Other artists slated to showcase their talents during the festival include John Byrne Band, Cloudbelly, Ben de la Cour, Goldpine, Reggie Harris, The Kennedys, Heather Aubrey Lloyd, Sam Robbins, Jane Rothfield & Allan Carr, Kyle Swartzwelder, and Jesse Terry.

There’s also a festival within the festival for those who opt to camp onsite and enjoy some late-night musical revelry. The 40-acre campground – chock-a-block with tents – is home to a unique late-night scene, with singing by campfires and jamming into the early morning hours, as well as a Thursday night Camp Stage kickoff performance for campers only that will feature Hezekiah Jones and special guests Mason Porter and Chris Kasper.

Both day and full-festival passes are available for purchase. Discounted tickets are available for youth (ages 12-17) and children (ages 5-11), while all festival tickets without camping for Wee Folk (children up to age 4) are free.

For more information about the Philadelphia Folk Festival – including stage schedules — and to order tickets, visit folkfest.org.

The festival will feature more than 50 musical artists and acts performing daily from 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Seven stages –including the shady, family-oriented Dulcimer Grove — will offer a diverse array of international, regional and hyper-local performers, daytime workshops, in-the-round sets featuring several artists/acts, and more. As in years past, many artisans will display and sell their crafts, while a wide array of food and beverages will be available for purchase.

This year’s festival headliners are, Gangstagrass (a group whose innovative sound is a fusion of bluegrass and hip hop) John Oates (formerly of the popular Philadelphia-based pop-soul duo Hall & Oates), and virtuosic banjo player Tony Trischka’s EarlJam – A Tribute to Earl Scruggs (in which the acclaimed bluegrass artist and backing band trace the musical story of the American bluegrass legend known for popularizing a three-finger banjo picking style).

Among the other notable artists slated to perform during the festival are Adam Ezra Group, Calvin Arsenia, Cajun band Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet, Craig Bickhardt with Aislann Bickhardt, Johnathan Byrd, Ellis Paul, The Faux Paws, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Dom Flemons, John Flynn, John Gallagher, Jr., The Great Groove Band, Alice Howe & Freebo, Jess Klein, A.J. Lee & Blue Summit, Crys Matthews, Pete Muller and the Kindred Souls, Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt, Celtic roots ensemble RUNA, The Secret Sisters, Shanna in a Dress, Alexis P. Suter Band, Stephen Wade, Nigel Wearne, and Windborne. A number of talented Canadian artists are on the bill – including Angelique Francis Band, Cassie & Maggie, J.P. Cormier, Dave Gunning, Miss Emily, and Genevieve Racette.

John Flynn, a Delaware-based singer-songwriter and social justice activist & troubadour, has been a frequent performer at the festival and closes it out this year on the Main Stage. “When people ask me how I’m doing I often say ‘better than I deserve.’ They always think I’m joking but I’m really not,” he told AcousticMusicScene.com. “I am so grateful for the chances I’ve been given in this life and that’s kind of how I feel about the Philadelphia Folk Festival. These folks have supported my music from the very beginning, and it’s a real honor to be getting a chance to appear with so many wonderful artists on the final night of this year’s fest.”

Artists Affiliated with Music Artists Cooperative (MAC) and Xtreme Folk Scene Also Slated to Perform

The Philadelphia Folk Festival also will feature performances by members of the Philadelphia Folksong Society’s Musical Artists Cooperative (MAC) and from The Xtreme Folk Scene, a Philadelphia-based music community dedicated to supporting dynamic and innovative folk music that pushes the boundaries of tradition and celebrates the fusion of various genres.

The Musical Artists Cooperative (MAC) is an initiative designed to support professional musicians who perform regularly in the local area, with many touring nationally as well. Slated to perform on the Lobby Stage on Friday, Aug, 16, between 1-5:30 p.m. are Last Chance, CubiZm, Jefferson Berry & the UAC, Bethlehem and Sad Patrick, Jersey Corn Pickers, Kicking Down Doors, The Hoppin Boxcars, and Meghan Cary. On Saturday morning, Aug. 17, Mara Levine and Gathering Time will perform on the Craft Stage from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., and on Sunday morning, Aug. 18, The Honey Badgers and The Edgehill Rounders play the Tank Stage from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Other MAC-affiliated artists set to perform during the festival include Emily Drinker, Aaron Nathans, David C. Perry, Jackson Pines, and Two of a Kind.

