2018 Folks Festival program

Dear Festivarians, welcome to our 28th Annual Summit of the Song. Whether it’s your first visit or 20th, we invite you to revel in songs and stories from far and wide, young and old, in our verdant ranch setting along the St Vrain River.

Earlier this week, the Song School community celebrated its 25th gathering of songsmiths from all corners of the country. Like other long running Planet Bluegrass celebrations, it’s become a creative tradition as instructors and students return year upon year to immerse themselves in the ways of the performing songwriter.

We’re also celebrating our third year offering reusable plates at our food vendors. Thanks to your overwhelming support, this year we’re adding reusable forks and spoons! Help us keep this groundbreaking program completely free by returning all your reusables to the waste stations—staffed by volunteers from the Lyons High School band!

After three years of preparation, we’re proud to debut our new parking area at the nearby Planet Bluegrass Farm. We’re also extending the idea of “reuse” to Festivarian transportation, by repurposing Telluride’s retired Galloping Goose buses to provide free rides to the parking area.

We’re excited to introduce our new beer partner Avery Brewing! Fill up one of our new reusable cups with the Folks Fest debut of their Festival Lager. Be sure to visit their partner booth for beer

tastings every day at Noon and 4pm. While you’re in the partner area, visit with our other partners and local non-profits—including HeadCount, Colorado Mountain Club, and Wild Bear Nature Center.

Drink lots of water and use sunscreen often. Sing and dance. Cool your feet in the river. Find a seat on an empty tarp up front during the day. Share a song or story of your own. Most of all, cherish this precious time together. We're so glad you're here.

WITH LOVE, THE FOLKS ON PLANET BLUEGRASS

OUR PARTNERS

Your sisters are your brothers, too – Mary Gauthier

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Feel free to sit on any open tarp (especially up front) until its owners return.

TARP LINE POLICY

Climbing the hillsides or cliffs is strictly prohibited.

There is no lifeguard watching your kids in the river. Please monitor your children carefully.

Please do not smoke in the audience. Wander over to the smoking tent near the river, and deposit your butts in the proper receptacles.

No dogs are allowed at the Festival, in the campground, or in the parking lots. If you leave your dog in your car, we will call Animal Control to safely remove your dog from the car.

Lost and found is located at the Festival box office.

Once placed on, wristbands are non-refundable and nontransferable. If you remove, tear, damage, or lose your wristband, we will not replace it.

Please be respectful of others, and do not stand in the Festival seating areas.

Please use only low-backed chairs in designated areas. If we can roll a basketball under your chair, we will ask you to move it behind the sound booth. Umbrellas, shade tents, and other view-obstructing items are allowed only along the river & back perimeter.

Festivarians may begin assembling for the next day’s line numbers no earlier than 11pm.

At around midnight, the number line will be led through the customs gate, where we will distribute random numbers and mark wristbands to show receipt of a number. These numbers will be shuffled randomly; each person may receive no more than 1 number.

The next morning, Festivarians should re-assemble in line-number order beginning one hour before gates. Festivarians will be admitted into the Festival in this randomlyassigned order, followed by all Festivarians without line numbers.

Tracy Grammer • Jefferson Hamer • Mandolin Orange • Stelth Ulvang • Esme Patterson Bruce Molsky • Ben Sollee • Billy Shaddox • KC Groves • The Last Revel • Jake Schepps David Gans • Strangebyrds • Marc Black • Railsplitters • Wood & Wire • Rising Appalachia Slopeside • The Fremonts • Ari Hest • Otis Taylor • Grant Gordy & Ross Martin • FY5 Trout Steak Revival • The Weight Band • Gregory Alan Isakov • Cyril Neville • Eli Slocumb Good Time Travelers • Michael Kirkpatrick • Grant Farm • Crooked Jades • Ryan Dart

Thanks, Folks!

Lucy Kaplansky • Darren Garvey • Danny Barnes • Hot Rize • Moors and McCumber Keller Williams • Grateful Dead • David Bromberg • Jorma Kaukonen

Mastering without borders for 35 years John Hartford • Smithsonian Folkways • Doc Watson Dock Boggs • Ralph Stanley • Woody Guthrie • Mike Seeger “The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records” • “The Anthology of American Folk Music”

The Mile Risi Yo

T Mi

To book a session, contact: studio@airshowmastering.com 303-247-9035

Trout

www.airshowmastering.com DAVID GLASSER / ANNA FRICK

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Our clothes on the shore, I know, is not the best place to start – Penny & Sparrow

D “The R

Have fun out there...

We’re here when you need us.

Over 80 top primary and specialty care providers. 5 locations.

Urgent care too. Welcoming new patients.

Introducing DR. JOHN KELLEY, MD | Family Medicine Primary care & integrative medicine for children and adults.

On a mission to find the perfect Planet Bluegrass sticker for his mando case. Visit our website for more about Dr. Kelley.

For appointment: 303.440.3001

Boulder Medical Center bouldermedicalcenter.com/pbg

SUSTAINABLE FESTIVATION With your help, the Planet Bluegrass festivals continue to be models of Sustainable Festivation. As we continue to broaden the scope of our efforts, here are a few of our recent achievements.

WASTE STREAM

All offerings from our food vendors must be either reusable, compostable, or recyclable. So for the past 7 years, we have removed landfill containers inside the festival grounds in an effort to raise awareness of the landfill items brought in by Festivarians.

To help improve our waste practices, we have been auditing our waste stream in detail since 2009. When we removed compostable plates from our waste stream in 2016, “diversion rate” became a less useful metric. Instead, we now aim to reduce the overall waste the festival generates.

