Dam Show 'arrives'

Above, Karina Valenti of Austin sang an emotional tribute to her late grandmother, Dixie Ripple, during opening ceremonies at the fifth annual Dam Show. Laurel Ripple - Dixie's daughter - read some of Dixie's original poetry about the flood of Sept. 30, 1911. Tracie Gordnier, president of the Austin Dam Memorial Assn., called Dixie a driving force in the mission of establishing the Austin Dam Memorial Park. At left, Zach Dow, the son of Dean and Kathy Dow, drums for the band The Slant during the Dam Show. Below, The Buddahood drummer works during that group's Saturday night performance.

Turnout for the weekend's fifth annual Dam Show, a music festival at the Austin Dam Memorial Park in Potter County, had its organizers beaming.

"The Dam Show has arrived!" proclaimed Art Metzger, the driving force behind the event for the Potter County Arts Council.

His words were echoed by Tracie Gordnier, president of the Austin Dam Memorial Association, which teamed with the Arts Council to sponsor the event.

"You can do all the planning you want, but until the event actually arrives, there are some anxious moments," Gordnier said. "Our success is, without a doubt, the result of so many volunteers pitching in and making it happen."

An informal canvass of the audience during the three-day festival revealed that a large proportion came from outside of Potter County to hear the Gordon Stone Band, Blue Sky Mission Club, Redheaded Stepchild and other nationally known acts headline a bill that also featured local talent.

"We learned a lot,' Gordnier said. "Next year, we'll be looking for ways to build up the Dam Show's local following."

She was among the audience members who were riveted by the haunting melodies of Jakob's Hollow, a threemember folk band who performed two historically accurate selections based on the dam failure of Sept. 30, 1911.

In the shadows of the tall, concrete columns that were once a dam holding back millions of gallons, vocalists Steve Quelet and Eppie Bailey sang of several personal tragedies during the flood that claimed upwards of 80 lives.

Another highlight was the "Drums Along Freeman Run" workshop and, later on, a lively performance under the direction of the popular festival band, Buddhahood.

Gordon Stone, a former member of the legendary jam band Phish, reaffirmed his support for the Dam Show after a lively 50-minute set Friday night.

"We sure do hope to be back next year," Stone shouted from the stage. "This place is great!"

Earlier, Stone could be seen exploring the base of the dam ruins that formed a natural amphitheater behind the stage.

"We play in a lot of different venues, but there's nothing like this one," Stone said. "I really believe you people are on to something here."

Charles Kennedy Jr., colorful educator and performer from Erie, directed 16 students of his Summer Music Camp through a charming and poignant program on the Underground Railroad.

In an emotional kickoff to Dam Show V, John Peet -- a descendant of one of Potter County's pioneer families -- presented a rousing rendition of "God Bless America." Then Karina Valenti sang a tribute to her grandmother, Dixie Ripple, a founding member of the Austin Dam Memorial Association who died of cancer in April.

Although Gordon Stone's career as a world-class banjo player and pedal steel guitarist has taken off, he remains faithful to the Dam Show. Stone, who helped to kick off the three-day music festival Friday night, said he likes the venue and the people involved in the show and looks forward to returning in 2008.

A massive light show danced across the breadth of the dam ruins with colors and patterns during the nighttime sets, compliments of Groovin' Lumens of Rochester, N.Y.