A Weekend of Entertainment, Participation and Exhibits

band members were born in Haiti, but met at church in Immokalee where their families worked as farmworkers. This versatile and high energy group stays true to the Haitian tradition of socially conscious music while also exploring new genres and expanding their fan base. They have performed at the Cape Coral Reggae Festival, several local festivals and cultural celebrations, charity fundraisers, and appeared at Radio-Tele Pacific in Haiti.

Lili Forbes & The Funky Taters

(Sunday Evening)

Expect to hear original music by Lili Forbes and Michael Lewis when Lili Forbes & The Funky ‘Taters take the stage at the Florida Folk Fest. Forbes, along with her twin sister from St. Maarten, have been singing together since they were 12 years old. Growing up with the folk musical traditions of the Caribbean, they soon became expert in many Caribbean rhythms, including gospel, and toured the islands as teenagers. Today they have their own separate musical careers but still compose songs together. The ‘Taters have existed in different mutations since their formation in 2013. Today, they are a nine-piece band with horns that plays danceable funk, jazz, and blues, with an emphasis on New Orleans rhythms. They are led by Michael Lewis, who first began composing songs in 1990. Forbes, who now lives in Tallahassee, and Lewis, from Tallahassee, first came together for a performance at the International Jazz Plaza Festival in Havana, Cuba, in 2019, where they played their originals as well as jazz and pop covers. They have been playing together ever since for special occasions, such as the 70th and 71st Annual Florida Folk Festivals. So put on your dancin’ shoes!

The Lubben Brothers (Friday Night)

Triplets and high-energy acoustic musicians, The Lubben Brothers specialize in tight vocal harmonies and an eclectic blend of folk instruments. Diving into classical music at a young age, their modern songwriting style merges folk roots with complex pop ideas. The Brothers have performed at venues such as the Meyer Amphitheater, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the Florida Folk Festival, Norton Museum of Art, and others. Their music has aired on radio stations across the country, while they have developed a committed, grassroots following in Florida; as one reviewer put it: “The Lubben Brothers are to Florida as the Lumineers are to Denver, Colorado’’ (Maritza Cosano, West Palm Beach Magazine). Music by the Lubben Brothers was chosen as an encore for NPR’s “Live from Here” with ChrisThile, and featured in Netflix’s premiere film of the 2021 Christmas season, “Love Hard.” Composers as well as musicians, The Lubben Brother’s new musical Prodigals, heralded by the concept album “Prodigal Songs” and co-written with acclaimed actor and director Bruce Linser, promises to be the culmination of the brothers’ artistic journey through their roots in folk music, classical exploration, and storytelling.

Grant Peeples (Saturday evening)

A self-described “tree-hugger that watches NASCAR,” Grant Peeples is known for his axesharp socio-political tunes, raucous humor and heartgigging ballads.

Grant tours coast to coast, and has been a repeat performer at The Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, the 30A Songwriters Festival, the Will McLean Music Festival, GambleFest, and of course here at The Florida, Folk Festival. January 2019 marked a second tour in The Netherlands, where FolkForum.nl described him “…a pure storyteller, in the best American folk tradition…” and his show “…one of those gems that you will remember for a long time…”