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Pre-Fest Notice

The Fest Call was put out by Zain Love In Mind Patel....

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the length, but please read this message carefully.

For those unfamiliar with the venue, Molson Park is a huge park located about an hour's drive north of Toronto (right on highway 400). There's plenty of space for parking near the site. Since there's no reserved seating, it's best to come early to be able to get a good spot on the lawn. If you need specific directions for getting to the Park, please contact Rustie Dave Bolan (be719@freenet.toronto.on.ca) for more info (thanks Dave!).

According to the Molson Park info-line, the gates are slated to open at 2:30 pm, and the first act is set to begin at 3:30 pm. I'm assuming Spiritualized will be the opener, followed by Screaming Trees, Jewel, Gin Blossoms, Oasis, and finally Neil & Crazy Horse. The whole show is expected to be over at around 11:00 pm (Neil, if you're reading this, forget about 11 pm, and feel free to do 3 or 4 encores!)

Okay, here's the plan: There are a number of beer tents located on each side of the lawn, adjacent to the stage. People often head to the first tent (on the east side), which is closest to the entrance and the stage, leaving the other tents less crowded. So the plan is to meet at the furthest beer tent from the entrance. The furthest tent is located beside highway 400, on the south-west side of the park. We plan to meet in or around this tent between 2:30 and 3:00. One of us will be holding a big sign with 'RUST' written on it, and, in any case, I'm sure many of us will have on our MORE BARN! T-shirts. If a bunch of us can meet up early, we might be able to secure a big spot on the lawn for everyone. We'll also be visiting the furthest beer tent again between each act, so if you arrive late, just head to the furthest tent and keep an eye out for the sign and the shirts.

According to the Molson Park info-line, the following may NOT be brought into the park: coolers, alcohol, chairs, bottles, cans, weapons (duh!), cameras, and umbrellas (even if it rains!). Water bottles (like Evian) are allowed, as long as they are sealed when you enter the park. Blankets, sheets, and food are allowed to be brought in. Beer will cost $3.75, and will stop being sold at 8:00 pm. Tickets to buy beer (which apparently you need) will stop being sold at 6:30 pm. If you need more info about anything related to the venue, call the Molson Park info-line at 705-733-1786.

If anyone still doesn't have transportation to the show, or has any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to let me know.

I hope I've covered everything - see you all at the show!!

Zain
Love In Mind

Fest Report

Given that the venue was a large park, the plan was to meet at the furthest beer tent once the gates opened, and then again between each act. That was the plan, but the reality was quite different (isn't it always?). Because Rusties were coming in separately from all over southern Ontario and from various parts in the U.S., we ended up having numerous 'mini-fests' rather than one big one. For example, Thrasher spotted new Rustie Dave Fielder's MORE BARN! shirt as he came out of a porta-potty (insert rude joke here), and they exchanged a few words. I was fortunate to hang out with about 15 Rusties at one time or another (of the 30 or so I knew would be there), though some I only got to meet very briefly. Everyone was in a great mood, and really pumped up to see Neil, who was slated to appear at about 9:00 pm, after the 5 opening acts.

Somehow, several of us were able to locate the furthest beer tent, and Andy Strote managed to hang his MORE BARN! banner on the fence. I had made a little RUST sign (which I held up during the show, BTW, though I don't know if Neil noticed it), but it was dwarfed by Andy's huge sheet (not that I have banner envy or anything). The MORE BARN! banner really helped, because other Rusties spotted it, and swarmed to it like mice to cheese. It was great to finally put faces to the names of so many Rusties I'd never before met, and it was a real honour meeting everyone. Not sure what else to say, except that the photos do more justice to our fest(s) than what I've written here, so be sure to check them out.

Zain
Love In Mind

The Photos

These photos are provided by Andy Strote, aka Cutlass Supreme. The size of each is listed below, for consideration by those on slow links.

Outside of the Barrie site. From left to right it's Zain Patel, Mary McGuire, Andy Strote, Rick Stephenson. Note Zain's Rust sign which he held up during the concert about 20 feet in front of Neil. (17K)

Inside the Barrie beer drinking area. From left to right: Jennie Leith (all the way from Boston), Brad Leonard (I think!!), Shakey, David Youngberg, Allan Tong (what's that shirt say?) (23K)

All Smiles. Brad Leonard, Shakey, Jennie Leith, John Kato Kitamura (16K)

Group shot. Rick Stephenson, Thrasher & Thrashette, Rick's wife Susan York, Rick's sister Jennifer, Rick's brother-in-law Matt DuBreil, Andy Strote, Zain Patel, Mary McGuire. (24K)

MORE BARN! Shakey with Jennie Leith. (23K)

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