PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL Reinvents Itself For Its 47th Historic Edition

Steve Earle, Allison Moorer, The Felice Brothers, Janis Ian, 

Great Big Sea, Al Stewart, Kathy Mattea, Compadres, 

Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, Kimya Dawson, and Beausoleil



PHILADELPHIA, April 16  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For its 

momentous 47th edition unfolding August 15-17 at the Old Pool Farm

near Schwenksville, PA, the organizers of the PHILADELPHIA FOLK 

FESTIVAL, not content to rest on their comfortable artistic laurels, 

decided to reinvent the longest continuously running U.S. festival 

of its kind, and brought in Point Entertainment's Rich Kardon and 

Jesse Lundy to shake things up a bit.  The result is sure to be the 

definitive musical event of the summer; a panoply of both superstars 

and rising stars joining together for a new interpretation of this 

three-day extravaganza of traditional and contemporary music, dance, 

crafts, camping, and children's activities.



"Our core audience has continued to age," said WXPN-FM DJ Gene 

Shay, host of the 47-year-old event and the godfather of the 

Philadelphia Folk scene, "...even though we have a tradition to uphold, 

it has to get younger to survive."   Kardon and Lundy have introduced

a different aesthetic with the intention to open the door to a new crop

 of dedicated Folk Festival devotees.  Among the top attractions at the 

47th annual PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL are Steve Earle, Allison 

Moorer, The Felice Brothers, Great Big Sea, Kathy Mattea, Compadres

 (Oscar Lopez and James Keelaghan), The Lee Boys, Beausoleil, Jake

Shimabukuro, Kimya Dawson, Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, Espers, 

Terrance Simien, Hoots & Hellmouth, David Massengill, The Refugees, 

Vinx, The Strangelings, Tempest, Trout Fishing in America, and Ryan 

Montbleau.  Longtime Folk Festival favorites such as Judy Collins, Janis 

Ian, Al Stewart, and Tom Paxton will also take the Main Stage.  In all, 

more than 50 folk, blues, alt-country, bluegrass, indie folk-rock, world, 

and roots artists will be providing more than 55 hours of music from

 new and innovative to traditional and time-honored.  One thing is for 

sure, this is not your father's Folk Festival, but he will definitely want to 

be there!  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 be a Thursday 

Night Concert on the Camp Stage where legendary World Cafe(R) host 

David Dye will welcome two unique musical guests, alt-country-rock 

siblings,  The Felice Brothers, and singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson, 

recently heard on the Juno soundtrack, for an evening of enlightened 

conversation and phenomenal music. This distinctive setting is sure to

provide an experience you won't soon forget. Be a part of history: this 

concert will be recorded for future broadcast.



The PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL is a perfect family event, too. 

You will find an unmatched 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 http://www.folkfest.org/.  Daily event tickets 

with Early Bird Special pricing start at $30.00.  Attend all three days 

and camp for just $142.00!



For complete information about the Festival and tickets, visit the Festival 

website at http://www.folkfest.org/ or call the Philadelphia Folk Festival 

at 800-556-FOLK.

  For interviews, review tickets and more info...

  Contact: Lisa Schwartz, Philadelphia Folk Festival (215) 247-1300 or

  pff-press@folkfest.org

  Downloadable jpegs and further press info at http://www.folkfest.org/

Philadelphia Folksong Society

I wondered why all of a sudden that GBS was on the bill. It's been over 10 years I think since they've been there. But once I saw Jesse Lundy's name in the article, I knew why. Jesse is a great promoter, who used to work for JUpresents, the former promoter for GBS in Philly. He is a tireless worker for the band and a wonderful person. What a pleasure it was to do Street Team work with him! Good on the Folk Festival for bringing in new blood for promoters! It's been a few dry years wth only a couple name bands. Great job, Jesse!

Anne