The 2nd annual Karfluki Fest was on May 5th 2007 from noon until 10pm at the Auburn Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn, CA. An eclectic mix of music and big fun, this show is all over the map! "Big Fun" is the definition of the word Karfluki according to Lief Sorbye, lead man of the Celtic rock band Tempest and creator of Karfluki Fest. The festival has a diverse mix of acts and sometimes feels like a circus. There was an actual Ring Master complete with top hat and red coat with tails that announced the performers.

The music could not have been better! The lineup included: The Fishtank Ensemble, a mix of Gypsy and folk music that included a saw as an instrument and the incredible vocal range of Ursula Knudson. Fairport Convention, an acoustic trio with a down-home Celtic/Folk/Rock sound. These guys had a huge following and were called back on stage for an encore. The Wicked Tinkers brought the crowd to their dancing feet with an intense mix of Bag Pipes, drums and didgeridoo. Tempest rocked the house with their very own blend of Celtic Rock. The Reel Stepsisters, a step dancing duo, delighted the audience by joining Tempest on stage and the Wicked Tinkers also joined them for a tune. Janis Joplin's original band Big Brother and the Holding Company finished off the evening by taking us back to the Summer of Love (I swear Janis was there!).

Sprinkled among the music were the many talented performers. There was George the Giant towering at 7'3" with his sideshow act of freakish feats including sword swallowing. The Sierra Spiral Dancers enchanted and seduced the audience with tribal fusion belly dancing. The stunt and juggling group Out of Kontrol wowed the crowd with their wild and dangerous antics including fire eating; definitely a "don't try this at home" show! The highlight for me was the group Controlled Burn from Reno, CA. Just as the name implies, they play and dance with fire. As the sun set, they lit up the night and entranced us all with an awesome display of spinning BIG fire.

Lots of food, ale and vendors selling their wares completed this intoxicating and vibrant festival. Truly a magnificent day that I won't soon forget! It was a wild ride and you can bet I'll be there holding on tight for Karfluki Fest 2008! If you love fun or "Karfluki", you and your entire family will be there holding on too!!