The Folk Festival will run from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Saturday, June 16, 2007 at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Albuquerque. Gates will open one half hour early (9:30AM), so you'll have time to get to see the wonderful Opening Entertainment at 10 AM:

• By Fine Arts bldg on the lawn: The Marimba ensemble Kubatana
• Demo Stage: 10AM Farfesha Belly Dance, 10:30 Asteria Dancers Stage Two:
• Banjo's Etc.
• Under Dance Tent: Martial Artistry Dragon and Lion Dance
• Entrance: Galician pipes
• Songwriter Showcase: Gary Reynolds

There will be music and dance Demonstrations starting at 10:00am and ending at 6pm. Open and hosted Jam Sessions will be held through out the day, 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, for all levels of musicians and singers to get together and share a few tunes. We will all join together at the end of the afternoon for a Band Scramble from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. With a little break for folks to grab a bite to eat, at 8:00 PM we will have three concurrent dances to close out the evening with:  a Barn Dance, a FolkMADS Contra Dance, with live music by the Megaband (introductory instruction for beginners at starting at 7:30 PM), and new this year, an African Dance in the Fine Arts Building.

Quick Links:

• Morning Entertainment:  Some early morning (10AM-11AM) entertainment to get us going.
• Main Stage Band Performances : 7 bands are scheduled from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Stage Two: Local Talent
• Demo Stage: The unique and unusual
• Songwriter's Showcase Great local songwriters
• Dance Program Get Moving!
• Jam with the Band!  Play along with your favorite bands
• Band Scramble:  Here's you chance to be a Main Stage Performer
• Hosted Jams Get in on the fun
• Music Workshops  Learn to play a new instrument
• Singing Workshops  Sing to your heart's content
• Story Telling  Hear a wonderful tale
• Lil' Folks Program  Get the kids involved
• Arts and Crafts  Learn about making something beautiful with your own hands

Main Stage:  See Performers Link

Morning Entertainment:

We have several special performances planned from 10-11 AM to help us get the festival rolling Saturday morning. Welcoming you at the Entrance Gate will be Bonnie Murchie Koch playing the highland bagpipes. Her main area of interest includes piobroch (considered the classic music of highland pipes and as old as possibly the 14th century in Scotland); and 2/4 & 6/8 marches and strathspey/reels -- all traditional Scottish tunes for pipes.  Bonnie's favorite playing venue is rowdy celtic bars where everyone is having fun, so we are counting on her to set the right tone for the festival.

On the Demonstration Stage at 10 AM we will have Farfesha Belly Dance, with the Zito Ellas Greek Dancers at 10:30 AM

On Stage Two we will have Banjos Etc. a plectrum banjo group that features (usually) four banjo players, a pianist, and a bassist. The group does some good old jazz/dixieland arrangements. An enjoyable show for folks!

Under Dance Tent, Martial Artistry Dragon and Lion Dance with

And in front of the Fine Arts building on the lawn, The Marimba Ensemble Kubatana will perform their music, largely transcribed and arranged from songs played on Zimbabwean mbiras -- traditional instruments of the Shona cultures of Zimbabwe.  The music is poly-rhythmic and melodic, with the different parts fitting into each other to make a complex sound. Singing dancing and hosho (African maracas) accompany this joyous music.In the Shona language Kubatana roughly means to come together and unite, an apt description of how and why the band was formed in the summer of 2004.

Songwriter Showcase: Gary Reynolds  - Original songs in a folk / country western style.

Stage Two:

There's a lot of local talent here in Albuquerque and New Mexico, and we're offering Stage Two as avenue where a few of these bands can play and gain some visibility.  Come on out and meet the up and coming folk and traditional music bands on the local music scene. Thanks to Michael Coy for organizing this venue.

Demo Stage:

Our smaller "acoustic" demonstration stage offers a glimpse into some of the wonderful musical and cultural diversity that can be found right here in New Mexico! Thanks to John Brinduse for searching out these entertaining and educational performances.

12 Noon - Muggies Uffda Band (Scandinavian) This is our veteran Demo Stage Band, back for their 4th year in a row. This is Scandinavian dance music at its finest, from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Minnesota! So come out and DANCE!

2:00 PM - Irish Step Dance Demonstration: You've seen this style in Lord of the Dance and Riverdance. Now come be wowed by our local Championship Step Dancers! How can such youngsters be SO good?

3:00 PM - Le Chat Lunatique: These are THE Wild Men of the Albuquerque Music Scene... What a crew!  Gypsy, Swing, Comedy, a real SHOW. Muni, a Sri Lankan fiddler, can play at top speed in 4th position IN TUNE (you fiddlers know what I mean, so listen and…..DROOL!) Jared is one of the best Bass Viol players in town, plus STRONG guitar and percussion. Not to be missed!

5:00 PM - Special Orchestra: What can I say? These musicians ARE Special, and give their gift of music filled with heart-felt enthusiasm! Although they have played the Festival previously, this is their first appearance on the Demo Stage, and having shared a stage with them in the past, at the Lobo and in Old Town, it is a pleasure to share them again here with you.

Songwriters showcase:

Our alternate stage for intimate performances by local singer/songwriters with their own story to tell.  Special thanks to one of our best local songwriters, Dan Boling for bringing together this collection of colleagues for the songwriter's showcase. 

10:30 AM - Gary Reynolds - Original songs in a folk / country western style.

11:15 AM - Eric McEuen - (no description yet.)

