Rain? What rain? It’s Project Troubador after all

SALISBURY — The 22nd annual Grove Festival proved that there was nothing that could deter loyal fans from a prompt start — not even heavy rains throughout the day before the 5 p.m. kickoff of the June 25 concert.“It is amazing that we have this faithful crowd that comes out to support us regardless,” said Louise Lindenmeyr, executive director of Project Troubador, the organization behind the festival.The clouds cleared, and by 6:25 p.m., the umbrellas closed and the picnic blankets unfurled.The event kicked off with the MillertonKnights at 5:20 p.m. After seven songs they left the stage, leaving the audience with the sounds of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”Kakande, a band from Guinea, followed the Knights. The four members of Kakande work together to recreate the traditional sounds of West African popular music by using the balafon, a wooden percussion keyboard similar to a xylophone.At 7:40 p.m., Henry the Juggler elicited applause and laughter from both children and adults. Many of the audience members were enticed up to the front of the stage, to help Henry juggle. The event concluded with Jose Conde, a Cuban musician who won the Best Latin Album category at the 2008 Independent Music Awards. He and his band played Latin-styled music that had the audience up and on its feet, dancing on the only slightly damp grass in front of the stage. Only about 200 tickets were sold this year, which is about 300 fewer than usual. The audience was certainly more compact and intimate than in past years. But spirits remained high and those who ventured out were able to enjoy perfect weather, a perfect sunset, an eagle flying over Lake Wononscopomuc and of course their picnic dinners and the company of friends.