The power is in your hands, Festivarians. Let’s bring our collective attention to avoiding singleuse items and make reusable cups, bottles, plates, and utensils our Festivarian Toolkit of choice.

OUR COMMUNITY

In 2017, we donated 1,100 pounds of leftover food (from our Lyons festivals’ vendors and catering) to local organizations assisting those in need.

Each year, your generous tips at the beverage booth help fund local organizations including Lyons Fire Protection District, Habitat for Humanity, and St. Vrain Creek Coalition.

This weekend’s daily tips will go directly to the Lyons Regional Library District Foundation, Lyons Community Foundation, and Colorado Mountain Club. Thank you, Festivarians!

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CARBON FOOTPRINT

Since 2007, Planet Bluegrass has been neutralizing our festivals’ travel and energy emissions by investing in carbon reduction projects. Thanks to our 15-year partnership with Renewable Choice Energy (now Schneider Electric), Planet Bluegrass has offset 25,630 metric tons of carbon and purchased 5,402 megawatt hours of renewable electricity. That’s the equivalent of not burning 32 million pounds of coal or taking 6,350 vehicles off the road for an entire year!

This year we again partnered with Pinhead Climate Institute to purchase Colorado-based agricultural carbon offsets generated by the May Ranch, a 16,480-acre parcel of Colorado shortgrass prairie. Through this “regenerative agriculture” project, the May family is paid to leave its soil forever intact and untilled, where it can remove planet-warming carbon from the atmosphere, store it, and help address global climate change.

PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION

This Spring we took the next major step in committing to higher standards of purpose, accountability and transparency—in perpetuity. Since 2015, Planet Bluegrass has been a Certified B Corporation™.

This voluntary certification required a rigorous examination of our business, environmental and community practices.

But as a company, we wanted to make a more long-lasting commitment. Thanks to the advocacy of B Lab (the nonprofit entity responsible for certifying B Corps) more than 30 US states now offer a framework for responsible business: the Benefit Corporation. Last April we made the legal changes to become Planet Bluegrass, PBC—one of a growing number of Public Benefit Corporations in Colorado. To learn more, visit with B Corp in the partner area during the Festival.

When the snow falls in Eldorado Canyon, I’m so glad to be alive – Magic Music

In 2016, we traded single-use compostable plates and bowls for 4,000 sturdy reusable ones. Described as “progressive and revolutionary in the realm of temporary events” by Boulder County Public Health, this landmark program requires an annual variance from the state (Colorado law prohibits reusable dinnerware at special events).

Through trial and error—washing dishes off-site, experiencing significant loss and breakage, and having to resort to backup single-use compostables—we realized we needed a more efficient dishwashing process. In 2017, with the help of Boulder County’s Zero Waste Funding Program, we built our own on-site commercial dishwashing trailer and redesigned our waste stations to streamline the collecting and washing processes. We also began hiring an overnight dish crew to keep up with the workload. As a result, last year’s Folks Festival was the first event to rely completely on reusable plates (no compostables)!

Last year’s program was our most successful: we diverted 29,480 single-use compostable plates from the waste stream (nearly double 2016!), while dramatically reducing overall waste. Plate loss dwindled from 31% in 2016 to only 5% at Folks Fest 2017. Many thanks to our food vendors, volunteers, and to you, Festivarians, for making this program a success!

This year, with additional support from Boulder County, we are eliminating single-use compostable utensils by introducing 6,000 spoons and 6,000 forks into our program.

We have already diverted 11,060 single-use compostable utensils from our waste stream this summer at RockyGrass!

Please remember to return all reusable utensils to the “Plates” bin in the waste stations, so we may continue to reduce our festival waste.

Want to start a reusables program at your event? Armed with firsthand experience and advice from like-minded festivals, we’re eager to share what we’ve learned! We will be offering on-site tours of the dish pit to fellow event organizers and curious Festivarians. For a peek behind the scenes, please sign up at the Sustainable Festivation booth or email green@bluegrass.com. We will also be compiling a How-To handbook and video, all of which will be available on our website this Winter, so stay tuned…!

This program is a collective effort; it absolutely cannot succeed without your help. Please remember to return all plates and utensils to the proper bin, never take plates or utensils outside the festival grounds, and remind your fellow Festivarians to do the same! This program is the only one of its kind, as it is completely free to all Festivarians. Let’s work together to make sure it can stay that way! Years from now, future Festivarians (& Earthlings!) will thank you.

What if loving what you have is everything – Ellis

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P L A N E T

B L U E G R A S S

This summer, we’re excited to welcome you to the next major evolution of the Festivarian experience: the Planet Bluegrass Farm.

As festival attendance and traffic through Lyons has increased over the years, our use of Bohn Park for parking (nearly a mile from the festival grounds) continued to raise concerns about pedestrian safety, parking in neighborhoods, and our impact on congestion. So in 2015, Planet Bluegrass purchased the 28-acre property up the North St. Vrain River adjacent to the Ranch.

After spending 2 years restoring and re-vegetating the property from flood damage, last August the citizens of Lyons voted to annex the Farm into the Town of Lyons. Under the agreement with the Town, the property will be used for parking and camping to support the Festivals here on the Ranch, while functioning as a working farm with beekeeping and livestock the rest of the year.

As Folks Fest will be just the second use of this new property for Festival parking, please tread lightly and be respectful of our new neighbors.

For everyone’s safety, please only cross Hwy 36 at the designated pedestrian crosswalk (staffed by crossing guards) outside the Farm entrance. Or ride the free Galloping Goose shuttles between the Farm and the Festival grounds!