The Xtreme Folk Showcase, entitled “Anger, Hope, and Outrage,” will feature performances by Sug Daniels, Anarkkhipov, Persistent Resonators, A Day Without Love, and Matt Pless on the Tank Stage on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Xtreme Folk Scene also presents Xfest, an annual music festival featuring some of the edgiest folk artists in the greater Philadelphia area.

There’s also a festival within the festival for those who opt to camp onsite and enjoy some late-night musical revelry. The 40-acre campground – chock-a-block with tents – is home to a unique late-night scene, with singing by campfires and jamming into the early morning hours, as well as a Thursday night Camp Stage kickoff performance for campers only.

For more information about the Philadelphia Folk Festival – including stage schedules — and to order tickets, visit folkfest.org.

About the Artists:

Hailing from the countryside of rural Ontario, Benjamin Dakota Rogers is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist channels his penchant for starry nights and nostalgia into a stylized, hard-driving and powerful Americana sound full of heartbreak and grit featuring guitar, banjo, upright bass, and fiddle. He has released three full-length solo recordings, showcased his talents at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, among others, and has been a four-time international songwriting competition winner and a two-time Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee.

Here’s a link to view a few of Benjamin’s videos: benjamindakotarogers.com/videos.

Angela Saini is a Canadian prairie-raised, Toronto- based folk-pop Americana artist with a positive and uplifting outlook on life. She is all about second chances and empowering others. A 2020 Independent Music Award Nominee and 2017 Toronto Independent Music Award winner, she uplifts and inspires audiences with sing-alongs and storytelling about courage and finding joy in surprising places. Angela has five Canadian tours under her belt, as well as several treks across Germany, The Netherlands and the UK. Best known for her sunshine-soaked song “Living on the Bright Side,” she has showcased her talents at the Philadelphia Folk Festival and at a number of Canadian music festivals. Her ability to combine humanistic and honest themes laden with catchy hooks and memorable melodies make her entertaining as well as relatable.

Here’s a link to view a few of Angela’s videos: angelasaini.com/videos.

The Young Novelists create contemporary folk songs that marry effortless harmonies with darkly poetic lyrics, exquisitely crafted hooks, and the unique sound of bowed glockenspiel. The award-winning Toronto-based husband-and-wife folk-roots duo of Graydon James and Laura Spink share a passion for confessional storytelling and sing songs about small towns, redemption, love and loss. The duo has toured across Canada, the U.S. and Europe and has released three studio albums and a live recording. In 2015, The Young Novelists were named New/Emerging Artist of the Year in the Canadian Folk Music Awards and took first place in the Grassy Hill-CT Folk Songwriting Competition during the 10th annual Connecticut Folk Festival, while James won the Ontario Arts Council’s Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award for “Couldn’t Be Any Worse.” The duo has also played coveted juried official showcases during the Folk Alliance International conference and those of its northeast and southeast regional affiliates (NERFA and SERFA).

To view a few videos, visit youngnovelists.com/videos.

About Your Hosts:

The livestream marks a renewed partnership of sorts for Michael Kornfeld and Kathy Sands-Boehmer, who served as president and vice president, respectively, of the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) for several years and also co-coordinated one-day conferences and a series of showcases. Kornfeld, a veteran strategic communications and public relations professional – whose clients have included a number of independent recording artists and labels – launched AcousticMusicScene.com in 2007 to provide news, information and commentary for the folk, roots and singer-songwriter communities. The longtime president of the Folk Music Society of Huntington, a nonprofit presenting organization on Long Island, NY, Kornfeld also serves on the board of Folk Alliance International, curates the annual Huntington Folk Festival, and hosts showcases at various music conferences and festivals. Sands-Boehmer, who served as the booking and publicity manager for Me & Thee Coffeehouse in Marblehead, MA for many years, was an active leader in the Boston Area Coffeehouse Association (BACHA), and has also served as an artist manager, recently launched Harbortown Music as a resource for musicians and venues — building community, while promoting and presenting high-quality music. She works with Stephen Bach of The Digital Docs, who engineers all of Harbortown Music’s virtual shows and lends his technical expertise to the participating artists as well.

