News – Northeast U.S.

Philadelphia Folk Festival Set for Next Weekend

Buskin & Batteau, The Decemberists, John Flynn, The Folk Brothers, Sara Hickman, Sonny Landreth, Marcy Marxer and Cathy Fink, the Del McCoury Band, Ellis Paul, Rebirth Brass Band, Tom Rush, Jill Sobule, Tony Trischka and the Derek Trucks Band are among the dozens of acts slated to perform during the 48th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival, August 14-16, at the Old Pool Farm near Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. Featuring an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary music, as well as dance, crafts, an array of children’s activities in the shady Dulcimer Grove, and a unique late-night scene (with jamming into the wee morning hours in the 40-acre campgrounds), the Philadelphia Folk Festival is the longest continuously running U.S. festival of its kind. [To read...

Folk DJ Suzi Wollenberg Dies

Suzi Wollenberg, folk music coordinator and host of “Roots” on Tuesday mornings on WVUD 91.3 FM, “the voice of the University of Delaware,” died suddenly on Saturday morning, August 8. At the time of her death, Wollenberg also was serving as president of the Green Willow Folk Club in Wilmington. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Two New One-Day Festivals Slated for This Month in Massachusetts; 16th Annual Essex Music Festival Goes Riverside; Boston Folk Festival is Back for September

Despite the tough economy, two new one-day music festivals are slated for this month in Massachusetts, while the previously cancelled Boston Folk Festival is back on again for September. And the Essex Music Festival, now in its 16th year, moves to a new downtown location, along the Essex River, on August 29. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Sandy Paton, Folksinger and Founder of Folk-Legacy, 1928-2009

Sandy Paton, a traditional folksinger, folklorist and co-founder of Folk-Legacy, has died at the age of 80. Paton, who launched the independent label based in Sharon, Connecticut with his wife Caroline and the late Lee Haggerty in 1961, passed away on July 26.

AcousticMusicScene.com Hosts Late-Night Song Swaps at Falcon Ridge, Afternoon Showcases at Huntington Folk Festival

AcousticMusicScene.com will host late-night song swaps during the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, July 23-26, and artist showcases at the Huntington Folk Festival, August 1. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Benefit Concert for Folk DJ Angela Page Slated for July 5

Since 1993, Angela Page has been exposing folks in New York’s Catskill Mountains region to a blend of music from the contemporary folk scene through her weekly radio show, “Folk Plus,” airing Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on hydro-powered public radio WJFF 90.5 FM. Now some of her friends within the folk music community are coming together to stage a benefit concert on July 5 to raise funds to help defray medical and legal expenses related to a chemical sensitivities illness she contracted while working as a school media specialist in a mold-infested middle school library. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

24 Chosen for Falcon Ridge/Grassy Hill Emerging Artists Showcase

Twenty-four artists have been selected from among more than 500 applicants to perform in the Emerging Artists Showcase during the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival on Friday afternoon, July 24. Appearing in this year’s Falcon Ridge/Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase are: Nels Andrews, Mary Bragg, Bread and Bones, The Brilliant Inventions, Calaveras, K.C. Clifford, Chuck E. Costa, Coyote Grace, Driftwood Fire, Emily Elbert, John Elliott, Jenny Goodspeed, Aiden James, Colleen Katau & Some Guys, Robin Landis, Liz Longley, Kelleigh McKenzie, Angelo M, Danielle Miraglia, Alastair Moock, Claudia Nygaard, A.J. Roach & His Strange Pilgrims, Sean Rowe, and Swing Caravan. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Clearwater, Old Songs Festivals Set for June in New York State

2009 marks the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage to the new world on the Half Moon up the river that bears his name. Two festivals will pay tribute to that this month – the 2009 Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival and the Old Songs Festival. [To read more about these upcoming festivals, click on the headline.]

Theodore Bikel Tribute Concert at NYC’s Carnegie Hall, June 15

Acclaimed actor and folksinger Theodore Bikel, who turned 85 last month, will be feted on Monday evening, June 15, during a tribute concert at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall, where the versatile baritone made his debut in 1956. Joining him on stage will be Alan Alda, Arlo Guthrie, Noel Paul Stookey, Peter Yarrow, Tom Paxton, The Klezmatics, Judy Kaye, Susan Werner, David Amram, Beyond the Pale, Artie Butler, Patricia, Conolly, David Krakauer, Hankus Netsky, Sarah Horowitz, Serendipity 4 (featuring Bikel, Tamara Brooks, Merlima Kljuco and Shura Lipovsky), and Michael Wex. Several photos taken during a reception preceding the concert now accompany this article. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

WPKN to Broadcast Sea Music Festival Live From Mystic Seaport

Connecticut’s Mystic Seaport hosts its 30th Annual Sea Music Festival, June 11-14, and WPKN Radio (WPKN 89.5 FM in Bridgeport, CT and WPKM 88.7 FM in Montauk, NY) will broadcast live from the event that annually draws more than 5,000 people to hear performers from maritime cultures around the world carry on classic musical traditions of the golden age of sail. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Bluegrass Festivals Set for Early Summer in New England

With summer approaching, the festival season will soon be in full swing in the Northeast. There will be plenty of banjos, fiddles and high-lonesome harmonies in New England. Among the bluegrass festivals taking place in the region early in the summer are the Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival (May 28-31) and both the Blistered Fingers Family Bluegrass Festival and the Jenny Brook Family Bluegrass Festival (June 18-21). [To read the entire article, including artist lineups for the festivals, click on the headline.]

Vermonters are Winners in Chris Austin Songwriting Contest

Carol Hausner and Colin McCaffrey of Montpelier, Vermont were named as the winners in the bluegrass category in the 17th annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest for their song entitled “Love Gone By.” The two performed their winning song, along with the winners in three other categories (country, general and gospel), on the Cabin Stage at MerleFest on April 24 and won an acoustic guitar, a check for $300 and other prizes. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]