Looking toward the future, we’re envisioning a pedestrian underpass to alleviate any road crossings on your journey to the Festival. But until that time, travel between the properties under the bridge or through the river is strictly prohibited.

We welcome your Farm feedback via our online survey at www.bluegrass.com/ffsurvey, email to planet@bluegrass.com, or 800-624-2422.

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Picking apples for the kings and queens of things I've never seen – Jeff Tweedy

Everyth Flippin ing’s ’ Tasty!

Welcome Festivarians!

Festival Hours: 6am-2pm

Organic Espresso, Coffee & Tea Scrumptious Baked Goods Killer Breakfast Sandwiches & Breakfast Tacos Cocktails, Mimosas & More 5th & High Street 303.823.2345 www.thestonecup.com

There'd be a choir for every voice, There'd be a door for every wall – Steve Seskin

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Nearly five years have passed since the devastating flooding that hit Lyons. All of us Festivarians, whether locals who personally lived through the disaster in our community, or the family of employees, partners, and friends of Planet Bluegrass, eagerly supported recovery efforts.

In 2015, $16,500 was raised for Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley, thanks to generous Festivarians who donated at the RockyGrass and Folks Fest beer booth. Back then, Habitat had not even purchased the land in Lyons.

But three years later, Festivarians who visit Lyons see the progress of two of the buildings underway at 112 Park Street (south of the former Valley Bank building). Habitat is building three duplexes, a total of six homes, that will be purchased by local families displaced during the 2013 flood.

At the end of April, all applicants were selected.

Members of the Festivarian and music community who will buy the homes include: Wendy Miller (a Planet Bluegrass employee for 12 years), Danny Shafer (a Lyons musician), and his wife Amanda Anderson (a Lyons artist).

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit that acts as a builder and a lender of no-interest loans for homeowners. The homes are built by volunteer labor, including the future homeowners, all supervised by professional construction crews.

In November 2016, Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley purchased the six residential lots from Craig Ferguson and his Planet Bluegrass partners. Craig first purchased the entire 0.76-acre commercial parcel in June 2015 and began the process to subdivide and rezone with the intention to

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sell a portion to Habitat for Humanity. In June 2015, the Lyons Board of Trustees voted unanimously to waive about $173,500 in water and sewer connection fees. Craig and his Planet Bluegrass partners took the land through the final rezoning and subdivision steps, which the Lyons trustees approved in July 2016.

Habitat for Humanity agreed to complete the required subdivision improvements for the residential lots and closed on the parcels November 17, 2016.

As the buildings are being completed in the coming year, there are two major ways Festivarians can continue to help: donating and volunteering.

Although Habitat has some federal disaster recovery funding, there is still a gap in the costs of building these homes. To donate specifically to the Lyons construction, visit ColoradoGives.org/rebuildlyons.

To volunteer, no specific experience is needed, and training is provided on the job for each 9am- 4:30pm volunteer shift. Visit StVrainHabitat.org/construction and click FLOOD REBUILD-LYONS to sign-up for available shifts. Do you work for a company or belong to an organization that wants to raise funds and volunteer as a group? Email rshannon@stvrainhabitat.org or call 303-682-2485 to learn about the Adopt-a-Day sponsorship.

Amy Reinholds is a volunteer for Town of Lyons housing recovery and for Planet Bluegrass.

If you want a little more, you've gotta give a little back – FY5

In 1994, Planet Bluegrass’s Steve Szymanski had the idea to invite Janis Ian to teach a songwriting master class before the 4th Annual Rocky Mountain Folks Festival. It was the Festival’s first year in Lyons (relocated from Estes Park); and the new Planet Bluegrass Ranch opened up a world of creative possibilities.

Every year since, The Song School has welcomed songwriters from around the world for an immersive week of songwriting craft and inspiration in the days leading up to the Folks Festival. No week on Planet Bluegrass digs so deeply—and changes so many lives.

“The Song School is what music should be about—sharing, community, support, tears, joy, laughter and most of all, music. We learn from each other, inspire each other, and develop the friendships that last beyond lifetimes.

We write, we sing—perhaps our one little song can change the world.”

— Paul Reisler

“As a teacher at The Song School since 2007, I’ve witnessed many students deepen their writing and go on to have careers in music. One of the joys of being part of this community is to share in the excitement of the success of its members.”

— Mary Gauthier

"I know of no other place in the world where this level of instruction, this amount of good hearted attention and intention, with such beauty, river, air and grounds to roam, with these amazing, diverse people coming together for this art form called song - lives are changed here.”

— Darrell Scott

"August means The Song School to me and it fills my creative spirit! The community is so supportive of both veteran and first-time songwriters that it becomes an annual pilgrimage. The camp starts and ends with group singing that leaves me feeling open-hearted and connected to this community all year long.”

— Ellis

Registration for the 2019 Song School (August 11-15, 2019) opens in early December.

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Suppose I kept on singing love songs just to break my own fall – Regina Spektor

HOW GREEN IS YOUR GRASS?

CAMPSITE C HALLENGE With more than 1,300 campers in Lyons this weekend (more than half the size of our town!), it’s vitally important to be mindful of our camping footprint. In collaboration with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and Eco-Products (suppliers of free compostable bags for your campground compost), we will again be rewarding campsites that excel in creative, sustainable camping.

To nominate your campsite or one Each day we select 2 winners of your neighbors: —one random, one staff choice— 1. Submit a 1-page entry form at the for prize packages including: Leave No Trace booth – explaining how the campsite exhibits cleanli• Avery beer ness, sustainability, and creativity.