96 acoustic, folk, roots, traditional, and world music artists from 14 countries are taking part in what could be the largest online matchmaking of musicians ever undertaken, according to Sounds Australia, a founding partner with Showcase Scotland Expo and Canada’s East Coast Music Association (ECMA), along with 11 other export organizations and showcase events.

Breaking artists/acts into a new territory or country can be a challenging process during the best of times and is even more difficult now. As envisioned by its founders, the Global Music Match program is designed as a unique response to the limitations imposed on the music industry – particularly the live music sector – at this time. It makes use of one of the only available platforms – social media and peer-to-peer collaboration – to increase networks, exposure and audiences for export-ready artists internationally – helping to lay the groundwork for future international touring opportunities.

The Global Music Match program (globalmusicmatch.com, hashtag #globalmusicmatch) will also support participating artists to enhance and improve their social media and interviewing activity, as well as encourage cross-border collaboration by connecting musicians from around the world, according to Folk Alliance International, a Kansas City-MO-based nonprofit organization that is also taking part in the new initiative.

Participating artists have been grouped into 16 teams, and no two acts from the same country are paired together. Aided by music industry coaches, one artist/band from each country will introduce another artist /band from their team to their social media followers each week to cross-promote each other’s music and careers to their respective audiences, until all of the artists have been presented.

“I’m so incredibly excited to be participating in this groundbreaking global initiative,” said Lisa Schwartz, festival & artistic director for the Philadelphia Folk Festival and president of the Folk Alliance International board of directors. She is coaching a team comprised of MariTe K from Italy, Cemelesal from Taiwan, Riley Pierce from Australia, RURA from Scotland, Lady Nade from England, and 9Bach from Wales. “What an incredible way to make new friends, invite new fans, and use music as the connective tissue,” she added. Schwartz urges people to “follow #globalmusicmatch and discover new artists and their music, and see firsthand how we can all be together even when forced to be apart.”

Matthews is one of six Folk Alliance International (FAI) alumni artists based in the U.S. who have been selected and placed on different global teams. The others are Sean Ardoin. Calvin Arsenia, Gina Chavez, Charlie Lowry, and SaulPaul. FAI aims to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion.

In addition to ECMA, FAI, Showcase Scotland Expo, and Sounds Australia, Global Music Match is supported by the following export organizations: Catalan Arts (Spain), English Folk Expo, FOCUS Wales, LUCfest Taiwan, Music Estonia, Music Finland, Music Norway, Puglia Sounds (Italy), and Spectacle vivant Bretagne (Brittany, France).

Since 2014, the Woody Guthrie Prize has been given annually to an artist who best exemplifies the spirit and life work of Woody Guthrie by speaking for the less fortunate through music, film, literature, dance or other art forms and serving as a positive force for social change in America. “We hope that the Woody Guthrie Prize will shed an inspirational light on those who have decided to use their talents for the common good rather than for personal gain,” said Nora Guthrie, daughter of Woody Guthrie. Past recipients who have used their talents to speak for those without a platform include Chuck D, Kris Kristofferson, Norman Lear, John Mellencamp, Pete Seeger, and Mavis Staples.

“As I have followed in the footsteps of Woody Guthrie, it has been my mission to use my music as a voice for those who cannot be heard or have been silenced by fear and powerlessness,” Baez said in a news release issued by the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“In his lyrics to ‘Tom Joad,’ Woody wrote ‘Wherever people ain’t free/Wherever men are fightin’ for their rights/That’s where I’m gonna be,” said Deana McCloud, the center’s executive director. ’”For the past seven decades, that’s exactly where Joan Baez has been. A staunch activist, Ms. Baez has consistently been on the front lines in the fight for social justice, peace and equality. As a true child of Woody Guthrie, she has continued the work he began during his short life, and we are proud to present her with this well-deserved recognition.”

