Nine-Day Folklife Festival Kicks Off Friday, July 16
BLUE LAKE – The Humboldt Folklife Society presents its 32nd Annual Folklife Festival from Friday, July 16 through Saturday, July 24. The nine days of everything “folk” include dances, concert nights and family-friendly free events.
Social Dance: This year’s annual Festival includes three nights of social dancing: swing, contra, and barn/square. Everyone is welcome, partners not required. The Festival opens at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 16 with a Country Swing Dance with Falling Rocks, followed on Saturday, July 17 at 7 p.m. with a Family Contra Dance with Sue Moon and the Wild Rumpus Band. On Friday, July 23, the Festival returns to dancing with a Barn Dance with Tara Stetz and the Striped Pig Stringband at 7:30 p.m.. All three dances are held at the Arcata Veterans’ Hall. Admission $7 general, $6 students/seniors/HFS members. (Kids 12 and under admitted free.)
Concerts/Showcase: Three intimate nights in Dell’Arte’s Carlo Theater kick off on Monday, July 19 with an International Dance Showcase featuring Humboldt-global performers Tango with Yo Tango, Samba Na Chuva, Hip Mamas, Humboldt Capoeira and Glitzy Dames. On Tuesday, July 20 are Emerging Songwriters Josephine Johnson, Jason Meyer and Chris Parreira. Wednesday is Jazz Night with the Redwood Jazz Alliance, featuring hot young jazz artists Easton Stuard, Rose Armin Hoiland, and the Slippery Society. Then the crowd moves outside to the Dell’Arte amphitheater for the perennial sellout show, Bluegrass and Beyond – with Huck Flint, Old Dog, Compost Mountain Boys and Bucky Walters. Carlo Theater shows (Monday through Wednesday) start at 7:30 p.m.; Bluegrass and Beyond starts at 6 p.m. with gates at 5 p.m. (Picnics and warm layers are recommended in the amphitheater!) Tickets for all concerts are $10 general, $8 HFS members & kids.
Free Festival Events: The Annie & Mary Day Fiddle Festival on Sunday, July 18 in Blue Lake’s Perigot Park returns with an all-ages lineup of seven fiddle bands. Annie & Mary Schedule: noon: Fiddle dance set with the Striped Pig Stringband & Tara Stetz; 1:10 p.m.: Sam McNeill’s Academy Fiddlers; 2 p.m.: No Good Redwood Ramblers; 2:40 p.m.: Blue Lake Fiddlers; 3 p.m. Yo Tango; 3:40 p.m.: Good Company; 4:30 p.m.: Mon Petite Chou.
The closing All Day Free Festival on Saturday, July 24 at Dell’Arte runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with 20 acts on two main stages, five hours of children’s workshops, and 14 instrument, singing and dance workshops. Acts include the Delta Nationals, Kenny Ray and the Mighty Rovers, Blushin’ Roulettes, Cadillac Ranch, Absynth Quintet, McKinleyville Choir, Clean Livin’, Singing Nettles, No Good Redwood Ramblers, Kara’s Lusca, Kurt Hippin, Josephine Johnson Band, Pilot Rock Ramblers, Jeff Landen, Vintners Daughters, Kulica, Scatter the Mud, Bon Swing, The Phoebes and Kindred Spirits.
The children’s stage features storytelling by Dan O’Gara, a singalong with Seabury Gould, musical theater with KidCo, bellydance with Shoshanna and a barn dance for kids with Tara Stetz. Workshops include mandolin, clawhammer banjo, rhythm guitar and drop d tuning, ukulele moondance, old time fiddling and blues guitar, plus two singalongs (Seeger and Beatles tunes), bellydance and Irish set dancing! Onsite snacks are provided by Sushi Agogo, Alma’s Mexican, Sublime Swine & Dell’Arte’s concessionaire.
Visit humboldtfolklife.org for complete scheduling and to order tickets! (Advance concert tickets are highly recommended. Dance admission is at the door.) Or call (707) 822-5394 for more information.