2. Stop by the Leave No Trace booth

each day to view all the campsite entries and vote for your favorites.

• KEEN footwear • Klean Kanteen reusables • Planet Bluegrass merch

Congratulations to the 2017 Campsite Challenge winners: Campo Cincuenta, Evergreen, CO

After the pack-out on Monday we will select grand prize winners to receive a pair of 3-day passes and camping for the 2019 Folks Festival.

Make joy out of sadness when I sing this lonesome song to you – Darrell Scott

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We open the 28th Annual Rocky Mountain Folks Festival with our internationally-recognized songwriting competition. The Songwriter Showcase is open to performing songwriters, who are not currently signed to a major recording or publishing deal. Past winners include: Deb Talan, Chuck E. Costa, Caroline Spence and 2017 winner Heather Mae. Last winter artists from around the world submitted original songs to be considered by our panel of music industry experts. After carefully listening to more than 400 entries, our panelists selected the 10 finalists who will each perform 2 songs for us on the Folks Festival stage on Friday morning.

To select the winners, our panel of judges drawn from different facets of the music industry—songwriters, radio DJs, producers— independently evaluate the performers’ original songs based on the scoring criteria:

• 50% Quality of Composition depth, insight, cleverness • 25% Quality of Vocal Rendering vocal quality, pitch, tone • 25% Quality of Delivery instrumental technique, charisma The winners will be announced from the main stage following the contest finals.

SHOWCASE FINALISTS CLINT ALPHIN

EMILY SCOTT ROBINSON

JACKSON EMMER

KIRA SMALL

J. KLEIN

MIKE STOCKSDALE

MONICA MARIE

IRA WOLF

JOBI RICCIO

FRANKIE ZWICK

Nashville, TN

Greensboro, NC

Carbondale, CO

Nashville, TN

Tampa, FL

Culver City, CA

Lyons, CO

Nashville, TN

Nashville, TN

Denver, CO

Each of the 10 finalists will also perform in one of the “Showcase Finalists In-The-Round” sets in the Wildflower Pavilion. Please support these talented artists—and discover your new favorite songwriter!—by joining them for these intimate performances and purchasing their CDs in the Country Store.

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1st Place: • 2019 Festival Main Stage set • Taylor Guitar • $400

2nd Place: $500 3rd Place: $400 4th Place: $350 5th Place: $250 6th-10th Place: $150 each

Even under ashes I’ve got glory, I am the hero in my own story – Heather Mae

Come back soon!

TRAILS R IV E R S PARKS ART H I STO RY RESTAURANTS MUSIC T H E H I P L IT T L E TOW N E V E RY B O DY L OV E S

Lyons Col orad o . c om

S C H E D U L E O F EV E N T S MAIN STAGE SATURDAY

SUNDAY

10:00am Gates Open

10:00am Gates Open

10:00am Gates Open

10:30 - 12:30pm Songwriter Showcase

11:00 - Noon Heather Mae

11:00 - Noon Bonnie Paine

12:45 - 1:45pm FY5

12:15 - 1:30pm Jayme Stone’s Folklife

12:15 - 1:15pm Steve Poltz

FRIDAY

AUGUST 17

TH

2:00 - 3:15pm Magic Music 3:45 - 5:00pm Mary Gauthier 5:30 - 6:45pm Las Cafeteras 7:15 - 8:30pm Jeff Tweedy 9:00 - 10:30pm Los Lobos

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AUGUST 18

TH

2:00 - 3:15pm Les Poules à Colin 3:45 - 5:00pm Darrell Scott 5:30 - 6:45pm Wild Child 7:15 - 8:30pm Martin Sexton Trio 9:00 - 10:30pm Indigo Girls

AUGUST 19TH

1:30 - 2:45pm River Whyless 3:15 - 4:30pm Penny & Sparrow 5:00 - 6:15pm Tinariwen 6:45 - 8:00pm The Milk Carton Kids 8:30 - 10:00pm Regina Spektor

There is more love somewhere, I’m gonna keep on ‘til I find it – Jayme Stone’s Folklife

WILDFLOWER PAVILION FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

AUGUST 17

AUGUST 18

AUGUST 19TH

12:15 - 1:00pm Rob Roper & Bill Nash

11:00 - 11:30am The Strangebyrds

12:00 - 12:30pm Natalia Zukerman

1:15 - 1:45pm John Linn

11:45 - 12:30pm Ali Handal & Jill Brzezicki

2:00 - 2:30pm Amy Speace

12:45 - 2:00pm Showcase Finalists In-The-Round: J. Klein, Jobi Riccio, Kira Small & Frankie Zwick

12:45 - 1:45pm Showcase Finalists In-The-Round: Emily Scott Robinson, Mike Stocksdale & Ira Wolf

TH

3:00 - 3:45pm Las Cafeteras: Remixing Roots Music 4:00 - 4:45pm Les Poules à Colin: Contemporary Folklore 5:00 - 5:45pm Vance Gilbert Join us for free yoga inside the festival each morning at 8am.

Mats provided.