Baez has released nearly 70 albums – including compilations and live ones — and has inspired a generation of female singer-songwriters. Besides scoring hits with her own compositions like “Diamonds in the Rust” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” the soprano with a three-octave vocal range also has drawn accolades for her interpretations of songs by the likes of The Beatles, Donovan, Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, Phil Ochs and Malvina Reynolds.

Baez has been the recipient of many awards and honors. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. The National Academy for the Recording Arts & Sciences (the organization behind the Grammy Awards, for which she ‘s been an eight-time nominee) presented her with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 and a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Baez’s seminal 1960 debut album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011. The Americana Music Association has honored her with its Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award, which “recognizes and celebrates artists who have ignited discussion and challenged the status quo through their music and actions.”

A longtime committed social activist, as well as a seminal recording artist, Baez has been engaged in a number of social movements and causes over the years — notably including the civil rights and anti-war movements. A recipient of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Earl Warren Award for commitment to human and civil rights issues, she sang out for and about freedom and civil rights on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famed March on Washington in 1963 and helped inspire Vaclav Haval in his fight for a Czech Republic. Baez participated in the birth of the Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley during the turbulent 1960s and co-founded the Institute for the Study of Nonviolence that today operates as Resource Center for Nonviolence, as well as the Humanitas International Human Rights Committee. She stood in the California fields along with Cesar Chavez and migrant farm workers pressing their case for fair wages and better treatment. She marched, sang and fought against the Vietnam War, helped establish Amnesty International’s presence on the West Coast and participated in the international human rights organization’s first concert tour. In 1985, Baez opened the U.S. segment of the worldwide Live Aid telecast. She also stood alongside South Africa’s Nelson Mandela when the world celebrated his 90th birthday in London’s Hyde Park. Amnesty International has honored Baez with its Ambassador of Conscience Award in recognition of her exceptional leadership in the fight for human rights. Over the years, Baez has also been involved with Human Rights Watch and Bread and Roses — the latter of which was founded by her late sister, Mimi Farina.

Baez was the focus of a 2009 PBS American Masters series documentary entitled Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound that chronicles the private life and public career of the living folk legend who made her debut appearance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1959 and returned to that stage in August 2009 as part of her worldwide tour celebrating 50 years as a recording artist and performer.

Woody Guthrie Center to Also Host a Stage at Virtual Philadelphia Folk Festival

In addition to accepting the Woody Guthrie Prize during the virtual Philadelphia Folk Festival, Baez will engage in a conversation moderated by Bob Santelli, founding executive director of the GRAMMY Museum. A center of investigation for inspiration — featuring exhibits, an extensive outreach and education program, and a concert series — the Woody Guthrie Center (which is currently closed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic) is also partnering with the Philadelphia Folksong Society to present an array of artists whose music will stream online during the festival.

The Center’s virtual stage will feature music from all along Woody’s Ribbon of Highway — including his granddaughter Cathy Guthrie as part of Folk Uke (with Willie Nelson’s daughter Amy), a spotlight on Tulsa’s hip-hop artists and the Fire in Little Africa recording project being done to commemorate the centennial of Tulsa’s race massacre, a Tulsa Revue, and a preview of an album that Tulsa artists recorded at Leon Russell’s Grand Lake home studio that will drop the end of August, entitled Back to Paradise. according to McCloud. “With all that music history as part of our stage, having the presentation of the Woody Guthrie Prize to Joan Baez was a perfect choice to complement it,” she said, noting that the prize event usually serves as a fundraiser for programs promoting Guthrie’s legacy and message of social justice.

A pay-what-you-can ticket must be purchased to view the program. Tickets and more information about the virtual Philadelphia Folk Festival are available at folkfest.org.

Headliners include David Crosby & Friends, Margo, Price, The Mavericks, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Joan Osborne Sings Bob Dylan, and Amanda Shires. Crosby, who closes out the festival on Sunday night, Aug. 18, is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, co-founder of Crosby, Stills & Nash, and the subject of a just-released documentary entitled “David Crosby: Remember My Name.” Price is a Nashville-based country singer-songwriter. Combining Tex-Mex, neo-traditional country music, Latin, and rockabilly, The Mavericks is an eclectic American band currently celebrating its 30th anniversary. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band has been bringing the sounds of New Orleans to concert halls and festivals the world over for more than 50 years. A gifted singer-songwriter in her own right, Osborne also interprets the songs of others. Shires is a fiddle-playing singer-songwriter.

