On a rain-threatened summer evening, Grand Forks’ Town Square experienced its first BE-in, a very faint echo to its counterpart over forty years ago in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. That particular Human BE-In occurred on January 14, 1967 and launched a counterculture that began to question entrenched ideas about war, civil rights, women’s rights, and the environment. Some of those same cultural and moral questions are still being debated today.

The original BE-In occurred before the great migration of hippies to Haight-Ashbury in the Summer of Love. It focused on liberal political stances, personal empowerment, war protests, and environmental issues. Among the participants at the San Francisco rally were Timothy Leary, the Berkeley professor who advocated the use of LSD for personal and spiritual enlightenment, Richard Alpert who later became the influential spiritual leader Ram Dass, beat poets Allen Ginsberg and Gary Snyder, comedian Dick Gregory, and social activist Jerry Rubin. Local rock bands, who later became household names, provided the music: Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead.

The Grand Forks event, however, was a pitiful blip on either the social consciousness or musical scale. Granted the original BE-In was of a different era and it was in San Francisco where a climate of social protests and community organization had been going on for awhile. But the feel of the Grand Forks event was one of artificiality. At first, I put it off as being back in reality after spending five days encamped with a new generation of activists and music lovers and older Boomers like me at the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Detroit Lakes. There, I rubbed shoulders with people from all over the country who understand a festival subculture that is based on music, environmental issues, social activism, and being kind to one another. These are folks who bring bubbles and hula hoops to music stages and get in sync with the music and other festivalgoers. But as I looked around at about 100 people at the Town Square BE-In, it was clear that something was off.

Jason Shaefer

When I was invited to the Human BE-In, I was told that Jason Schaefer, a long-time wind energy activist in the region, would speak. I also was told that Rep. Dave Monson, the Speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives, a conservative Republican and farmer from Osnabrock, ND, would discuss his support of industrial hemp, a commodity that could help local farmers and also provide many useful products including cloth, oil, foods, and, what it was originally grown for, rope. The North River Ramblers were supposed to play and there was supposed to be a cutting from the Crimson Creek Players production of Hair! But as the event unfolded, even with a lot of hula hoops and bubble machines, it was clear that perhaps this was not an authentic BE-In, but a publicity stunt by the theater group to introduce their 60s-based play. I asked Jason Schaefer if he organized the event, and he told me that he had been invited to speak, that he thought it was a theater event.

Both Schaefer and Monson gave rousing speeches about their issues. And, despite it being a contrived event for local theater, it was good to hear these issues being talked in front of a cross-generational audience.

North River Ramblers

It had been a surprise to me that the North River Ramblers were playing a BE-In, but I figured that they were just the go-to band for any city event like this. They do play everywhere, and they are versatile. But they really needed a local jam band, which Grand Forks hasn’t had since the days of the Zen Mothers and Hut. The first brief number that the North River Ramblers played was an ambient drum jam with their banjo player on guitar and their guitarist/vocalist and bass man on hand drums. It sort of worked but would have been a lot more effective with a real drum circle and there is one in the city that meets at Porpoura.

Dexter Perkins, who has been an environmental activist for forty years, spoke briefly about events that occurred in the 60s. It was a nostalgic look back for us Boomers. But what was startling was a reminder that some of the issues that were uplifted forty years ago still have no solutions today.

The Crimson Creek Players made their grand entrance marching down Demers Avenue to Town Square, in costume, carrying protest signs, and singing. Those songs were all very familiar to me, but there was just so much theater there, to the point of almost making me feel slightly ridiculed for having lived through that era.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m a big supporter of local theater, having done a lot of it myself in the 80s and early 90s here. But somehow creating theater on the streets made it a sham, and certainly made me feel uncomfortable. I think it was because there was the complete destruction of that wall between actor and audience that made this wrong.

Watermelon Man

What might have benefited these young actors more would have been to spend a few days at the Soo Pass Ranch. Wednesday and Thursday would have been ideal because it was then that the hardcore festivalgoers were encamped. These were the people who traveled from all over the country just for the music and the festival experience, and planned to take in every minute of it.

I also was taken aback by a statement toward the end of the BE-In by Ben Klipfel, the executive director of the Firehall Theatre and producer for the Crimson Creek Players. He said that today the US doesn’t have activists like they did in the 60s. That was just a big slap in the face for all of us who work on issues and also a slap down at folks like Jason Schaefer, Dexter Perkins, and Rep. Dave Monson. Today’s activists don’t organize Sit-Ins and BE-Ins. Those were found to be effective for raising awareness but did little else except alienate people. In order to get work done, activists need to organize and make their voices heard through petitions, email/postcard/phone campaigns. They do community organization. They get people out to vote and make sure they have all the information they need to make a sensible choice. And, they continue to work on issues long after the media lights have been shut down. The hippies and social activists of the 60s just became better organized. And, they only bring out their flower-powered attired when they are in community with one another, usually around music.