TH

2:15 - 2:45pm Rebecca Folsom 3:00 - 4:00pm Showcase Finalists In-The-Round: Clint Alphin, Jackson Emmer & Monica Marie 4:15 - 4:45pm Steve Poltz 5:00 - 5:30pm Arthur Lee Land

2:00 - 2:30pm Justin Roth 2:45 - 3:30pm Chicago Mike Beck & JJ Jones 3:45 - 4:15pm Paul Reisler 4:30 - 5:00pm Steve Seskin 5:15 - 5:45pm Ellis

FOLKS FESTIVAL ARTISTS

FY5 FRIDAY

12:45 - 1:45pm

MAGIC MUSIC FRIDAY

2:00 - 3:15pm

MARY GAUTHIER FRIDAY

3:45 - 5:00pm

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Colorado’s FY5 proudly swim in the deep currents of American music, playing new songs, well-informed of country and bluegrass traditions, but not bound to them. Together for nearly a decade (originally named “Finnders & Youngberg”), the tastefully virtuosic quintet—Mike Finders (guitar), Erin Youngberg (bass), Aaron Youngberg (banjo & pedal steel), Ryan Drickey (fiddle) and Rich Zimmerman (mandolin)—each shine through thoughtfully hooky arrangements and

strong harmonies. FY5’s 4th album, The Way These Things Go, “defines the essence of the grassicana sound” (Bluegrass Today) combining timeless bluegrass sophistication with gritty 21st century stories, as Mike and Erin trade vocals on songs about big ideas and our common struggles. We open our 28th summit on the song with a musical bridge between RockyGrass’ sweet pickin’ and Folks’ rich storytelling, courtesy of one of Colorado’s most vital young acoustic bands.

One of the most fondly-remembered bands of the Boulder revolution, Magic Music was the real deal: a merry troop of renegades living in teepees and school buses, only leaving camp to grace university students with sundappled 4-part harmonies. After 6 years of triumphs (the 2nd Telluride Bluegrass!), “almosts”, and missed opportunities, Colorado’s first “jam band” disbanded in 1976 without releasing a recording. But their songs never disappeared. And in November

2016, the original five—Chris Daniels, Will Luckey, George Cahill, Rob Galloway and Kevin Milburn— reunited at the Boulder Theater.

That show forms the centerpiece of the acclaimed new documentary 40 Years in the Making: The Magic Music Movie, directed by successful TV writer/producer (and lifelong fan) Lee Aronsohn. This historic Friday afternoon, the Magic is real as we welcome the Music back to a festival stage for the first time in decades.

“I was bound to something bigger and more important than a single human life.” It seems trivial to suggest lives might be saved by a song. Yet there is nothing trivial about Mary Gauthier's tenth album, Rifles & Rosary Beads. “One of the best songwriters of her generation,” (Associated Press) Mary has the ability to transform trauma into inspiring narratives. In this album, she shares 11 distinct stories with heart-wrenching clarity, each

song co-written with veterans in the SongwritingWith:Soldiers program. “Songwriting saved me,” Mary declares. “It's what I think the best songs do, help articulate the ineffable, make the invisible visible, creating resonance, so that people don’t feel alone.” This Friday afternoon, whether sitting on your tarp or wading in the St. Vrain waters, scoot a little closer as Mary sings over the bones. Feel the togetherness, and let the healing begin.

My department of peace would melt guns into bike racks – Las Cafeteras

unplug & tune in

www.fy5band.com

concerts cl a s s e s community

follow us:

@fy5band

appearing sept 8. – swallow hill, danielʼs hall with courtney hartman & taylor ashton

new album, “the way these things go” available now

When she walks, the ground seems to dance beneath her – Natalia Zukerman

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FOLKS FESTIVAL ARTISTS

LAS CAFETERAS FRIDAY

5:30 - 6:45pm

JEFF TWEEDY FRIDAY

7:15 - 8:30pm

LOS LOBOS FRIDAY

9:00 - 10:30pm

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Born and raised in East Los Angeles We say we’re storytellers. It’s just

by Mexican parents, Las Cafeteras not the mainstream story,” explains create unity with their infectious Hector. The group sings in English live performances and genre- and Spanish, adding unconventional crossing musical fusion. The group’s sounds using traditional instruments Afro-Mexican beats, rhythms, and like the jarana, requinto, and quijada rhymes—created by Leah Rose (donkey jawbone). Prepare for unity in Gallegos, Jose Guadalupe Cruz the Festivarian nation as Las Cafeteras Cano, Denise Carlos, David Jesus makes their Folks debut, constructing Flores, Hector Paul Flores, Daniel “a world where many worlds fit.” This Joel Jesus French—deliver stories Friday evening set promises beats that of a community seeking love and bring down walls, tarp border-crossing, justice. “We don’t say we’re political. and uncontrollable dancing.

“The gift, I think, is the ability to be able to go into your subconscious, come back unscathed, and present something from it.” For more than 3 decades, Jeff Tweedy has been writing some of America’s most important songs: as a founding member of definitive alt-country band Uncle Tupelo and nearly 25 years at the helm of Grammy-winning rock giants Wilco. Over the years, the 50-year-old Illinois native has left his creative imprint as a producer

(Mavis Staples, Richard Thompson), poet (2004’s Adult Head), and family bandleader performing alongside his son Spencer as the band Tweedy.

Tonight, on the heels of his recent solo acoustic album Together At Last, Jeff steps onto the Folks stage with only his guitar, harmonica, and his inimitable catalog of songs: each representing a journey into his subconscious; and each now an important part of the collective consciousness of American music.

Twenty-five years ago Los Lobos released their compilation Just Another Band from East L.A. (and made their only other Folks appearance). Since then they have repeatedly disproven that title—Los Lobos isn’t “just another” anything, but rather a band that has consistently evolved artistically while never losing sight of their humble roots. Formed in 1973, the musical wolves reached international stardom with 1987’s “La Bamba.” But they were just getting

started. Writes Rolling Stone: “This is what happens when five guys create a magical sound, then stick together… to see how far it can take them.”

