The Albuquerque Folk Festival is a non-profit event held with the goal of increasing the public's participation in music, dance and other folk activities. The 2008 Festival (our tenth annual!) will be held Saturday, June 21, 2008 at the State Fairgrounds (Expo New Mexico) in Albuquerque. In the tradition of the folk ethic, the goals of the Albuquerque Folk Festival are to highlight non-commercial acoustic folk music and dance activities in the greater Albuquerque region and to encourage individuals to sing, dance and play music.
![[Festival images]](images/m1_2007.jpg)
Volunteers wanted!
Want to help out with the festival? We are a completely volunteer organization. If you enjoy the festival and want to support what we are trying to do for the folk music, folk arts and dance community of Albuquerque, come join us! For further information and to get on our distribution list, email .
News! The schedule is done!
Our main stage lineup is complete. The day will start with local favorites Le Chat Lunatique and Los Primos. Syd Masters & The Swing Riders return this year, followed by Ninos Flamenco. Bryan Bowers, world-reknowned auto-harpist, Mike Lopez and Richard Hardy with Native American stories in song with traditional flute, and The Wilders, internationally-touring string band from Kansas City round out the day.
The rest of the schedule is being firmed up under the leadership of our 2008 co-directors, and . Entertainment will start at 10 AM, with some special performances before we get all the venues going, and end at 11:00, when the dances are over. Check out the schedule for more information.
New! Folk Festival Presents in Old Town
Can't wait for June 21 for your fix of Folk Festival music? Come on down to Old Town every Thursday for "Folk Festival Presents", a series of folk music programs by local area artists. This program kicks off April 17, with a contra dance featuring the Albuquerque Megaband. The fun starts at 6:30 and goes until 8:30. For more info, check our Old Town schedule, and see the city's website.
New this year: A fiddle contest for kids
We've scheduled two hours in the Li'l Folks tent for a couple of fiddle contests: one for kids 12 and under and the other for teens 13 to 18. So, kids, get ready to fiddle!
The Return of the Band Scramble
Last year, we closed the Main Stage performances with a Band Scramble at 6 PM. It was a great success, and we'll continue the tradition this year, giving musicians and dancers of all levels a chance to be a Main Stage Performer at the Albuquerque Folk Festival. The deal is you put your name and the instrument you play (or dance style) in hat, and we'll put together some randomly organized bands (with dance accompanists). You'll have about 45 minutes to put together two numbers and a band name (that's the hard part), and learn the tunes and be ready to perform them on the main stage.
Learn something new!
One of the things that makes the Albuquerque Folk Festival so unusual is the incredible variety of workshops and performances that fill the day. Over 100 different things all going on in one place!
- If you play an instrument, or would like to get started with one, we have dozens of workshops from bouzouki to Klezmer music with an emphasis on getting beginners started (and yes, we have more common instruments like guitar, banjo, harmonica, sometimes even kazoo!).
- Like to sing? We've got lots of opportunities there as well.
- Prefer to move your feet to the music? We have square dancing, contra dancing, swing, Irish Step and Scottish Country Dance, Israeli, Argentine, Balkan, Hawaiian, Scandinavian, and International Folk Dance throughout the day, and in the evening we had three great dances with: the FolkMADS evening Contra Dance with music by Megaband, a Swing and Country Barn Dance with live music by South by Southwest, and an African dance, with live drumming. Also, dancers are always welcome at various music venues. New this year: We're adding a dance floor by the Main Stage!
Jam!
We have three formal (well, as formal as jamming gets) venues for jamming at the festival. At the two hosted jam tents, a different host every hour will keep things moving, encourage everyone's participation, and perhaps influence tune selection. At Hosted Jam 1, the hosts are partial to bluegrass and Celtic music; at Hosted Jam 2, the emphasis will be on popular and folk-rock styles. At the Jam with the Band venue, you can play along with your favorite local bands.
Remember: it's easy to bring an instrument to the festival! We provide a free instrument checkroom from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. so you can store your instrument safely. New this year: the checkroom is staying open until 11 p.m. so you can dance the night away, knowing that your instrument is safe and sound.
Bring the kids!
Along with a special venue just for Li'l Folks, kids are welcome throughout the festival. This year, Niños Flamencos, a group of young Flamenco dancers from the National Institute of Flamenco's National Conservatory of Flamenco Arts, will be appearing on the Main Stage. Also, at 10 am, JUBAlation, a group of young musicians will perform, and the Chinese Martial Artists group always features young performers. New this year: Two children's fiddle contests!
Kids under 11 years old can come to the festival for free! And kids 11-17 can get in for $5. The Folk Festival is an inexpensive day-long activity for the whole family.
Get your instruments out of the closet!
A closet instrument is a musical instrument nobody plays. It sits in the closet year after year while an aspiring musician longs for an instrument to play.
Help the festival and help other musicians by donating your closet instruments. We'll do our best to get those instruments into hands that will use them!
What's in the works for the 2008 festival:
- Main Stage Performances by great national and regional bands
- 2nd Acoustic Stage to showcase local talent
- Demo stage with a very diverse program for the day
- Singer/Songwriter Showcase.
- Music Workshops
- Dance Workshops
- Singing Workshops
- Storytelling!
- Craft Workshops, Demonstrations and Vendors' Booths
- Hosted Jams and Jam with the Band
Thanks to all our sponsors and volunteers!
Thanks to all our volunteers who are helping put on this community gathering. Whether you are a performer, a workshop teacher, a dance demonstrator, a tireless volunteer, an active participant or a fascinated viewer, we thank you all. We couldn't have this successful event if it were not for every one of you and the part you play in making a community event like this come to fruition.
This project is made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs and a grant from the Urban Enhancement Trust Fund of the City of Albuquerque. We also offer our heartfelt thanks to Mayor Martin Chavez and the City of Albuquerque and NMArts for their support, as well as to KUNM for broadcasting live from the festival Saturday morning, and many more that you can find on our Supporters page.