me, the new year begins with the plum blossoms.
ByGD
From Orcas Island to Iceland, I listened to lots of great music last week. My post about Car Seat Headrest reminded me to listen to Naked Giants, which led to another Doe Bay band, Animal Eyes. Then my husband discovered Nytt Land, which led to Skálmöld and Samaris. More about each of these below the fold.