Several masterpieces (1992’s Kiko), 3 Grammy Awards, and a nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame only scratch the surface. We close the night with one of America’s greatest bands: guitarists David Hidalgo, Louie Perez & Cesar Rosas; bassist Conrad Lozano; keyboardist Steve Berlin; and percussionist Enrique González.

Some day that wall will crumble, tumble and fall; the sun will shine & bring peace to us all – Los Lobos

Tasty Mexican food made from scratch

7 salsas made daily in house, creative tacos, enchiladas, refreshing craft margs, ceviche, great tequila and mezcal selection, and more!

216 E Main St 303-823-2321 mojotaqueria.com happy hour 3-6pm

WRITING A SONG THAT MATTERS With Dar Williams

Songwriting retreats that get to the heart of what matters

At the Hudson Valley’s beautiful Garrison Institute / Garrison, NY

June 25-29*

*Waitlist spots available

August 6-10

(West coast retreats coming in 2019!)

Darwilliamsretreat.com

Email: darwilliamsretreat@gmail.com

Swim the blissful coalescing of our thoughts collapsing light – Bonnie Paine

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FOLKS FESTIVAL ARTISTS

HEATHER MAE SATURDAY 11:00 - Noon

JAYME STONE’S FOLKLIFE SATURDAY

12:15 - 1:30pm

LES POULES À COLIN SATURDAY

2:00 - 3:15pm

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Three powerful words and the title track to Heather Mae’s sophomore effort, I AM ENOUGH is an ode to body positivity and breaking away from self-imposed affliction to fit into what is “beautiful.” The album became a KickStarter Staff Pick within its first week, peaking at #58 on the iTunes Pop Charts. Following her debut release, Heather had been diagnosed with nodules on her vocal chords. Through a difficult recovery, she vowed that her new music would

be sincere, significant, fearless.

Heather has since been on a journey of creative liberation, breaking ground with an inventive indie-pop sound and taking on important subjects like LGBTQ discrimination, gender stereotypes, body image, and mental health. “I see this record as a platform for change. Pop music with a mission,” declares Heather. Shake your hips and raise your fist in solidarity, as we begin Saturday with 2017 Songwriter Showcase winner Heather Mae.

Sea Island spirituals, Creole calypsos and stomp-down Appalachian dance tunes. Jayme Stone’s Folklife follows the bends and bayous through the deep river of song and story. Evolving out of Jayme’s “Lomax Project” (featured at the 2013 RockyGrass), this gathering of musicians treats old field recordings not as time capsules, but as heirloom seeds passed down from a bygone generation. Planting these sturdy seeds in modern soil, their spellbinding singing, virtuosic

playing, and captivating storytelling cultivate these timeless tunes for modern listeners. Led by two-time Juno-winning banjoist, composer and instigator Jayme Stone, NPR calls Folklife “a fresh contemporary take on musical treasures.” This Folks afternoon, Folklife’s chorale of versatile singer-instrumentalists— Jayme, Moira Smiley (accordion), Sumaia Jackson (fiddle) and Andrew Ryan (bass)—prove folk songs are indeed perennials for the people.

Join us in welcoming Les Poules à Colin to Colorado for the first time.

Translated as “Colin’s Hens,” their name comes from a traditional Québec folksong. With four women and a Colin in the band, hey, it makes sense.

Sarah Marchand (keyboards), Béatrix Méthé (fiddle), Éléonore Pitre (guitar), Marie Savoie-Levac (bass) and Colin Savoie-Levac (banjo & mandolin) were raised behind the scenes at folk festivals, and despite their young age, they have been playing

together for almost a decade. Their modern interpretations of traditional Québécois songs lean in towards Celtic music but with contemporary jazz accoutrements and complex yet sweet harmony vocals. There’s no need to speak French to find yourself spellbound by Les Poules’ songs. Their fearless and fresh arrangements, tapping feet, and electrifying energy carry the culture of Québécois to us today, to be enjoyed by fresh ears at the Folks Festival.

All your colors left behind, The ones I like most I kept for mine – Les Poules à Colin

Shawn Colvin • Kathy Mattea Amy Helm • Ellis Paul Mike Farris Penny & Sparrow Sam Baker • Liz Vice Hubby Jenkins Sloan Wainwright Les Poules á Colin Mean Mary Festival Pass: $130 Single Venue: $40 MoabFolkFestival.com

A symphony of mercy falls upon no deafer ears – The Milk Carton Kids

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FOLKS FESTIVAL ARTISTS

DARRELL SCOTT SATURDAY

3:45 - 5:00pm

WILD CHILD SATURDAY

5:30 - 6:45pm

MARTIN SEXTON TRIO SATURDAY

7:15 - 8:30pm

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Darrell Scott is a modern day renaissance man: a Nashville singer/songwriter/instrumentalist (mandolin, guitar, accordion, lap steel, banjo, to name a few); a poet; a band leader; an environmentalist; a thinker; the son of a musician. He produces solar electricity and grows food at his home. And he writes and records songs with some of the great musicians of our time (Brad Paisley, Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea, Tim O’Brien). In our opinion Darrell walks

the walk in every way. As for his voice? Darrell says it best in his own words: “I have over 80 instruments, each with a different voice. The discovery is to find the hidden voice in any instrument, how it wants to be treated, coaxed, thrashed, touched so it may speak. It will inform on how best to find the voice from this otherwise silent thing.” The same can be said for the voice inside Darrell, and believe us, it is a voice you need to hear.