Among the other notable artists slated to perform during the festival are Blair Bodine, Michael Braunfeld and The Boneyard Hounds, Caitlin Canty, Emerald Rae, The End of America, Dom Flemons, Front Country, Jeffrey Foucault, Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons, The Kruger Brothers, Christine Lavin, Langhorne Slim and The Lost at Last Band, Christine Lavin, The Lee Boys, Kathy Mattea, Peter Mulvey, Oshima Brothers, Steve Poltz, Son of Town Hall, Way Down Wanderers, and Yola.

Here’s a link to view the official video for The Young’uns song, “Be The Man”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhZFrVMV0tI

Also of note are Texas-based singer-songwriter Matt The Electrician, cowboy poet and songster Andy Hedges, and Quarter Horse, a Long Island-based group that impressed folks at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival earlier this month after being voted by the audience as the “Most Wanted to Return” artists following its Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase last year.

• Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt • Amy Dee • Bethlehem and Sad Patrick• Bobtown • Bruce Sudano • Charlie Frey’s Blue Plate Specials • Driftwood Soldier• Emily Drinker • Haint Blue • Homestead Collective • j solomon • Jackson Howard• Jackson Pines • Joshua Fialkoff • Julia Levitina • Last Chance • Letitia VanSant• Lara Herscovitch & the Highway Philosophers • Marion Halliday with Trickster Sister

• Matthew Gordon & Silvershade Society • Meghan Cary with Analog Gypsies• Michael Spear Duo • Nick and Luke • Originaire • Rachel Andie & the Fifth Element• River Drivers • Sharon Katz & the Peace Train • Stella Ruze • The Carryons• The Cornerstones • The Jayplayers • The John Byrne Band

As the names above suggest, the Philadelphia Folk Festival features an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary music that stretches the boundaries of folk, helping to broaden its appeal and reach a new generation of listeners. Regional, national and international touring artists of note, as well as emerging ones, are on the bill.

Here’s a link to a Spotify playlist featuring artists who are slated to perform during the festival:
https://open.spotify.com/user/philadelphiafolksongsociety/playlist/19kKx9m8SDny6qZNM589XI?

In partnership with the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA), a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International, the festival will also showcase two talented young artists – Nina de Vitry and j solomon — during a NERFA Presents Young Folk song swap on Saturday morning.

There’s also a festival within the festival for those who opt to camp onsite and enjoy some late-night musical revelry. The 40-acre campground – chock-a-block with tents — is home to a unique late-night scene, with singing by campfires and jamming into the early morning hours. David Dye, host of the syndicated World Café radio program, will host a special Thursday night concert on the Camp Stage exclusively for all-festival camping ticket holders.

As usual, a wide array of food and beverages will be available for purchase, while festivalgoers also will have an opportunity to sample wines from City Winery Philadelphia, prior to its grand opening this fall.

Both day and full-festival passes are available for purchase. Children under 12 will be admitted free with an adult, while discounted tickets are available for youth, ages 12-17.

For more information about the Philadelphia Folk Festival and to order tickets, visit www.pfs.org. or call the office at 800-566-FOLK.

Editor’s Note: As president of the NERFA board of directors, I have the honor and pleasure of hosting the “NERFA Presents Young Folk” showcase on Saturday morning, Aug. 18, at 11 a.m. Kudos to Lisa Schwartz, the festival and programming director, on curating what promises to be another fabulous festival.

Among the notable artists slated to perform during the festival are Balsam Range, Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet, David Bromberg Quintet, Joe Crookston, Jeff Daniels, Mary Gauthier, John Gorka, Patty Griffin, Eileen Ivers, Christine Lavin, Martha Redbone, Tom Paxton and The DonJuans, Riders in the Sky, The Seldom Scene, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Alexis P. Suter Ministers of Sound, Tempest, Trout Fishing in America, and Molly Tuttle.