12 Noon - Jim Terrell - Singer songwriter Jim Terrell is a student of the songwriting craft. Highly influenced by his love for country music, his writing blends the technical with the creative. His songs range from upbeat to ballad, funny to sad, and most places in between. There's something for everyone.

1 PM - Michael Coy - Original Western-flavored ballads drawing from a variety of American Folk traditions.

2 PM - Timothy Hill - Considered in the tradition of singer-songwriters, Tim's voice draws comparisons to James Taylor, his incisive lyrics are reminiscent of Jackson Browne and Bruce Cockburn, and his musical dexterity and adventurousness is comparable to Tim Buckley. Hill, however, is following his own path, finding new textures and resonances, creating music with universal appeal in this global era. Drawing on nearly 30 years experience, Hill also incorporates harmonic singing into his music.

3 PM - Roger Dale - Roger is a real, pretty happy guy that writes and plays real, pretty happy music. His songs are pure Americana, containing memorable characters, common situations, well crafted lyrics and catchy melodies.

4 PM - Auge Hayes - Augé Hays’ music can usually be found in the gray area between country and blues. These music styles, a love for the short story and the perplexities of mankind provide plenty of inspiration for his songs.

Dance Program:

Dance workshops will be held primarily in two venues: The Dance Tent (near the Boxcar stage) and the Dance Building (the Hispanic Arts Building). In addition there will be the two evening dances mentioned above and smaller demonstrations held in workshop tents. Thanks to Bob Baker and Cindi Hefner for arranging the dance program.  See separate schedule here:

Jam With The Band!

There's a lot of local talent here in Albuquerque and New Mexico, and we're offering Jam with the Band as an avenue where musicians can play or sing along with a few of our great bands.  It’s ok just to listen too. Come on out and meet the up-and-coming folk and traditional music bands on the local music scene.  Don’t forget to bring your instruments. Thanks to Gary Libman for arranging Jam With The Band. Here's the schedule:

11:00 AM LadyFingers: The Ladyfingers present a mixed bag of "World Folk" music with a delicious mix of fiddle, mandolin, flute, piano, guitar, and stand-up bass. From tango to mazurka, it's yummy and even better with whipped cream in your coffee.

12 Noon: Placitas Mountain Band: An eclectic amalgam of fine musicians who put their own spin and style into bluegrass and Old-tyme music tunes. Their music is a delightful mix of standard traditional songs and old fiddle tunes. They specialize in old time fiddle tunes and some hard-driving bluegrass songs and music.

1 PM Boulder Acoustic Society [See Main Stage Performers description]

2 PM Nob Hillbillies: Play a variety of Appalachian traditional, Gospel and Folk music with a few new favorites mixed in as well as originals. Their vocal abilities compliment their musical talent and music is a weaving of all the Bluegrass favorites.

3 PM Virginia Creepers: An old-time string band who have played together for years. Their interpretation of old-time music and their re-invention of music from old LP’s and tapes is a delight to the ears and senses. They have played many concerts and performed as feature players in dances and other venues, and they teach old-time music courses at the University of New Mexico.

4 PM Bluegrass Odyssey: An adventure in good hard driving bluegrass music. With the banjo leading the way throughout most of the songs, the upbeat singing, the strength of the fiddle, guitar and bass all follow along giving a true blend to the bluegrass music played.

Band Scramble:

New this year, we're going to close the Main Stage performances with a Band Scramble at 6 PM which will give 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.  This has been a favorite event at the Southwest pickers Santa Fe Traditional and Bluegrass festival, and we've enjoyed it so much, we stole the idea and want to bring it to Albuquerque!

Hosted Jams:

Hosted Jams will be held primarily in two venues: Jam Tent 1 & Jam Tent 2.  Most hours there is a new host in each tent. Hosts are mostly there to encourage musicians to pick a song or start a song and to make sure that everyone gets an opportunity to participate.  In addition, hosts bring their own unique flare to the jam. Some lean more toward Celtic, old-time or bluegrass, others toward folk or pop or swing.  Don’t forget to bring your instruments.  Thanks to Blythe Camenson for arranging the Hosted Jams.

Music Workshops:

Singing workshops (Tent 5):

11:00 AM - Enchanted Mesa - Women's Barbershop

12 Noon - Laurie McPherson - Folk Song Circle (B)

1:00 PM - Timothy Hill - Throat (Harmonic) Singing:  Harmonic singing, originating with Tuvan throat singing, is a way of singing and listening with acute attention to the overtone spectrum of the voice, producing a sound at once otherworldly and deeply human. Harmonic singing deepens and enhances the natural voice, giving singers a direct experience of the physical laws of sound, powerful insight into the nature of harmony and a glimpse at the roots of human language and song.

2:00 PM - Shape Note Singing

3:00 PM - Scott & Irma Reeder - Country/Gospel Singing

4:00 PM - NM Gaelic Singers - Tweed-Waulking & Mouth Tunes

5:00 PM Cara Ashworth: Sing Along for kids of all ages

Storytelling:

This year our storytelling will take place in the Fine Arts building so folks will be able to get in close and hear every word and nuance from these great local storytellers. Our thanks to Bob for arranging this part of our program.

Li'l Folks Program:

Our goal is to get Albuquerque Singing, Playing and Dancing. What better place to start than with our kids? While all of our workshops are open to participants of all ages, we have set aside a portion of our schedule specifically tailored to getting kids and families started enjoying home made music. (Thanks to Linda Starr for arranging another great program for families and the younger generation.)

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