Kelsey Wilson and Alexander Beggins “Top Ten Songs of 2013”), earning them discovered their sweet-natured a legion of grassroots fans (25,000 songwriting chemistry as backing packed a hometown show in 2016). musicians for a Danish indie band. In Now expanded to a seven-piece pop the back of a tour van, the two couldn’t mini-orchestra—Kelsey (violin), stop writing songs, dreaming of their Alexander (ukulele), Sadie Wolfe own band together. Returning home (cello), Matt Bradshaw (keyboards to Austin, TX in 2010, they assembled & trumpet), Tom Myers (drums), some musical friends to fill their “boy- Cody Ackors (guitar & trombone) and girl” songs with lush, kaleidoscopic Tyler Osmond (bass)—Wild Child’s energy. Their effervescent, hook- fourth album Expectations is a sonic spangled indie-folk melodies soon delight, and an infectious treat for became viral and critical hits (NPR’s this Folks Fest Saturday evening.

When Martin Sexton first performed at Planet Bluegrass in 1997, he was a self-described ‘troubadour.’ We thought that sounded fun and were hoping for a ‘good fit’ for Folks Fest.

Instead, what we got was 90 minutes of soulful, transformative music erupting from a depth that felt so raw it was at times almost uncomfortable.

People have since claimed that Martin’s songs have inspired them to take that leap, travel that uncertain path, follow their hearts. Martin has

an unreal vocal range, and if you love his recordings, his live shows do not disappoint. His vocal style is both unique and familiar, combining his skills with the finest qualities of singers like Van Morrison, Aaron Neville, and Otis Redding. For this Folks Festival twilight set (his seventh on this stage!), Martin will be performing with his trio: Elephant Revival multi-instrumentalist (and Lyons’ own) Charlie Rose and bassist Chris Anderson.

You're not the one for me, You're just the one that I choose – Wild Child

FOLKS FESTIVAL ARTISTS

INDIGO GIRLS SATURDAY

9:00 - 10:30pm

BONNIE PAINE SUNDAY

11:00 - Noon

STEVE POLTZ SUNDAY

12:15 - 1:15pm

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Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are the for the next great challenge, while raw, real, and revelatory Indigo Girls. earning the devotion of a multi“One of the finest folks duos of all time,” generational audience. Their latest (NPR’s Mountain Stage) The Indigo release, Indigo Girls Live With The Girls have spent 35 years performing University of Colorado Symphony together, producing 15 albums (7 Orchestra, features larger-than-life Gold, 4 Platinum, and 1 Double arrangements of 22 familiar Indigo Platinum), earning a Grammy, and Girls’ tunes, elevating the duo to new touring the world over. Amy & Emily emotional heights. We arrive at this have released critically-acclaimed Saturday night with deep gratitude: solo music, engaged in outspoken The Indigo Girls hold out a hand to us political and social activism, and (at their first Folks Fest in 15 years), remained perpetually on the hunt and we get to feel it all.

Bonnie Paine was born and raised in Tahlequah, OK—the end of the trail of tears and the capital of the Cherokee nation. When she was just five years old, she picked up her first instrument, the drum kit. Then came the guitar, congas, flute, washboard, djembe, cello, and musical saw. Bonnie is a founding member, songwriter and vocalist of the internationally beloved Colorado folk band Elephant Revival. This Nederland, CO band was quite a sound to be experienced—

especially when they would slip into the pocket of a groove containing elements of gypsy, Celtic, Americana, and folk. Bonnie continues to travel the world, gaining cultural and musical experiences from each new journey. Her many collaborations on the Planet Bluegrass stage over the years always shine. Although she is becoming more and more of a standout in the international music scene, we are pleased that she always comes home to Lyons.

Steve Poltz was born among the hearty seafaring folk of Canada’s Halifax, Nova Scotia and has lived much of his life in Southern California. Steve’s songs have been among the longest running ever on the Billboard Top 100, regularly appearing in movie soundtracks, television shows, and even the odd commercial. His touring schedule is ferocious, ping ponging between continents with enough frequency to earn him followings in scores of different accents and languages. He

has released a children’s album, a performance DVD, and other recordings that defy categorization, such as Answering Machine—a 56-track collection of 45 second “songs” culled from his answering machine’s outgoing messages. (Neil Young had it ranked as a favorite album!) Steve can take an audience from laughter to tears and back again in the space of the same song—making a Steve Poltz performance unforgettable in all the right ways.

You bloody your hands digging for your dream – Indigo Girls

summer series ©Denali’s Raven

ELECTRIC HOT TUNA with STEVE KIMOCK

SEP 7 SEP 1 BOZ SCAGGS

MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR Captivating films hand-picked from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, CO

SEP 13 SEP 8 ANDREA GIBSON with Sam Rae

SYMBOLS OF RESISTANCE A tribute to the martyrs of the Chican@ Movement

Boulder SEP 15–OCT 28

SEP 20

Hiking Plays: INVADERS FROM PLANET 9

IGNITE BOULDER 36

SEP 23 An intimate evening of songs and stories with GRAHAM NASH

T I C K E TS : chautauqua.com

900 BASELINE ROAD • BOULDER CO | 303.440.7666 colochautauqua coloradochautauqua colorado_chautauqua

You were surely kissed by angels, look at the freckles on your face – Steve Poltz

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FOLKS FESTIVAL ARTISTS

RIVER WHYLESS SUNDAY

1:30 - 2:45pm

PENNY & SPARROW SUNDAY

3:15 - 4:30pm

TINARIWEN SUNDAY

5:00 - 6:15pm

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Six years, two albums, and countless systemic oppression, waking up from gigs after first forming as a band, River “the American experiment,” and much Whyless is sharing their most genre- more—delivered on the waves of bending and heartfelt material yet. infectious melodies and interweaving The North Carolina folk-rock outfit— polyrhythms. "Violence is easy….