A number of talented Canadian artists are also on the bill — including Melanie Brulee, Matthew Byrne, Elage Diouf, Earle and Coffin, Jay Gilday, Terence Jack, David Myles, Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Dana Sipos, and The Small Glories. From the UK are Scottish folk-roots rockers Skerryvore (my favorite new musical discovery during the 2018 Folk Alliance International Conference) and Gloucestershire duo The Black Feathers. Limerick, Ireland’s Hermitage Green makes its Philadelphia Folk Festival debut, as do Australian singer-songwriter Tom West and Tuvan throat singers Alash.

Also of note are Michigan-based band The Accidentals (named among Yahoo Music’s 10 Bands to Watch” in 2017), Washington, DC area-based singer-songwriter Crys Matthews (grand prize winner of the 2018 NewSong Music Competition and winner of the People’s Music Network’s Social Justice Songs Contest at the 2017 Northeast Regional; Folk Alliance Conference), Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter Matt The Electrician, and rollicking, high-energy folk-rockers Scott Wolfson and Other Heroes.

Among the up-and-coming local touring artists who will showcase their talents during the festival are April Mae & the June Bugs, Michael Braunfeld, Meghan Cary & Analog Gypsies, Orion Freeman, Marion Halliday & Trickster Sister, Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt, and Brittany Tranbaugh. A Friday morning album release celebration for Kicking Down Doors and Tin Bird Choir will take place on the Camp Stage.

As the names above suggest, the Philadelphia Folk Festival features an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary music that stretches the boundaries of folk, helping to broaden its appeal and reach a new generation of listeners. National and international touring artists of note as well as emerging ones are on the bill.

In partnership with the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA), a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International, the festival will also showcase the talents of three up-and-coming young artists/acts –the previously mentioned Benjamin Dakota Rogers and Earle and Coffin, as well as Lula Wiles, a female Americana trio recently singed to Smithsonian Folkways Recordings– during a NERFA Presents Young Folk song swap on Saturday morning.

In addition to musical performances and workshops on eight stages – including an accordion workshop, contra dancing with Groovemama, a Martin Guitar Jam, and a late Sunday afternoon Klezmer dance party — there will be an array of children’s activities in the shady Dulcimer Grove – including craft-making and performances by The Give & Take Jugglers and a number of children- and family-oriented artists. As in years past, many artisans will display and sell their creations in an open-air juried crafts area.

There’s also a festival within the festival for those who opt to camp onsite and enjoy some late-night musical revelry. The 40-acre campground – chock-a-block with tents — is home to a unique late-night scene, with singing by campfires and jamming into the early morning hours. David Dye, host of the syndicated World Café radio program, will host a special Thursday night concert on the Camp Stage — featuring multi-ethnic Latin pop songstress Gina Chavez, contemporary blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Toranzo Cannon, and Scots folk band Talisk — exclusively for all-festival camping ticket holders.

Both day and full-festival passes are available for purchase. Children under 12 will be admitted free with an adult, while discounted tickets are available for youth, ages 12-17

For more information about the Philadelphia Folk Festival and to order tickets, visit www.pfs.org/philadelphia-folk-festival/.

Editor’s Note: As president of the NERFA board of directors, I have the honor and pleasure of hosting the “NERFA Presents Young Folk” showcase on Saturday morning, Aug. 18, at 11 a.m.

More than 100 artists and acts are slated to perform during the festival. These include David Amram, Eric Andersen, Baile An Salsa, Sam Baker, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards, Cry Cry Cry (featuring Lucy Kaplansky, Richard Shindell and Dar Williams), Skip Denenberg, Brian Dunne, Samantha Fish, John Flynn, Bella Hardy, Sierra Hull, The Infamous Stringdusters, David Jacobs-Strain & Bob Beach, The Kennedys, Laura Love Duo, Heather Maloney, John McCutcheon, Tift Merritt, Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, Graham Nash, Old Crow Medicine Show, Corin Raymond, RUNA, Son of Town Hall, Spirit Wing, Spuyten Duyvil, Taj Mo: The Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ Band, Ken Tizzard, Susan Werner, and Toronto-based duo The Young Novelists.

