The Northwest Folklife Festival can be an overwhelming experience. With over 25 stages and 900+ bands, you’ll be swept along by the spirit of the event as you’re immersed in the wildly diverse communities of the Pacific Northwest. Expect to discover something you never knew about and see things you’ve never seen before. And expect to join in on the fun: the only rule of Folklife is that it’s as important to participate in the arts as it is to observe them!
Here are a few recommendations from the Programming staff at Northwest Folklife to spark your fancy. And if you miss these shows, you’re sure to find something just as exciting along the way.
Jerin Faulkner, Festival Programs Coordinator:
High School Swing Dance
Center House Court
Friday, May 22
5-6:45pm
Grab your dancing shoes and swing away your work week blues! The Friday Night High School Swing Dance is open to people of all ages and skill levels. Linda Townsend and David West start off the evening with a 15 minute Intro to Swing Dancing workshop followed by 90 minutes of swing dance madness. The Eckstein Middle School Jazz Band and Garfield High School Jazz Ensemble are providing the hot beats that will keep people groovin’ on their feet.
POP425: Old Fire House Teen Showcase
Center House Court
Friday, May 22
5-6:45pm
Grab your dancing shoes and swing away your work week blues! The Friday Night High School Swing Dance is open to people of all ages and skill levels. Linda Townsend and David West start off the evening with a 15 minute Intro to Swing Dancing workshop followed by 90 minutes of swing dance madness. The Eckstein Middle School Jazz Band and Garfield High School Jazz Ensemble are providing the hot beats that will keep people groovin’ on their feet.
POP425: Old Fire House Teen Showcase Vera Project Stage
Saturday, May 23
3-6pm
The Old Fire House puts the Awe in Awesome. The Eastside teen dive will be a new community welcomed to the Festival this year, and their showcase features five up-and-coming groups that have been an active part of the teen center as well as the local live music scene. Featured artists include Save Kate, Deer City, Whitney Ballen, Universal Soul, and Generifus.
Folklife Muppet Sing Along
EMP|SFM Sky Church
Sunday, May 24
1:30-2:30pm
Come and sing with the Muppets! The EMP|SFM will be hosting a one-hour sing along in the Sky Church. Lyrics and video will be projected on the Sky Church’s 13x20 foot screen, and songs will be lead by Folklife Festival Staff and your favorite Muppets! Bring the family and enjoy the fun.
Emerald City Song Circle
Lopez Room
Saturday, May 23, 2009 5pm
Sunday, May 24, 2009 4pm
What do campfires, living rooms, and the Northwest Folklife Festival have in common? They are great places to have song circles! Hosted by Wes Waddell, Brad Warren, Terry & Jerry Holder, and Charlotte Thistle, the Emerald City Song Circles will be in the Lopez room this year and are open to all musicians that would like to share original tunes. If you have a song or two to share, bring an instrument and join in on the fun!
Gospel Showcase
Bagley Wright Theatre
Monday, May 25
3-6pm
Raise your hands and lift your voices! The Gospel Showcase is one spirited and song-filled afternoon of praise. Coordinated by Pastor Pat Wright, the showcase will include a number of talented performers: Total Experience Gospel Choir, Seattle Unity Church JAM, Michelle Lang & Still Water, Rev. Gwendolyn Coates, Sparkling Choir of Love, Jubilee Singers, STANDance, and Imani Fellowship Choir. Come and experience the joy of gospel!
Saturday, May 23
3-6pm
The Old Fire House puts the Awe in Awesome. The Eastside teen dive will be a new community welcomed to the Festival this year, and their showcase features five up-and-coming groups that have been an active part of the teen center as well as the local live music scene. Featured artists include Save Kate, Deer City, Whitney Ballen, Universal Soul, and Generifus.
Folklife Muppet Sing AlongEMP|SFM Sky Church
Sunday, May 24
1:30-2:30pm
Come and sing with the Muppets! The EMP|SFM will be hosting a one-hour sing along in the Sky Church. Lyrics and video will be projected on the Sky Church’s 13x20 foot screen, and songs will be lead by Folklife Festival Staff and your favorite Muppets! Bring the family and enjoy the fun.
Emerald City Song Circle
Lopez Room
Saturday, May 23, 2009 5pm
Sunday, May 24, 2009 4pm
What do campfires, living rooms, and the Northwest Folklife Festival have in common? They are great places to have song circles! Hosted by Wes Waddell, Brad Warren, Terry & Jerry Holder, and Charlotte Thistle, the Emerald City Song Circles will be in the Lopez room this year and are open to all musicians that would like to share original tunes. If you have a song or two to share, bring an instrument and join in on the fun!
Gospel ShowcaseBagley Wright Theatre
Monday, May 25
3-6pm
Raise your hands and lift your voices! The Gospel Showcase is one spirited and song-filled afternoon of praise. Coordinated by Pastor Pat Wright, the showcase will include a number of talented performers: Total Experience Gospel Choir, Seattle Unity Church JAM, Michelle Lang & Still Water, Rev. Gwendolyn Coates, Sparkling Choir of Love, Jubilee Singers, STANDance, and Imani Fellowship Choir. Come and experience the joy of gospel!
