Sat 2/3 @ 1-6PM, 7:30PM
The Lake Erie Folk Fest is back for the eighth year with one big change. It’s outgrown its home at the Shore Cultural Center and is moving to Thwing Center at Case Western Reserve University.
The event starts as always with a free afternoon of music-making activities for all ages and skill levels with workshops, talks, demonstrations and jam sessions covering a variety of folk styles and instruments. There’ll be 28 workshops and mini-concerts including Sheelah Das teaching penny whistle; Pamela Hunt exploring Ohio folk song history; and harmony singing by Bill Schilling and Kathy & Rich Small who, in the true folk tradition, invite the audience to sing along. (Can you hear in your mind an ebullient Pete Seeger crying out “Everyone sing!”?)
It’s a great opportunity to interact with skilled, experienced musicians eager to help you up your game and to meet other plays — and who knows where that could lead? There are activities geared especially for kids too.
The evening concert at 7:0[m features progressive bluegrass/jam band Pretend Friend from Wichita, Kansas, and Pittsburgh trio AppalAsia, who use dulcimer and erhu to blend the sounds of Appalachia and Asia (They’ll also do an informal presentation during the afternoon.). There’ll also be a “welcoming dance.” Meanwhile, in the lobby, Cleveland Institute of Music students will perform Danish traditional tunes and more.
The event is presented by the Northeast Ohio Musical Heritage Association and Case Western Reserve radio station WRUW-FM 91.1. Go here for more information and tickets to the evening concert.