Among the notable up-and-coming local touring artists who will showcase their talents during the festival are Ben Arnold and the 48 Hour Orchestra, Michael Braunfeld, The End of America, Ladybird, Man About A Horse, Mist Covered Mountains, Andrea Nardello, No Good Sister, and Katherine Rondeau & The Show.

As the names above suggest, the Philadelphia Folk Festival features an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary music that stretches the boundaries of folk, helping to broaden its appeal and reach a new generation of listeners. Both notable national and international touring artists and emerging ones are on the bill.

In partnership with the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA), a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International, the festival will also showcase the talents of three up-and-coming young artists — Jeremy Aaron, Quentin Callewaert and Sara Chodak — during a NERFA Presents Young Folk song swap on Saturday morning. (Aaron also plays fiddle with the Hudson Valley, New York-based Americana-roots band, Spuyten Duyvil, during the festival.)

In addition to musical performances and workshops on eight stages – including contradancing with Groovemama, a Martin Guitar Jam and an old time & bluegrass jam — there will be an array of children’s activities in the shady Dulcimer Grove – including craft-making and performances by The Give & Take Jugglers and such children- and family-oriented artists as the husband-and-wife duo Two of a Kind. As in years past, many artisans will display and sell their creations in an open-air juried crafts area.

There’s also a festival within the festival for those who opt to camp onsite and enjoy some late-night musical revelry. The 40-acre campground – chock-a-block with tents — is home to a unique late-night scene, with singing by campfires and jamming into the early morning hours. David Dye, host of the syndicated World Café radio program, will host a special Thursday night concert on the Camp Stage –featuring Kentucky-based singer-songwriter Joan Shelley, Brooklyn, NY’s The National Reserve, and Toronto rock duo Whitehorse — exclusively for all-festival camping ticket holders.

Both day and full-festival passes are available, with ticket prices starting at $65 for a single-day. Children under 12 will be admitted free with an adult, while discounted tickets are available for youth, ages 12-17.

For more information about the Philadelphia Folk Festival and to order tickets, visit
www.pfs.org//Philadelphia-folk-festival/. A festival app also has been developed for use on smartphones before and during the festival.

Editor’s Note: As president of the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) board of directors, I have the honor and pleasure of hosting the “NERFA Presents Young Folk” showcase on Saturday morning, Aug. 19, at 11 a.m. Cheryl Prashker, my predecessor at NERFA and percussionist with the Celtic roots group Runa, will join me.

Among the dozens of artists and acts slated to perform are Mike Agranoff, April Mae & the June Bugs, Boris Garcia, Michael Braunfeld, Bumper Jacksons, Burning Bridget Cleary, Mya Byrne, Meghan Cary with Analog Gypsies, CJ Chenier and the Buckwheat Zydeco Band, Darlingside, Del & Dawg (living legends of bluegrass Del Mc Coury and David Grisman), Iris DeMent, John Flynn, Fortunate Ones, John Francis, Sam Gleaves, The Hello Strangers, Si Kahn, Christie Lenee, The Lone Below, Los Lobos, Mist Covered Mountains, Peter Mulvey, David Myles, Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore, Pine Leaf Boys, River Whyless, Katherine Rondeau, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Session Americana, Sharon Shannon, Roger Sprung, Spuyten Duyvil, The Stray Birds, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Tall Heights, Tempest, Vishten, Toby Walker, Robin & Linda Williams, Avi Wisnia, Scott Wolfson & Other Heroes, The Wood Brothers, and Peter Yarrow.

As the names above suggest, the Philadelphia Folk Festival features an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary music that stretches the boundaries of folk, helping to broaden its appeal and reach a new generation of listeners. Both notable national and international touring artists and emerging ones are on the bill.

Through a new partnership with the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International, the festival will showcase the talents of three up-and-coming 20-something artists – Kaia Kater, Kirsten Maxwell and Ethan Pierce– during a NERFA Presents Young Folk song swap on Saturday morning. Maxwell will also be part of a Next Gen Folk set on Friday (along with Deer Scout and Jason McCue) and a Sunday afternoon Songsmiths session (with Michael Braunfeld, Sam Gleaves and Peter Mulvey), while Kater joins David Myles in a Sunday afternoon Oh Canada! set.

