Although my stamina ran out a few hours before headliner Ruthie Foster took to the stage on Saturday night, by 6 p.m. I had enjoyed a full day of non-stop music from some incredibly talented young up-and-coming musicians, mostly women, at the three-day Ten Mile Creek Revival at Black Oak Ranch just north of Laytonville.
The inaugural event with Producer Biasha Mitchell, second-generation Hog Farmer at the Black Oak collective, did not disappoint. It held to the same tradition as the long-standing Kate Wolf Music Festival, produced there since 2001, with outstanding music, mellow vibes, dancing, easy camping, a beautiful creek, kids’ activities, good food, and most especially, a warm community. Arriving early after an easy 50-minute drive north, I noticed it was more subdued than usual and, on the way in, talking with Biasha, she explained that Kate Wolf had catered to about 4,000 while this was a more intimate event for 1,000.
I preferred it right away. I watched a large group of folks fully engaged in yoga and then headed over to chat with Alicia Bales, Program Director for Redwood Forest Foundation, to catch up on all things, Palace Hotel. I headed to The Front Porch stage to hear the Real Sarahs — Sarah Ryan and Sarah Larkin — weave their exquisite harmonies together while playing their heartfelt, energetic music accompanied by bass player Jen Rund and guitar/mandolin player Michael O’Brien.
Afterward, I had an opportunity to talk music with them. “Music is about.