rombox.com

Home | Rock n' Roll Romper Room


Posts Tagged ‘Philadelphia Folk Fest’

Get The Led Out

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Old Pool Farm, Schwenksville, PA — The Philadelphia Folk Festival is an interesting experience. You never know what you will see… or hear. This works both ways — from the audience looking toward the stage or from the stage looking at the audience. It probably has the largest ratio of musicians that are in the audience than any other concert venue.

Thus, my surprise to see Get The Led Out scheduled for the special Thursday evening “Exclusive Camp Concert” that is put on for the overnight campers. What the heck was a band that bills themselves as the American Led Zeppelin doing at the Folk Fest? The must have been intimidating for the band:
1) They play songs that people know, so they have to play flawlessly.
2) They are to perform heavy rock music to a folk crowd.
3) Many in the audience are talented musicians.
4) They followed two talented folk bands, Jill Sobule and Deer Tick.

You would think that they would go over like a lead balloon? No. Le contraire. As soon as they started playing, people began flocking to the stage. Before long, there was standing room only. The crowd joined in and sang every song. Looking at the people standing next to you would cause you to pause. A mother dancing next to her daughter. People of all ages having the time of their life. In fact, it’s the only Folk Fest performance that I can remember hurting my ears.

As the show progressed, it felt like the audience and performers were feeding off each other. The crowd’s energy feeding the band, and in return the band’s energy feeding the audience. Only at the Folk Fest could such a miracle take place.

Get The Led Out Concert Photo Gallery

Philadelphia Folk Fest Offers More Surprises

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

EVEN MORE SURPRISES FROM THE PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL

The Decemberists and The Derek Trucks Band added as headlining acts performing August 14-16, 2009 at Old Pool Farm!

Special Thursday night “Campers’ Exclusive” concert added
featuring Jill Sobule, Deer Tick and Get The Led Out!

PHILADELPHIA – Organizers of the PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL are putting the finishing touches on an impressive lineup for their 48th annual event with the addition of The Decemberists, The Derek Trucks Band, Jill Sobule, Heartless Bastards, and other noteworthy acts.

The British folk revival sound evident on The Hazards of Love, the recently-released 5th album by the Portland-based The Decemberists, will be highlighted with their Saturday afternoon (August 15) Main Stage performance. Guitar sensation Derek Trucks with his band, touring in support of their most recent album, Already Free, will bring their blend of jazz, rock, blues, Latin, East Indian and other world music to headline the big Sunday night (August 16) concert.

Festival organizers have added a special treat for early-arriving weekend campers with a Thursday night (August 13) “Campers’ Exclusive” concert on the site’s Camp Stage. Jill Sobule, whose songs are at once deeply personal and socially conscious, seriously funny and derisively tragic, is the featured artist. She first gained prominence with her 1995 song “I Kissed a Girl.” Also performing for this more intimate showcase is the quirky country/folk flavored Deer Tick, on the road with their just-released 2nd album, Born on Flag Day. Both acts will be featured at this event for David Dye’s “World Café” syndicated NPR radio show, heard locally on WXPN-FM. Get The Led Out will close this special Thursday night concert by performing acoustic versions of Led Zeppelin songs.

Other exciting recent additions include Heartless Bastards, the irresistible Buskin & Batteu, Eastern European folk music purveyors the West Philadelphia Orchestra, the foot-stomping Celtic exuberance of Burning Bridget Cleary, and the more traditional Celtic ruminations of Shannon Lambert-Ryan & RUNA. They join an outstanding and diverse lineup that already includes Tom Rush, Iron and Wine, and the Del McCoury Band.

“We wanted to shake things up even more this year,” asserts Festival Chairperson Pat Gourley referring to the FOLK FESTIVAL’s emphasis in recent years to reach out beyond the traditional folk music audience. “By featuring The Decemberists, The Derek Trucks Band and more of the contemporary, cutting-edge acts, we’re boldly going after the younger audience needed to sustain the PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL over the next 20 to 30 years.” Philadelphia Folksong Society Executive Director Levi Landis concurs, adding, “This 48th annual event will help break new ground and further the Folksong Society’s legacy among the vanguard of folk music innovators. We’ve responded with a roster of performers that appeals not only to dyed-in-the-wool folk music enthusiasts, but also to the next generation audience.”

The PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL will be held August 14-16 at the Old Pool Farm near Schwenksville, PA and tickets can be purchased online at www.folkfest.org. Daily event tickets with early bird pricing (through July 19) start at $44.00 – attend all three days and camp for just $145.00 in tent camping or $170.00 in vehicle camping! The perfect family event, concert admission for children under 12 is FREE and “youth rates” (ages 12 to 16) are only half the adult gate price.

For complete information about the PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL and tickets, visit the website at www.folkfest.org or call the festival office at 800-556-FOLK.

Philadelphia Folk Fest Line-up

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES STELLAR LINE-UP FOR 48TH ANNUAL EDITION

Sonny Landreth, Del McCoury Band, Iron and Wine, Tom Rush, Rebirth Brass Band, Justin Townes Earle, Tony Trischka, Langhorne Slim,
Enter The Haggis, Ellis Paul, Sara Hickman, Alela Diane
Among Featured Acts Performing August 14-16, 2009 at Old Pool Farm

TICKETS ON SALE NOW WITH EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!!

PHILADELPHIA – At a press conference held this afternoon, the organizers of the PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL unveiled the impressive line-up for their momentous 48th edition unfolding
August 14-16 at the Old Pool Farm near Schwenksville, PA. After a very successful showing last year, Point Entertainment’s Rich Kardon and Jesse Lundy have been brought back to provide artistic direction. “We are excited to again work with the Philadelphia Folksong Society and the Philadelphia Folk Festival to build on the foundation that was crafted last year,” said Kardon. The resulting roster reads like a Who’s Who in the music buzz today, offering a collection of both superstars and rising stars who will join together for this three-day extravaganza of traditional and contemporary music, dance, crafts, camping, and children’s activities.

Among the top attractions at the 48th annual PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL are Sonny Landreth, Del McCoury Band, Iron and Wine, Tom Rush, Rebirth Brass Band, Justin Townes Earle,
Tony Trischka, Langhorne Slim, Alela Diane, Joe Pug, Works Progress Administration,
Ellis Paul, Sara Hickman, The Low Anthem, Women in Docs, The Folk Brothers, Erik Mongrain,
Frog Holler, Caravan of Thieves, Enter The Haggis, and Marissa Nadler.

Local musicians that have been garnering tremendous praise will also be featured throughout the weekend including Adrien Reju, Boris Garcia, Chris Kasper, Zach Djanikian, Wissahickon Chicken Shack, and Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka.

As if this amazing line-up weren’t enough, Jesse Lundy hinted that there were more surprises yet to come. “We have a couple more world-class acts; I mean major headliners, that we can’t announce just yet, so stay tuned!” teased Lundy.

Returning for his 48th consecutive year as host is WXPN-FM DJ Gene Shay who has been called the Godfather of Philadelphia Folk Music. Shay has delighted Folk Festival audiences for years with his silly jokes and warm, friendly style. He’s been the same golden voice on the radio, playing folk artists every Sunday night, for most of our lives. He also helped put together the very first PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL in 1962 and has been the emcee every year since.

The campground at the PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL is considered the Ultimate Folk Festival Experience. Settle into the “40-acre living room” where jamming and camaraderie is shared; where friendships and memories are made that will last a lifetime. Exclusive to All-Festival Camping Ticket holders, there will again be the Thursday Night Concert on the Camp Stage where legendary World Cafe® host David Dye will welcome some unique musical guests, as yet to be announced.

The PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL is a perfect family event, too. You will find an unrivaled selection of attractions for the kids, especially in Dulcimer Grove, the shady area between the Crafts Stage and the Camp Stage, where puppeteers, jugglers, storytellers, hands-on crafts and of course, kid-oriented musicians make it a haven for folk fans 12 and under. Older kids, 12 to 16, will again be eligible for the special “youth ticket”, allowing them into the grounds for half the regular gate price, when accompanied by an adult.

Tickets for the PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.folkfest.org. Daily event tickets with Early Bird pricing start at $44.00. Attend all three days and camp for just $145.00 in tent camping and $170.00 in vehicle camping!

For complete information about the PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL and tickets, visit the website at www.folkfest.org or call the PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL office at 800-556-FOLK.