In addition to musical performances and workshops on eight stages – including contradancing with Groovemama, a Martin Guitar Jam and an old time & bluegrass jam — there will be an array of children’s activities and kid-oriented musicians in the shady Dulcimer Grove. Singer-songwriters and social activists John Flynn and Si Kahn will conduct a short workshop on “The Role of Musicians in Movements for Social Justice. ”

As in years past, many artisans will display and sell their creations in an open-air juried crafts area.

There’s also a festival within the festival for those who opt to camp onsite and enjoy some late-night musical revelry. The 40-acre campground – chock-a-block with tents — is home to a unique late-night scene, with singing by campfires and jamming into the early morning hours. David Dye, host of the syndicated World Café radio program, will host a special Thursday night concert on the Camp Stage –featuring Liz Longley, Quiet Life and The Sheepdogs — exclusively for all-festival camping ticket holders.

For more information about the Philadelphia Folk Festival and to order tickets, visit
www.pfs.org/Philadelphia-folk-festival/55th-folk-festival/.

Editor’s Note: As vice president of the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) board of directors, I have the honor and pleasure of hosting the “NERFA Presents Young Folk” showcase on Saturday, Aug. 20.

Besides Guthrie – who will perform “Alice’s Restaurant” in its entirety along with other songs – and Paxton — a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient known for such songs as “The Last Thing On My Mind,” “Bottle of Wine,” “Ramblin’ Boy” and “Whose Garden Was This” – this year’s featured artists include Baskery, Craig Bickhardt, Michael Braunfeld, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, Bruce Cockburn, Della Mae, El Caribefunk, Shakey Graves, The HillBenders (presenting Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry), Hoots & Hellmouth, The Lee Boys, Lyle Lovett & His Large Band, Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards, Parker Millsap, North Mississippi Allstars, Pesky J. Nixon, Psych-A-Billy, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Spuyten Duyvil and Tall Heights. Canadian artists slated to perform include Matt Andersen, Dave Gunning, Irish Mythen, Cassie & Maggie MacDonald, and Lindi Ortega.

As the names above suggest, the Philadelphia Folk Festival features an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary music that stretches the boundaries of folk, helping to broaden its appeal and reach a new generation of listeners. Both notable national touring artists and emerging ones are on the bill

In addition, with assistance of a grant from the Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation, 35 members of the Philadelphia Music Co-Op have been accorded performance slots. Now in its fourth year, the co-op, an offshoot of the Philadelphia Folksong Society, works with area musicians to showcase their talents, collaborate, and develop them as artists. Those set to perform include The Band of Rivals, Mia Bergmann, Black Horse Motel, Bobtown, Daniel S. Bower, John Byrne Band, Dylan Jane, Todd Faysnacht, The Hello Strangers, Jersey Corn Pickers, Andrew Jude, Kevin Killen, Lizanne Knott, Ladybird, Lovers League, John Mallinen, Paul Mamolou, Man About a Horse, Cynthia G. Mason, Andrea Nardello, Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt, No Good Sister, Ray Owen, Naelee Rae, Katherine Rondeau, Paul Saint John, Silverton, Sylvia Platypus, Jeneen Terrana, Jesse Terry, Tin Bird Choir, Elspeth Tremblay, Hawk Tubley, Valley Creek, and Scott Wolfson and Other Heroes.

In addition to musical performances on eight stages — including dancing to bands on the 3,500 square-foot covered pavilion known as the Lobby Stage — there will be an array of children’s activities and kid-oriented musicians in the shady Dulcimer Grove. Midnight outdoor film screenings of Alice’s Restaurant and A Mighty Wind are also on the docket. As in years past, many artisans will display and sell their creations in an open-air juried crafts area.

There’s also a festival within the festival for those who opt to camp onsite and enjoy some late-night camaraderie and musical revelry. The 40-acre campground – chock-a-block with tents – is home to a unique late-night scene, with singing by campfires and jamming into the early morning hours. David Dye, host of the syndicated World Café radio program, will host a special Thursday night concert on the Camp Stage exclusively for all-festival camping ticket holders.

For more information about the festival and to order tickets, visit www.pfs.org/folk-festival.