The GottaGetGon Festival
The GottaGetGon festival is a public function of the Pickin' & Singin' Gatherin', a folk music club near Albany NY. We started it in 1970.
The PSG's traditional refrain on Memorial Day Weekend is "Gotta Get Gone!" from the city and out to where music and friendship takes over for the weekend. It's a time to lean back, sit around, and be with friends and family, play some music, sing some songs, and listen to some of the best music around, day and night.
The GottaGetGon is an intimate family folk festival, put on by a small handful of volunteers, and designed for folks who believe that music is part of life. It is a place where grownups, teens, and children can be part of the experience of sharing music, time, and friendship. It's a special gather'n' where PSG invites a few select performers to join us for a weekend of fine music.
Many of us camp at the festival site: Saratoga County Fairgrounds in Ballston Spa NY, others commute back and forth, and bring a picnic lunch.
There are workshops and concerts from about 10:00 a. m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday evening there is the biggest family dance you ever saw, and there are a capella sings and informal campground music Friday and Sunday evenings. It's all under cover so don't worry about rain.
Most PSG members are much more interested in doing, rather than just watching, music. Many are excellent musicians, singers, and dancers. We invite performers to come, not only to showcase their own music, but so we can learn new music. That's what many of the small workshops are for - sometimes they're where people can learn by doing; sometimes they're mini-concerts so members can learn the performer's techniques and repertoire. Of course if you don't pick or sing you can still come gather and enjoy.
You will find that the GottaGetGon is a small, fairly traditional, folk gathering - no matter what kind of music you like, it's a wonderful experience. We hope you will join in the music and folks at GGG. (You don't have to be a member of PSG to enjoy the GottaGetGon - but you may want to become a member and participate in our other activities.)