National Folk Festival announces musical line-up
Published: May 14, 2009
The National Folk Festival organizers recently announced the full musical line-up for the 71st National Folk Festival, July 10-12 in Butte.
“Looking over the full list of artists, it is exciting to think about the fantastically rich and diverse cross-section of American cultural traditions and exceptional talent that will be descending on Montana this coming July,” said Joshua Kohn, programming manager of the National Council for the Traditional Arts.
Performers include:
• Bob French's Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, New Orleans jazz
• “Titan of the Telecaster” Bill Kirchen and The Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods guitar extravaganza, featuring George Bedard
• Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Mexican mariachi
• Garry Harrison and The New Mules, old-time music from Illinois (in addition to concert performances, the group will play for called square dances in the East Park Dance Pavilion)
• Melody of China, performing with Xiaopei He, one of the finest Chinese traditional dancers in the U.S.
• North Bear, a Northern Plains drum group from the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer
• Texas Shorty, one of the most accomplished contest fiddlers in Texas
• Magic Slim and The Teardrops, Chicago blues
• Wilho Saari, Finnish kantele
• Sierra Hull and Highway 111, bluegrass
• Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited, Zimbabwean chimurenga
• Ethel Caffie-Austin Singers, African American gospel,
• Chuck and Albert, an Acadian duo
• Garry Harrison and The New Mules, old-time tunes from Illinois
• BeauSoliel avec Michael Doucet, a famous Cajun band
• Pride of New York, Irish
• Jeff Little Trio with Wayne Henderson, Blue Ridge piano and guitar
• Massive Monkees, breakdance
• Los Macondos, Colombian vallenato
• Otrov, tamburitza
About the National Folk Festival
Since 1934, the National Folk Festival has celebrated the roots, richness and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional craft, storytelling and food. It is the oldest celebration of traditional arts in the country.
This “moveable feast of deeply traditional folk arts” has been held in 27 communities around the country and in 2008 began a three-year tenure in Butte.
The free festival features 250 performers and craftspeople with music and dance performances on six stages, plus workshops, children’s activities, folklife demonstrations, a festival marketplace and ethnic and regional foods.
For more details, visit www.nationalfolkfestival.com.
