New Bedford Folk Festival Set for July 9-10, 2022

After a two-year hiatus, the 25th Annual New Bedford Folk Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, July 9-10, 2022. Among the Northeast’s most pleasant, refined and enjoyable music festivals, the family-oriented event takes over the cobblestoned streets of this historic Massachusetts port city –- much of which is part of the Whaling National Historic Park. Visitors will soak in the area’s rich maritime history as they stroll its streets while listening to world-class contemporary and traditional folk music, Americana, blues and Celtic performers under tents set up along them and in the air-conditioned comfort of the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center and the fabulous New Bedford Whaling Museum’s auditorium.

“For more than two decades, the New Bedford Folk Festival has been enjoyed by both locals and visitors who love food, music and artisan markets, so it was very much missed during the pandemic,” said Rosemary Gill, executive director of the Zeiterion PAC, the festival’s presenter since 2016.

The festival schedule includes a plethora of talented artists and acts — many of them performing in song-swap style workshops with folks whom they may have never even met, making for unique musical pairings. It also poses a dilemma of choices that may have some attendees walking briskly from one stage to another nearby to catch certain artists.

There will be continuous music from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on seven sound stages, ranging from the intimate “Meet the Performer” area at the historic Seamen’s Bethel (which figures In Herman Melville’s classic novel, Moby Dick) and the National Park Garden Stage to the majestic 1200-seat Zeiterion Performing Arts Center. Besides nearly 75 musical performances on those stages, there will be non-ticketed areas open to the public – including six blocks of craft vendors, a gourmet food court & beer garden, and a Southcoast Stage featuring local performers.

“We continue to attract high-caliber musicians who are the best in their genre,” maintains Alan Korolenko, who originated the festival as New Bedford Summerfest in 1996 and currently serves as its artistic director, along with his wife Helene. “Our loyal audience look forward to the artists they know, as well as those they haven’t yet experienced, like at the workshops [featuring three of four artists/acts on stage at the same time] that match unlikely musicians,” he said. “These unique performances have helped New Bedford Folk Festival to become the gem it is today.” This summer’s song swap-style workshops include “A Change is Gonna Come: Topical Songs Then and Now,” “The Great American Songbook: What’s In It, What Should Be In It,” and “Now I Long for Yesterday: Songs I Wish I had Written.”

Among the festival’s performing artists will be Abbie Gardner, Alisa Amador, Art Tebbetts, Beppe Gambetta, Bourque Émissaires, Bruce Molsky and Tony Trischka, Cary Morin, Catie Curtis, Cheryl Wheeler, Chris Pahud, Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan, Crys Matthews, Dansmall, Emerald Rae, Garnet Rogers, Grace Morrison, J.P. Cormier, John Gorka, John Roberts, McLane, Cummings and VanNorstrand, Musique à bouches, Mustard’s Retreat, Peter Mulvey, RUNA, Rev. Robert B. Jones Sr, Roy Book Binder, Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen, Seth Glier, Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, Susan Werner, The Kennedys, The Vox Hunters, Tom Rush, Vance Gilbert, and É.T.É. The popular Celtic Extravaganza closes out the festival on Sunday night. Led by Benoit Bourque, a very entertaining and gifted Quebecois artist, this year’s extravaganza is dedicated to the memory of Johnny Cunningham — a dynamic Scottish fiddler, composer and producer who was founding member of Silly Wizard, later played in Relativity and Nightnoise , and was a mainstay of the festival for years.

Local artists Back Porch, Butch McCarthy, Chuck Williams, Dori Rubbicco, Eric Kilburn, Fourteen Strings, Gary Fish and Red Fish, Jeff Angeley and the Pebbles of Rain, Joanne Doherty, MaryBeth Soares and Dave Perreira, Mike Laureanno, Molly O’Leary, New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus, Putnam Murdock, Sacred Harp with The Beans, The Harper and The Minstrel, and The Jethros will showcase their talents on the Southcoast stage, the only stage open to the public without tickets.

Besides the music, many artisans and crafts makers will set up booths along the cobblestoned streets between the performance tents and venues. Among them will be jewelers, instrument makers, tie dyeers, local honey purveyors, ceramic artists, vendors selling handmade health and beauty products, and more.

While in New Bedford, you also can enjoy fresh seafood and sample tasty cuisine at one of the whaling city’s many Portuguese restaurants. A food court and beer garden will fill two blocks of Purchase Street in front of the Zeiterion and near the Southcoast Stage.

Admission to the festival is quite affordable at $50 for the weekend or $40 for one-day. Weekend and single-day passes are available for purchase at Zeiterion.org, by calling 508-994-2900, or in person at the box office at 684 Purchase Street. Children under 12 will be admitted free with an adult.

For more information and to see complete schedules for the weekend, visit newbedfordfolkfestival.com.