Devon Leger, Assistant Director of Programs:
Vera Stage
Friday, May 22
6-9pm
Curated by Jason Hovatter Craban of a minority of one, this showcase features the best and the brightest of the Northwest’s folk metal, black metal and neofolk music communities. Inspirations for the music of this showcase are drawn from natural objects, modern heathens, ancient folk music traditions, runes, rituals and beyond. Portland-based projects At the Head of the Woods and Waldteufel open the showcase, bringing obscure inspirations to experimental music. L’Acephale represents the vibrant black metal of the Northwest, and Soriah represents the shamanic Tuvan throat singers of the Northwest. The powerful and rarely heard duo Fauna will close the show.
O Canada! Showcase
Curated by Jason Hovatter Craban of a minority of one, this showcase features the best and the brightest of the Northwest’s folk metal, black metal and neofolk music communities. Inspirations for the music of this showcase are drawn from natural objects, modern heathens, ancient folk music traditions, runes, rituals and beyond. Portland-based projects At the Head of the Woods and Waldteufel open the showcase, bringing obscure inspirations to experimental music. L’Acephale represents the vibrant black metal of the Northwest, and Soriah represents the shamanic Tuvan throat singers of the Northwest. The powerful and rarely heard duo Fauna will close the show.
O Canada! ShowcaseNorthwest Court Stage
Saturday, May 23
7-10pm
Enjoy the music of our neighbors to the North in this popular showcase. Vazzy’s intimate arrangements of Acadian traditional songs from New Brunswick as well as Quebecois songs and tunes are a special treat for us in Seattle. The Darylectones present contemporary Canadiana, with songs of life above the border. The young and powerful fiddler Qristina Bachand, from Victoria, is joined by her brother Quinn for a powerful set of Celtic tunes. Tambura Rasa close the evening with eclectic world fusion from Vancouver, a wildly diverse city.
Seattle Subversive Square Dance
Enjoy the music of our neighbors to the North in this popular showcase. Vazzy’s intimate arrangements of Acadian traditional songs from New Brunswick as well as Quebecois songs and tunes are a special treat for us in Seattle. The Darylectones present contemporary Canadiana, with songs of life above the border. The young and powerful fiddler Qristina Bachand, from Victoria, is joined by her brother Quinn for a powerful set of Celtic tunes. Tambura Rasa close the evening with eclectic world fusion from Vancouver, a wildly diverse city.
Seattle Subversive Square DanceRainier Room
Sunday, May 24
4-6pm
This is square dancing the old school way. No microphones, no amplifiers, no speakers, just a bunch of hot bands pumping out hardcore old-time tunes to ravenous dancers. Jump right in and make yourself at home, this is your music!
The Kick Back and Relax Show
This is square dancing the old school way. No microphones, no amplifiers, no speakers, just a bunch of hot bands pumping out hardcore old-time tunes to ravenous dancers. Jump right in and make yourself at home, this is your music!
The Kick Back and Relax Show
Café Impromptu
Monday, May 25
3:40-6pm
This show is a great way to kick up your feet and relax after an exhausting four days of celebration. We’d even recommend rolling up a blanket and a pillow and taking a well-deserved nap in the back! We’ve selected artists whose music will calm and enchant you. Hawaiian comedian Kermet Apio is very well known around town, but few people know that he is also a wonderful slack-key guitarist. Richard Crandell’s mbira compositions will lift your spirits with the subtle tones of the African “thumb-piano.” Ginny Snowe and John Miller tap a softer side of Brazil with their fluid guitar and vocals. If you’re haven’t sunken into a state of Zen relaxation, Dejah Leger’s beautiful traditional lullabies, subtly reworked for modern ears, will be sure to take you to the next plane.
Lead Belly Tribute
This show is a great way to kick up your feet and relax after an exhausting four days of celebration. We’d even recommend rolling up a blanket and a pillow and taking a well-deserved nap in the back! We’ve selected artists whose music will calm and enchant you. Hawaiian comedian Kermet Apio is very well known around town, but few people know that he is also a wonderful slack-key guitarist. Richard Crandell’s mbira compositions will lift your spirits with the subtle tones of the African “thumb-piano.” Ginny Snowe and John Miller tap a softer side of Brazil with their fluid guitar and vocals. If you’re haven’t sunken into a state of Zen relaxation, Dejah Leger’s beautiful traditional lullabies, subtly reworked for modern ears, will be sure to take you to the next plane.
Lead Belly TributeVera Project
Monday, May 25
Monday, May 25
12-3pm
Help us pay homage to Huddy “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, one of the most influential folk blues musicians of all time. Working in conjunction with the Lead Belly Foundation, Folklife brings you a range of contemporary artists playing the songs that made Lead Belly famous. A sampling of the best folk, traditional and beyond musicians in the Northwest, Lead Belly’s music will be rebuilt and remembered in this new century. Alvin Singh, Lead Belly’s great-nephew, will represent the Lead Belly Foundation and will MC/DJ the show, introducing the various musical perspectives of this great artist.
Help us pay homage to Huddy “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, one of the most influential folk blues musicians of all time. Working in conjunction with the Lead Belly Foundation, Folklife brings you a range of contemporary artists playing the songs that made Lead Belly famous. A sampling of the best folk, traditional and beyond musicians in the Northwest, Lead Belly’s music will be rebuilt and remembered in this new century. Alvin Singh, Lead Belly’s great-nephew, will represent the Lead Belly Foundation and will MC/DJ the show, introducing the various musical perspectives of this great artist.
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posted: November 02, 2009
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