Delmarva Folk Festival returns Oct. 7-8
Delaware Friends of Folk recently announced the lineup for the 31st annual Delmarva Folk Festival, set for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7 and 8, at G & R Campground near Houston.
Artists from Delmarva, southeastern Pennsylvania and Maryland’s western shore will take the stage during the weekend.
Current Delmarva Folk Hero Isabel Angela will open the festival by hosting the finals of the 16th Delmarva Folk Heroes contest at 7 p.m., Friday. The six acts were selected at the July 16 and Aug. 20 Friends of Folk open mic coffee house events. They are Frank Hogans, Bert Delpierre, Lavendar Browne, Josh Brokaw, Acorn Whiskey and Tre' Folk Trio. These artists will perform, and the audience vote will select the new Delmarva Folk Hero.
Saturday will provide a rich lineup of folk, old-time, world, jazz, and bluegrass, along with special kids’ activities, and craft and food vendors featuring beer from local brewers. Weekend cabins, and tent and RV camping sites are available.
The music will resume at 12 p.m., Saturday with an opening set from the newly minted Delmarva Folk Hero. The program will continue with sets from two talented local singer-songwriters, Caroline Hermance of Dover and Wilmington’s Jason Webb. Next in line from Sussex County are Bryan and the Barn Owls playing folk, old-time and Americana; then Skribe from Annapolis, Md., performing garage folk-style originals.
Tabla master Shafaat Khan will deliver a rhythm/drum workshop at 4 p.m. Next, Delaware's Joe Baione Trio will bring cool jazz to the late-afternoon audience, followed by Wicked Sycamore, an all-female trio offering contemporary folk grounded in traditional roots, Americana and bluegrass. Then, Indian classical musician Ustad Shafaat Khan’s Music that Heals the Soul will feature tabla, sitar, and other traditional Indian instruments. The final two acts will get the audience up and dancing: Delaware-based Americana jam band Stackabones with its psychedelic hootenanny, and Zydeco Jed with its festival-closing set starting at 9 p.m. The Maryland-based five-piece ensemble features rockin' accordion, soulful vocals, virtuosic guitars, a beat that won't quit, and classic material including rock and soul favorites, evocative originals and the sweet sounds of New Orleans zydeco.
Tickets are on sale and prices remain the same as last year: Friday $10 (teen and adult), Saturday only $30 (non-campers must vacate by 11 p.m.) or $35 for a weekend combo which includes primitive camping. Teen tickets for Saturday are $15, and kids 12 and under are admitted free. Friends of Folk members receive a special voucher for a free Coffeehouse admission with minimum purchase of a Saturday ticket. For details and to purchase tickets online, go to delfolk.org/delfolkfest.
All cabins and camping options (other than primitive) are reserved directly with G & R Campground. Questions may be directed to delfolk@gmail.com.
This event is partially supported by an Arts Access grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The appearance of Shafaat Khan is presented in part by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Delaware Division of the Arts.
