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| Ambleside Park |
Imagine if you will, you are in a beautiful park in Vancouver, British Columbia. Let's say Ambleside Park in West Vancouver. From this park, you can look across the water and see the amazing Lions Gate Bridge and Vancouver's famous Stanley Park. You can also look out onto Burrard Inlet, which opens up into the Strait of Georgia. Incredible!
It's a nice day, not too hot, and not too cold. The sun plays hide and seek with the clouds keeping the temperature just right.
This is where we were and how it was on Saturday, August 17th at the classic rock festival, Rock Ambleside Park 2019. On this perfect day, at this perfect venue, we saw four of Canada's best rock bands: Pat Travers, Sass Jordan, SAGA, and Tom Cochrane with Red Rider.
Who??? If you aren't Canadian (or maybe if you are), there is a chance that you won't know these accomplished Canadian classic and progressive rock bands. But, if you heard Sass Jordan's powerful, gravelly voice and bluesy-rock sound surely she would "Make You a Believer." And of course, SAGA...we were all gaga over SAGA in the '80s and still are. (That's rotten, I know.)
In the park, right in front of the stage, was a section in which people could stand. People put their lawn chairs and blankets all over the lawn surrounding this area. The great thing was that you were far enough from the stage and the stage was high enough that you could see the stage while sitting in your lawn chairs.
As each band played, people moved around getting food and drinks from the carts and bars on the edges of the concert area. There was no police presence. No pushing or shoving. No smell of smoke or marijuana. There was, however, an enclosed area, where people could buy and smoke legal marijuana. People left stuff on their lawn chairs. People smiled and were friendly.
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| Sass Jordan |
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| Sass Jordan |
Sass Jordan was on fire! We rocked out to "High Road Easy," "Make You a Believer," and "Tell Somebody" from the middle of the standing area in front of the stage.
When she finished, most of the crowd left and my group naturally moved up to the front.
And then Saga came on. This band, with its emotional lyrics, haunting melodies, and intricate keyboard solos, got us through our confusing teenage years.
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| Michael Sadler of SAGA |
We sang all their songs, including "On the Loose, "Wind Him Up," "Take a Chance," and "Don't Be Late," at the top of our lungs. We smiled at the band members, made eye contact with them, waved, made thumbs-up and hang loose gestures to them, and felt the love...not just from the band members, but from all the other fans in the crowd.
During the concert, the bassist/keyboardist, Dusty Chesterfield, and guitarist, Ian Crichton, had thrown several SAGA guitar picks into the audience and I managed to recover one on the ground. I gave it right to Karl. We were both thrilled. Finally, after what seemed like hours (time slowed down for me as I took in everything), their set ended.
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| Ian Crichton of SAGA |
Although we wanted to stay at the front of the stage for Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, we decided to go over to where SAGA was signing autographs. We waited in line for about half an hour, chatting with other SAGA fans.
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| Right after the SAGA concert |
When we finally made it up to see them, because we were at the back of the line, we were able to shake hands and chat with each member a little bit. Usually, I get star-struck, but I babbled away telling Mike Sadler and Ian Crichton that the song "You and the Night" was our wedding song. I tried to explain to the band how much their music meant to me growing up...meant to all of us. Jim Gilmore told me he saw me singing in the crowd. Yes, I know every word to "Scratching the Surface," which he sang beautifully!
After we came down from the clouds at having met our childhood idols, we finished out the concert watching Tom Cochrane and Red Rider from our lawn chairs. As the sun set, we grooved to "Life is a Highway"...we were definitely riding it all night long.
A week later, I'm still flying high from meeting SAGA, despite coming up with all sorts of questions I should have asked them. I'm also wondering why we didn't just ask them to join us for food and drinks afterward, I mean, why not? I'm so glad I got to thank them for the joy they've brought to our lives. I realized it was 35 years since we first listened to them on records. Wow! Next time, I'll be ready! :-)
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