PHILADELPHIA, PA. (PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL/ www.folkfest.org) - One of the nation's oldest and most revered musical gatherings has set the stage for the three-day extravaganza of traditional and contemporary folk, dance, crafts, camping, and children's activities. For its historic 44th edition unfolding August 26-28 at the Old Pool Farm near Schwenksville, PA, the Festival continues its successful balancing act between tradition and innovation.
Among the top attractions at the 44th annual PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL are Arlo Guthrie, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Alice's Restaurant, Emmylou Harris, Marcia Ball, David Grisman Quintet with capable assistance from Buddy Miller, Tempest, Angel Band featuring Terry, Candice, Mike and Ryan O'Bryrne with David Bromberg and Bob Taylor; Artisan, Peggy Seeger, Ann Rabson and the Annimators, Wolfstone and so many more. In all, more than 50 folk, blues, old-timey, bluegrass, world and roots artists will be providing more than 55 hours of music from new and innovative to traditional, including more than 22 hours of dance music in the 3,500-square-foot, wooden floor dance tent.
Returning for his 44th year as host/emcee is the Godfather of Philly Folk Music, WXPN radio personality and Festival co-founder Gene Shay, whose four decades of dedication, preservation and promotion of folk music have become legendary - not only in Philadelphia, but around the country.
The PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL now features the Grand Entrance Foyer, an outdoor lobby that welcomes festivalgoers as they pass through the main entrance with an active area of dance, merchandise, crafts and, in the Philadelphia Folksong Society tent, space for members to gather and meet. A highlight of the Grand Entrance Foyer is the Dance Tent with a 3,500-square-foot wooden floor where top-shelf dance bands and callers will be performing live. Learn Welsh Dances with Moch Pryderri; Contra Dance with Anacrusis; Waltz to Old Timey tunes or do-si-do your darling during the square dance called by Pete LaBerge.
The PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL is extremely attractive to families, too. There is a profusion of attractions for the kids, especially in Dulcimer Grove, the shady area between the Crafts Stage and the Camp Stage, where puppeteers, jugglers, storytellers, hands-on crafts and of course, kid- oriented musicians make it a haven for folk fans 12 and under. There is also a special Kids' Concert on Friday afternoon from 3:00 to 5:00 featuring Dave Fry, Sadie Green Sales and Two of a Kind.
Older kids, 12 to 16, will again be privy to the special "youth ticket," allowing them into the grounds for half the regular gate price, when accompanied by an adult.
A special section of the campgrounds is designated for Family Camping as a "quieter" area of the tent camping, where campers there are asked, particularly late at night, to avoid after-hours jam sessions.
The campground at the PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL is considered the Ultimate Folk Festival Experience where jamming and camaraderie is shared during the large campfire sing after each evening concert. New for this year, for those with an All-Festival Camping Ticket, will be the movie "Bluegrass Journey," a documentary featuring The Del McCoury Band, Tim O'Brien, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan, Nickel Creek, Tony Rice, Rhonda Vincent and others and will explore the contemporary bluegrass scene. The movie will be shown on the Camp Stage on Thursday night, August 25.
The lineup by day is as follows:
FRIDAY AFTERNOON KIDS CONCERT (3 P.M.): Dave Fry, Sadie Green Sales, Two of a Kind
FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Crooked Still, Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Orpheus Supertones, Pat Wictor, Wailin' Jennys, Avett Brothers, Bet Williams
FRIDAY EVENING: Darol Anger's Republic of Strings, Tempest, The Red Stick Ramblers, Fanfare Ciocarlia, David Grisman Quintet. MC: Gene Shay
SATURDAY SHOWCASE: TO BE ANNOUNCED
SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller
SATURDAY EVENING: Air Dance, Artisan, John Jorgenson, Wolfstone, Marcia Ball, Footworks. MC: Gene Shay
SUNDAY SHOWCASE: TO BE ANNOUNCED
SUNDAY: Arlo Guthrie, Angel Band, The Glengarry Bhoys, The Mammals, Ann Rabson & the Annimators, Peggy Seeger, The Campbell Brothers, Modern Man
Tickets for the PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL are now on sale and can be purchased online at https://www.folkfest.org. Tickets are also available at the Philadelphia Folksong Society Box Office, 7113 Emlen Street, Philadelphia. For complete information about the Festival and tickets, call the PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL at 800-556-FOLK or visit the Festival website at https://www.folkfest.org.