Ryan O’Keefe (guitar), Halli Anderson Kindness is much harder. It requires (violin), Daniel Shearin (bass) and patience in the face of ignorance,” the Alex McWalters (drums)—first met group enlightens. During this catchy while students at Appalachian yet contemplative Sunday afternoon State University. In Kindness, A set, take a moment to lean in and Rebel, the quartet considers a world listen, to rebel with your kindness, as that’s changing fast, the struggle we welcome River Whyless for their for connection, white privilege and Planet Bluegrass debut.

Kyle Jahnke and Andy Baxter, known collectively as Penny & Sparrow, are pin-drop performers, the kind who silence rooms with impeccable songs and storytelling. The duo has amassed a devoted following, possessing an ability to pull their audience into an alternate space, where unpredictability and musical magic are the rule of the moment. Both Kyle and Andy know the value of cathartic music, yet with seeming ease they read a room and know when it’s time

to speak joy and lead an audience to laughter. Trademark witticism and playfulness stitch together a Penny & Sparrow live experience. Listeners find themselves vacillating between thought provoking consideration and well-earned laughter. When asked why this flow accompanies their live performance: “Because that’s honest.

Life is not all simple ease or heavy gloom. To laugh and cry back and forth is a pretty true assessment of how this life goes.”

Tinariwen (ti-NAR-oo-when’) are the soul rebels of the Southern Sahara desert. Their music expresses the aspirations of their nomadic people.

The guitar is their weapon of freedom.

“They can close the frontiers and massacre our people,” says bassist Eyadou Ag Leche, “but they can’t kill the music, they can’t take the music away.” Founded nearly 40 years ago, the collective’s remarkable story includes rebel training camps in Libya, revolutions in Mali, abductions, exile.

But with a breakout performance at the 2001 Festival au Desert, Tinariwen’s bluesy psych-rock guitar and trancey West African grooves have won fans like Carlos Santana & Thom Yorke, and a Grammy award.

Shrouded in traditional robes on the Folks stage, the music of Tinariwen is mesmerizing—evoking the vastness of the Saharan Desert, the grandeur of their beloved homeland, and the emotional depth born through struggle, tragedy and freedom.

Imidiwan Nizzagh ijbal Ichindja dihen Ténéré dadàgh – Tinariwen

Farm Dinners and Workshops

I like the way that you dance when you're bowlin', I like your singin' in your inline skates – River Whyless

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FOLKS FESTIVAL ARTISTS

THE MILK CARTON KIDS SUNDAY

6:45 - 8:00pm

REGINA SPEKTOR SUNDAY

8:30 - 10:00pm

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Life has been changing dramatically for two-time Grammy nominees The Milk Carton Kids. The duo’s “practically irresistible” (NPR) new album, All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn’t Do, reflects the past few years of upheaval, from Joey Ryan having kids to Kenneth Pattengale surviving cancer, while invoking “what it feels like to live in a country you thought you knew.” Featuring acoustic guitars riding high above a haunting

full band landscape, there is a theme of shattered realities and visceral grief throughout—as if Americana went searching for a lost America.

Although no stranger to Planet Bluegrass as a duo, tonight the Kids are filling out the stage with a 7-piece band: Jamie Dick (drums), Ethan Jodziewicz (bass), Jenna Moynihan (fiddle), Phil Kronengold (keys), and Rich Hinman (guitar).

Root yourself deep, Festivarians: this set is going to be a moving one.

Known for her penchant for lyrics that balance poignancy and wit, Regina Spektor is “our generation’s Joni Mitchell” (Esquire). Born in the Soviet Union, Regina came of age in NYC, where she was classically trained on piano and studied composition.

In 2006, Regina’s first commercial breakthrough came with the release of her gold-certified LP Begin to Hope.

Regina’s songs have been featured in film/tv shows such as Orange Is The New Black, Grey’s Anatomy, and

Weeds. Her latest album, Remember Us to Life, showcases her impeccable storytelling, whimsical piano playing, and memorable melodies. Just this month, Regina performed “Samson”, one of her most beloved tunes, solo on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

On our final Folks evening together, Regina makes her Planet Bluegrass debut. And as her serenading notes reach your Festivarian ears, we hope you are moved to “laugh until you cry...cry until you laugh.”

Happy like the choir on Sunday morning, Sweet and true – Martin Sexton

2019 TICKETS

MOUNTAIN SUN 25TH ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND September 14-15, 2018

MABON CELEBRATION September 22, 2018

Visit Bluegrass.com in October for details about purchasing tickets through our online lotteries, including Telluride Bluegrass, RockyGrass Academy and RockyGrass on-site camping.

All other 2019 tickets go onsale in early December.

TELLURIDE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL June 20-23, 2019

ROCKYGRASS ACADEMY July 21-25, 2019

ROCKYGRASS July 26-28, 2019

THE SONG SCHOOL August 11-15, 2019

Printed on FSC-certified 70# Neenah Conser vation text - a 100% post-consumer recycled fiber, made with 100% renewable energy

ROCKY MOUNTAIN FOLKS FESTIVAL August 16-18, 2019

I folded you inside my dreams, like an old concert poster – Amy Speace

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