Several Folk Festivals Set for the First Weekend in May

A lot of good music is in store for folk and roots music fans in central Ohio, northern Florida and southern Arizona during the first weekend of May. That’s when the Central Ohio Folk Festival takes place in Columbus, the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival comes to St. Augustine, and the Tucson Folk Festival returns to, you guessed it, Tucson.

The Central Ohio Folk Festival, now in its 13th year, returns to Columbus’ Batelle-Darby Creek Metro Park, May 1-3. Sponsored by the Columbus Folk Music Society, Inc. and Metro Parks, the festival will feature an array of concerts, workshops, jam sessions and more

The festivities begin on Friday night with a pot-luck supper, Worst Song in the World Contest and jam sessions all evening. Following workshops, spotlight concerts, a Young Musicians’ Showcase and jams during the day on Saturday, the evening will feature performances by Butch Ross, Kitty Donohoe and Matt Watroba. Ross is a singer-

songwriter and mountain dulcimer player, whose repertoire includes traditional mountain tunes and often funny originals. Donohoe and Watroba are singer-songwriters and members of the Yellow Room Gang of performers. Two other members of the Gang, Michael Hough and David Tamulevich of Mustard’s Retreat, will join them for a songwriting workshop. Watroba also has hosted “Folk Like Us” on WDET-FM for more than 20 years. Sunday morning will feature a gospel sing, while workshops, spotlight concerts, activities for children and families, and a closing song circle fill out the day.

Three-day festival registration is available for $30 until April 27 and $35 after that, with discounts available for seniors 62 and over and juniors 13-20. Children 12 and under will be admitted free if accompanied by a registered adult. Workshops only and concert only tickets also are available. Visit www.cfms-inc.org for more information and to register.

Named in honor of the late folk troubadour from St. Augustine, the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival takes place May 1-3 at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds, near Elkton, in St. Augustine, Florida.

Gifted singer-songwriter and guitarist Jack Williams kicks off the musical festivities on Friday night, following a fish fry that is included in the price of admission. Other Friday and Saturday evening headliners include singer-songwriter Jesse Winchester (who has been performing for five decades), seven-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year Missy Raines and the New Hip, Tracy Grammer, The Rowan Brothers with Sue Cunningham, bluesman Ben Prestage, the quartet Gatorbone, and storyteller Willy Claflin performing “Sorry is as Sorry Does” — a tribute to Gamble Rogers. In total, more than 65 artists and bands are scheduled to perform on six stages during the weekend.

Weekend passes are available for $60 in advance and $75 at the gate, with an additional fee for camping if desired. Daily tickets also will be available. For more information and to order tickets, visit www.gamblerogersfest.com.

The Tucson Folk Festival, a free two-day event that draws more than 10,000 people annually, according to its organizers, is set for Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3, in and around El Presidio Park in downtown Tucson, Arizona.

More than 100 local, regional and nationally touring acts, representing a diverse array are slated to perform on four stages during the festival that runs from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Headliners include Grammy Award-winning duo Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, wry and talented alt-country/Americana singer-songwriter Todd Snider, and noted singer-songwriter Eric Andersen, who has recorded 25 albums during a career spanning more than 40 years.

Presented by the Tucson Kitchen Musicians’ Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting folk music in southern Arizona, the festival will feature music from the folk, blues, Celtic, bluegrass, folk-rock, world, gospel and Cajun traditions. Workshops and a Saturday afternoon showcase featuring performances by ten songwriting contest finalists also are scheduled.

For more information, visit www.tkma.org.