As for Grand Forks Town Square’s first BE-In, real issues were discussed in spite of the fact that this event was pure publicity. It’s too bad that this event’s organizers didn’t include Aaron Quaday from Change That Works to talk about health care reform. That would have been very much in keeping with the modern activism that is present in this city.

First up is the first annual Heritage Music Festival, June 20th 2009, on the Heritage Village Grounds in East Grand Forks. This all day music festival will present a range of acoustic music, including bluegrass, southern old-time, folk, and traditional, with informal workshops on site. The event is sponsored by the East Grand Forks Heritage Foundation, Northwest Regional Arts Council, North Valley Arts Council, and supported in part by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association (MBOTMA).

Artists: Bruce Elseth and Paul Tandberg, North River Ramblers, Castleisland, O’Neill Family Band, Tickwood Stringband, Ogg Creek String Band, The Woodpicks, and Four Mile Portage.

Stage shows are continuous from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm and a dance will follow 8-10 pm

Tickets: Adult $10, Children $5, and Families $25.

For more information call 218-773-3850 or visit www.egfheritage.com.

This weekend also opens the Grand Forks Farmer’s Market, which will have produce and crafts for sale and live entertainment. We should be getting a complete schedule soon of musical guest playing for these Saturday crowds. 9 am to 2 pm

The Art & Wine Walk continues on Saturday, June 20, as well. Live entertainment is also a part of this event. Starting locations are the Blue Moose Bar & Grill in East Grand Forks and the Town House/Muddy Rivers in Grand Forks. Buy a map for just $10 and receive a wristband (if over 21) for one sample of wine at each of the participating businesses.

Blues on the Red on June 27, 2009 in Town Square in Grand Forks presents Ross William Perry with the Sweet Papa Dave Band, 5 to 10 pm. The music is free, and food prepared Canad Inn chefs will be available to buy. There will also be a beer garden.

The third annual ND Museum of Art Concerts in the Garden start off with the Brass Kings on June 30, 2009 on the UND campus in Grand Forks, 7 – 8:30 pm. The Brass Kings from Minneapolis are not a swing band but a psychobilly group with resophonic and acoustic guitars, a washtub bass, and percussion coming from hand drums, as well as a washboard and even a refrigerator door! BBQ and drinks will be available for purchase. Tickets are $7.00. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Greater Grand Forks Fair, June 24-28, GF Fairgrounds (various acts, free stage, free gate admission)

There is a complete listing of days and times for the free musical acts on our calendar.

OUT OF TOWN AND FURTHER IN THE SUMMER

June 26 Los Lonely Boys, Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater, Apple Valley MN

June 27 Two Many Banjos CD Release w/The Johnson Family Band, Aquarium, Fargo ND, 9 pm

June 30 Femi Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater, Apple Valley MN

July 1 Les Claypool, O’Death, The Venue at the Hub, Fargo ND

July 1 Girl in a Coma, Miss Derringer, 7 th Street Entry, Mpls MN

July 2 The Roots, First Avenue, Mpls MN

July 5 Los Lonely Boys, Bayfront Blues Festival, Duluth MN

July 9 Merle Haggard, Shooting Star Casino, Mahnomen MN

July 11 Chris Isaak, Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake MN

July 15 Gov’t Mule, Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater, Apple Valley MN

July 16 Arlo Guthrie, Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul MN

July 17 Keb’ Mo’, Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater, Apple Valley MN

July 23 Lyle Lovett, State Theatre, Mpls MN

July 23 Steve Earle, Pantages Theatre, Mpls MN

July 24 Motley Crue, ND State Fair, Minot ND

Our annotated festival calendar will give you detailed information about festivals not only in ND, SD, and MN, but also MT, WY, IA, and WI. From time to time, we’ll even post news about other festivals across the nation that we think readers would like to know about.

Our live music calendar will naturally cover local venues and will include club dates in the area for bands that frequent regional festivals. This calendar will also post listings for artists the editor thinks readers might be interested in, even if those events are a longer drive away.

We also offer in-depth stories about local musical artists, bands that tour the region, festivals, CD reviews, and a venue spotlight. We’ll also try to post news about new releases, tours, and other info about your favorite bands. And, sometimes, we’ll even throw in some new musical talent that you might not have heard of.

If you know of an event we don’t have listed, please feel free to send us an email at calendar@refrainmagazine.com. If you have festival information or have another festival to add to our list, please email festivals@refrainmagazine.com.

Also, if you have suggestions about area artists or touring bands you think readers should know about, write the editor at editor@refrainmagazine.com.

So, come on in and sit a spell and get to know the bands and venues in the region just a little bit better.

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