Anchorage Folk Festival Celebrates its 35th Year of Free-Admission Events
Contributed by Martin Severin
The Anchorage Folk Festival celebrates its 35th Season this year with numerous events in and around Anchorage, including concerts at various venues, music-related workshops, dances, and fundraisers. The main venue for the event is the Wendy Williamson Auditorium at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where there will be interactive workshops on assorted music topics, as well as concerts featuring both local and national artists.
The festival’s mission, according to its website, is “to operate and perpetuate an annual folk arts festival in Anchorage, featuring live performance by the broadest possible representation of community performers,” and “to acquaint and educate the general public about the folk arts and to provide a symposium for the interchange of cultural and performance ideas regarding folk art in the community.”
As it always has been, admission to all activities and performances except fundraisers is free. This year’s lineup includes ten days of folk arts and music, with performances at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium:
Parlor in the Round on Thursday, January 18 at 7 PM featuring songwriters Darren Schlappich (of guest artist Frog Holler), Emily Kurn, and Boot.
Performances by local artists in 15-minute sets on the mainstage at the Wendy Willamson Auditorium starting Friday evening and continuing Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings January 19-21, and January 26-28.
This year’s guest artists are rootsy neo-hillbillies FROG HOLLER from Berks County, Pennsylvania, and Irish folk-roots bans I Draw Slow, who will be in from Dublin, Ireland. Frog Holler will perform at the Wendy Williamson on Friday, January 19 at 9 PM, and Sunday, January 21 at 8:45 PM. I Draw Slow will perform at the Wendy Williamson on Friday, January 26 at 9 PM, and Sunday, January 28 at 8:45 PM.
Second Annual Alan Walters Medal Bagpipe Competition at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium Wednesday, January 24 (6:30 PM)
Thirteenth Annual Banjo Competition at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium Saturday, January 27 (2:30 PM)
More than 50 workshops will be held at Wendy Williamson Saturday and Sunday of both weekends.
Folk Week events will be held at various venues around Anchorage throughout the festival, including (to name a few) Alyeska Sitzmark, Reilly’s Irish Pub, Hearth Artisan Pizza, Organic Oasis, Sleepy Dog Coffee, K Street Market UAA Student Union Cafeteria, Guido’s Pizza, and the Broken Blender.
Fundraiser events include Frog Holler with She’s with Me at the Bear Tooth Theaterpub Saturday, January 20 (7 PM), a Barn Dance called by Brian DeMarcus and featuring music by Big Chimney Barn Dance and Split City Slickers at Spenard’s The Nave on Thursday, January 25 (7 PM), and I Draw Slow with Witty Youngman at Odd Man Rush Brewing Saturday, January 27 (7:30 PM)
The annual Folk Festival Membership meeting, including elections for the Board of Directors will be held at UAA Saturday, January 27 at 5:15 PM, with three board seats to be elected.
As always, there will be musicians milling about meeting and playing throughout the UAA arts building at all times.
A full schedule of Festival events and updates can be found at www.anchoragefolkfestival.org. or www.facebook.com/anchoragefolkfest. E-mail inquiries can be sent to folks@anchoragefolkfestival.org.