next »

[Ann VerWiebe]

With Langerado in the history books and Suwanee Springfest only a week away, it's time to start thinking about hanging out at the folk fests.  I've put together a list of 10 - pick the festival that (if you only had one week of vacation, but a big pile of money) you would most like to go to.  Or, add your favorite to the list below.

[JoLynn]

If you are lucky enough to have two and a half weeks of vacation, you can spend it ALL at the Kerrville Folk Festival which begins Memorial Day weekend and lasts for 18 days!   
Can you imagine that - 18 wonderful days (and nights!) of the best folk you've ever heard (or made, if you're a musician making the rounds of the camps). The best way to take it all in is to camp, whether it be in a humble tent, as I choose to do, or in an elaborate air conditioned RV - either way it will be an experience you will never forget. Keeps me coming back every year. 
For more information and to check out this year's line-up visit:
http://www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com/
Kerrville Folk Festival
May 22 - June 8 2008
Quiet Valley Ranch, Kerrville, TX
in the beautiful Texas Hill Country

[Jimmie Wilson]

Well, I suppose you knew that I'd pick Merlefest from the list. 

But how did you manage to NOT include FalconRidge?  It's one of the most amazing festivals that I've ever attended.  I went to it for the first time last summer, and I was amazed at the quality of the event.  Check it out:

http://www.falconridgefolk.com/

They've only announced a small handful of the 2008 performers so far, but between the great singer/songwriter lineup and the contradancing 'til all hours of the night, it's an amazing event!  Last year's lineup included Arlo, Dar, Lucy, Richard Shindell, John Gorka, the Nields, the Kennedys, and countless more.

You can read my comments from last summer's festivals in the blog on my Myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/cousinjimmie

There are quite a few photos in the photo section there as well (from Merlefest, Grey Fox, and FalconRidge).

Grey Fox is moving to a new location this year, btw.  From what I've heard, it is a far less hilly environment, which should be a very good thing. 

Jimmie

[Ann VerWiebe]

Jimmie--You're right, but I had to limit myself and Grey Fox had a much more fully developed line-up.  Which is not to say that I kick a pair of FalconRidge passes out of bed for eating crackers! 

[Fingerpicker]

A great poll--makes me long for the time to take a tour of one or two.  One reason I voted for the Philly Folk Festival (aside from hometown pride), is that there were a couple media reports that the show's days might be numbered.   Maybe Gene Shay could comment on that? 

[tinders2]

Kerrville Folk Festival all the way!! We're one big happy family. Steve Hopkins says it all in his song Kerrville Waltz. You can hear it on My Space http://www.myspace.com/stevehopkinsmusic or http://www.myspace.com/tinders2

[Bruce Poppe]

Kerrville for me.  Those late nights and morning brunches swapping songs can't be beat.

Bruce

[cdwhit]

More and more of the artists and workers that made me a Kerrvert have passed on, but it's still "Coming Home". 

[Jimmie Wilson]

Jimmie--You're right, but I had to limit myself and Grey Fox had a much more fully developed line-up.  Which is not to say that I kick a pair of FalconRidge passes out of bed for eating crackers! 

Well, the full Falconridge 2008 lineup has now been announced, and I'd guess that most Folk Alley listeners would find it pretty compelling:

Anthony Da Costa T/F/S/S
Beth Molaro T/F/S/S
Bill Evans Soulgrass Fri
Chris Smither S/S
The Clayfoot Strutters T/F/S/S
Crooked Still Thu
Culver Griffin & Country Spice Sat
Dar Williams Sat
Eddie From Ohio S/S
Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul Sun
Eliza Gilkyson F/S/S
Falcon Ridge House Band T/F/S/S
The Farewell Drifters S/S
The Folk Brothers - David Massengill & Jack Hardy T/F/S/S
Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams T/F/S/S
George Marshall with Wild Asparagus T/F/S/S
Guy Mendilow Band F/S/S
The Horse Flies T/F
The Ivy Vine Players F/S
Janis Ian S/S
Jason Spooner Trio T/F
Joe Crookston T/F/S/S
Jim & Madeline Christensen T/F/S/S
John Gorka F/S/S
Kathryn Wedderburn T/F/S/S
Lowen & Navarro T/F/S/S
Lori McKenna Thu
Lindsay Mac T/F/S/S
Martin Sexton Sat
Mortal Beasts & Deities Sun
Nerissa & Katryna Nields F/S/S
Nightingale S/S
Patti O’Brien Melita T/F/S/S
Patti O & the Hip Hooligans F/S
Patty Larkin F/S
Paul Rosenberg T/F/S/S
Railroad Earth Sun
Ralph Sweet Sat
Randall Williams T/F/S/S
Red Molly T/F/S/S
Roger the Jester F/S/S
The Sevens F/S
The Storycrafters F/S/S
The Strangelings T/F/S/S
Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience Fri
Tracy Grammer F/S/S
The Walker Family S/S
Vance Gilbert T/F/S/S

As always, Falconridge is focused on dance as well as songwriting, so we get the Clayfoot Strutters, Wild Asparagus, Nightingale, and the Sevens to dance to.  That's a pretty amazing lineup all by itself!

[rajah]

Umm, yeah, I help organize it, but I do think the Old Songs Festival should be on that list.
www.oldsongs.org/festival
June 27, 28, 29

Here's the performer list.
Notice there is no listing of days for each performer;
call us old-fashioned, but we insist that performers join us for the whole weekend and really engage with each other and with the audience.
That's where the magic really happens.

Liz Carroll & John Doyle
April Verch Band
Chuck & Albert - formerly of Barachois
Andy Irvine
Joe Jenks
Robert B. Jones
John Kirk & Trish Miller
Walt Michael & Company
Andrew & Noah Van Nordstrand
Si Kahn
Le Vent du Nord
Galitcha
Peter & Mary Alice Amidon
Scott Ainslie
Matt Watroba
Morrison Brothers Band
Marge Bruchac & Justin Kennick
Joe Bruchac
Christopher Shaw
Dan Berggren
Lee Murdock
Debra Cowan
Dan Duggan
Groovemama
Peggy Lynn
Ruth Pelham
Sparky & Rhonda Rucker
Bill Spence
Toby Stover
George Ward
George Wilson

[susanroads]

Where would I be but the Kerrville Folk Festival?!  I like that it focuses on the song writers, themselves.  Also that it is one big family of real 'folks' from all over.  People that support and care about each other.  I like that it strongly supports new musicians with the Grassy Hill New Folk venue.  I also love that only one stage is operating at a time, so you don't have to choose which acts you'll have to miss!  If you haven't experienced it, give it a try.  There is true magic there that flows through everything.

See you at the ranch!

[Alan_t]

I'm not familiar with those Festivals, being in England as i am, but i will be at Cropredy again this year, and Spratton (small new festival on my doorstep).