Aug 18 Thursday
The Philadelphia Folksong Society is thrilled to announce that the 60th edition of the Philadelphia Folk Festival will take place Aug 18-22, 2022 on the Old Pool Farm in beautiful Upper Salford Township, PA. And yes, you read that correctly – this Festival goes until MONDAY AUGUST 22ND BECAUSE CAMPING HAS BEEN APPROVED! The PFS Staff & Board of Directors looks forward to reconnecting with our community as we celebrate this historical event, in person and online. As we celebrate this milestone in the Festival’s history, we are excited to return to our roots and core values. This August, Fest will be a celebration of all that festers hold dear, our community. This includes family camping, live music on our famous stages, plus community based performers and vendors. Presented by the Philadelphia Folksong Society, the Philadelphia Folk Festival is the longest continuously run outdoor music festival in North America. Founded in 1962, the 60th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival occurs August 18-22 2022 at the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township, PA. Join us in person or live stream from home, via folkfest.org.
Aug 19 Friday
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Aug 22 Monday
Aug 25 Thursday
Only Nashville could give birth to a band like The SteelDrivers: a talented group of seasoned musicians – each distinguished in his or her own right. The group’s bluegrass roots combine with country and soul influences to create a refreshing, decidedly contemporary sound. This is new music with the old feeling. The SteelDrivers fan Vince Gill describes the band’s fusion as simply "an incredible combination." The innovative, soulful bluegrass band The SteelDrivers – Tammy Rogers, Mike Fleming, Brent Truitt, and Richard Bailey – released The Muscle Shoals Recordings in 2015. The album quickly climbed the charts, reaching #1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Chart and achieving the highest first-week sales in band history. 2016 was a record year for The SteelDrivers, who won the 2016 Grammy award for “Best Bluegrass Album," received IBMA nominations for “Album of the Year” and “Song of the Year" for "Long Way Down," which also reached #1 on the Bluegrass Today monthly chart. The SteelDrivers are currently playing sold-out shows at top venues and music festivals across the country on the Long Way Down Tour.
Aug 27 Saturday
Imagine a trail that traverses the atmospheric sounds of Nick Drake, heartfelt emotion of Neil Young, and quirky storytelling of The Kinks and you'll get an inkling of the irresistible sound of The Electric Farm. For more than 30 years, The Electric Farm has performed at East Coast venues including Musikfest, Godfrey Daniels, Sellersville Theater, World Cafe, The Historic Blairstown Theater, Steel City Coffeehouse, Morristown Theater, 40 Watt Club, and Johnny D's, as well as storied NYC clubs Kenny's Castaways and CBGB. Peter Buck of REM played mandolin on early recordings. The Electric Farm has released four studio albums including UNGLUED, THE ELECTRIC FARM, BOOMSCHLANG VIPER STORY, and SIX. The music by singer-songwriter Joey Mutis is known for evoking feelings and moods, and featured in television (NUMB3RS, One Tree Hill, Happy Endings, Drive) and film (Drive Me Crazy). According to Acoustic Live! "A listener who enters 'the Farm' will find a highly developed melodic sense and an ability to create intriguing lyrics." No stranger to The IceHouse, Mutis performed traditional Irish ballads as part of the Crowded Kitchen Players' production of "The Rising: The Irish Rebellion of 1916" earlier this year—and was part of the "Live from IceHouse Tonight" virtual concert series during the COVID shutdown.
Oct 19 Wednesday
Crystal’s love for music developed at an early age, stemming from the need to find peace in a chaotic world. For her, music has always been the most effective form of catharsis. Crystal moved to Chicago, IL at 17 years old, where she spent her days performing underground on subway platforms between working odd jobs. While in Chicago, she broadened her musical horizons and shared her talents in a variety of venues, ultimately auditioning for the ninth season of American Idol. She has used her talents to benefit several causes close to her heart and has become an inspiration for people living with Type 1 Diabetes. Crystal draws upon her various influences to make the kind of music that resonates with her spirit. It is both tender and tough, rough yet polished, and encompasses many genres without falling neatly into only one. Her mission is to bring a positive message and healing to the world.
Oct 23 Sunday
A man armed only with a banjo and a bass drum can be a formidable force, especially if his name is William Elliott Whitmore. With his powerful voice and honest approach, Whitmore comes from the land, growing up on a family farm in Lee County, Iowa. Whitmore has repeatedly carved his own path, honoring the longstanding tradition of folk music throughout his nearly 20 year career, while always allowing his blues, soul and punk rock influences to shine through. Getting his first break opening for his friend’s hardcore band with just a banjo in hand, he would discover bands like The Jesus Lizard, Bad Brains, Lungfish and Minutemen and soon learn to play his own brand of rural, roots music with that same DIY ethic. William Elliott Whitmore has been back and forth across the United States and to cities around the world. He’s toured with such diverse acts as Frank Turner, Trampled By Turtles, Clutch and Chris Cornell to name a few. He’s appeared on some of the biggest stages around the world including Stagecoach Fest, Byron Bluesfest (Australia) and End of the Road Fest (UK). His willingness to take his show to any playing field has proved invaluable as he turned strangers to diehards with every performance.
Nov 06 Sunday
The world tends to look at accomplishments in the form of accolades and Michael Cleveland has plenty to his credit, including a 2019 GRAMMY. After picking up the fiddle at age 4, Michael’s musical momentum began to propel him forward towards early success. “When I started taking lessons at age 4,” he remembers, “I told the teacher right up front that I wanted to learn how to play bluegrass and I wanted to play ‘Orange Blossom Special.'" Reluctant as they were, his teachers quickly found reason to his rhyme, helping him progress to the point when, at age 9, Michael was invited to sit in with the legendary Bill Monroe at the Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival. Soon after, he brought his virtuosic style to the Grand Ole Opry as a guest of Alison Krauss, and was hand picked for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) Bluegrass Youth Allstars before he was 14. His blistering prowess and technical fluency have since marked him as a sought-after musician, leading to performances with Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, Tim O’Brien, J.D. Crowe and the New South, Andy Statman, and The Kruger Brothers in recent years. However, it wasn’t until 2006, when Michael formed his own band, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, that he found the right vehicle for his musical vision, and he hasn’t rested since, constantly looking for new ways to push himself and his music forward.
