LOWELL — Looking for a way to hear music and taste foods from around the world without leaving the Bay State? You'll have your chance this weekend as the Lowell Folk Festival kicks off in downtown Lowell, with 22 artists performing on six stages, playing everything from polka to jazz and beyond.
The three-day music extravaganza is set to begin tomorrow and run through Sunday. Those who attend will be treated to traditional music, food, dancing and crafts from all corners of the globe.
"It is all about taking ethnic traditions and bringing it to the big stage," said John Marciano, who is in charge of programming music for the festival. "You just can't access this music any other day of the year."
Though it's called a folk festival, this event features many genres of music, from bluegrass, to Celtic and gospel, to blues. The main concept is to present traditional music from regions throughout the world in its original context.
"It is as close to the real deal as possible," Marciano said. "This is music that is handed down from one generation to the next. It's not whitewashed at all. That is the difference with the Lowell Folk Festival."
Since its 1987 debut as the National Folk Festival, what has since become the Lowell Folk Festival continues to draw artists from all around the world. Highlighting this year's group is Sierra Hull and her touring group Highway 111, Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band, Yomo Toro and Niamh Ni Charra, as well as a host of other artists.
"A lot of these artists most people don't know," Marciano said. "But this is not a pop festival. It is a traditional music festival. You may not know their names but this festival turns people on to music they have never heard before and cultures they have never seen before."
Music aside, the festival also will feature sample foods from around the globe, with more than a dozen types of ethnic food sold throughout downtown and around the JFK Plaza, Boarding House Park and Dutton Street Dance Pavilion.
Also, for the second consecutive year, the "Keepers of the Tradition: Folk Art and Heritage in Massachusetts" theme continues, as crafters who preserve and revitalize deeply rooted art traditions display their work. In addition, there is Art in the Courtyard, where visitors can view and purchase some of the finest art around.
A Family Fun activity area will be located on Shattuck Street for the kids, where children can enjoy hands-on games such as box-hockey, bean bag toss and several other activities.
"It is truly an unbelievable value and an amazing opportunity," said Marciano. "Honestly you only have to go once and you'll be hooked. I guarantee it."
If You Go
What: Lowell Folk Festival.
When: Friday, July 24, through Sunday, July 26. Hours are Friday from 7 to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Where: Six stages throughout downtown Lowell.
How: The festival is free. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.lowellfolkfest.org.
2009 Lowell Folk Festival Performance Schedule
FRIDAY, JULY 24
Boarding House Park
6:40-7 p.m.: Parade with Glen David Andrews Band (New Orleans R&B and brass band).
7-7:15 p.m.: Festival kickoff
7:15-8 p.m.: Frank London's Klezmer Brass AllStars
8:15-9 p.m.: Sierra Hull & Highway 111 (bluegrass)
9:15-10:15 p.m.: Yomo Toro (Puerto Rican cuatro master)
Dutton St. Dance Pavilion
7:15- 8:30 p.m.: Trudy Lynn (blues and soul)
8:45-10 p.m.: Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys (zydeco)
SATURDAY, JULY July 25
Boarding House Park
12-12:45 p.m.: Niamh NÃ Charra (Irish)
1-1:45 p.m.: Yomo Toro (Puerto Rican cuatro master)
2-2:45 p.m.: Genticorum (Quebecois)
3-3:45 p.m.: Sierra Hull & Highway 111 (bluegrass)
4-4:45 p.m.: Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band (Traditional New Orleans jazz)
5-6 p.m.: Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys (zydeco)
7:10-7:30 p.m.: Parade with Glen David Andrews Band (New Orleans R&B and brass band)
7:30-8:15 p.m.: Niamh NÃ Charra (Irish)
8:30-9:15 p.m.: Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band (Traditional New Orleans
jazz)
9:30-10:15 p.m.: Trudy Lynn (blues and soul)
JFK Plaza
12:15-10 p.m.: The Lucky Stars (western swing & honky tonk)
1:15-2 p.m.: Sierra Hull & Highway 111 (bluegrass)
2:15-3 p.m.: Eddie Forman Orchestra (Polish polka)
3:15-4 p.m.: Yomo Toro (Puerto Rican cuatro master)
4:15-5:15 p.m.: The Brotherhood Singers (African American a cappella gospel)
5:30-6:15 p.m.: Frank London's Klezmer Brass AllStars
Market Street Stage
12-12:30 p.m.: Capoeira Luanda (Brazilian capoeira)
12:45-1:30 p.m.: The Brotherhood Singers (African American a cappella gospel)
1:45-2:15 p.m.: Capoeira Luanda (Brazilian capoeira)
2:30-3:30 p.m.: Frank London's Klezmer Brass AllStars
3:45-4:30 p.m.: Maeandros Ensemble (Greek)
4:45-5:45 p.m.: Picked Strings Traditions with Yomo Toro, Mavrothi Kontanis (Maeandros Ensemble), Sierra Hull & Clay Hess (Sierra Hull & Highway 111), Jeremy "JW"
Wakefield (The Lucky Stars)
Lee Street Stage
12-12:45 p.m.: Genticorum (Quebecois)
1-1:45 p.m.: Maeandros Ensemble (Greek)
2-2:45 p.m.: Sana Ndiaye (Senegalese ekonting)
3-3:45 p.m.: Two Fiddles & The Sugar River String Band (Oldtime New England barn dances)
4-4:45 P.m. Accordion Traditions with Niamh NÃ Charra, Eddie Forman, and Patrick Farrell (Klezmer Brass AllStars)
5-5:45 p.m. Alash (Tuvan throat singing)
St. Anne's Churchyard
12:15-1 p.m.: Sana Ndiaye (Senegalese ekonting)
1:15-2 p.m.: Alash (Tuvan throat singing)
2:15-3:15 p.m.: Singing and Song Styles with Trudy Lynn, Alash, The Brotherhood Singers, and
Sage Guyton (The Lucky Stars)
3:30-4 p.m.: Capoeira Luanda (Brazilian capoeira)
4:15-5:15 p.m.: Oldtime
New England Barn Dance with Two Fiddles & The Sugar River String Band
Dutton Street Dance Pavilion
12:15-1:15 p.m.: Eddie Forman Orchestra (Polish polka)
1:30-2:30 p.m.: Glen David Andrews Band (New Orleans R&B and brass band)
2:45-3:45 p.m.: Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys (zydeco)
4-4:45 p.m.: Samba Ngo (Congolese)
5-6 p.m.: Trudy Lynn (blues and soul)
7:15-8:30 p.m.: The Lucky Stars (western swing & honky tonk)
8:45-10 p.m.: Samba Ngo (Congolese)
Street Performances (John St. & Merrimack St.)
1-1:30 p.m.: Alex the Jester
3-3:30 p.m.: Alex the Jester
SUNDAY, JULY 26
Boarding House Park
12-1 p.m.: The Brotherhood Singers (African American a cappella gospel)
1:15-1:45 p.m.: Capoeira Luanda (Brazilian capoeira)
2-3 p.m.: Niamh NÃ Charra (Irish)
3:15-3:45 p.m.: Alash (Tuvan throat singing)
4-4:45 p.m.: Genticorum (Quebecois)
5-6 p.m. Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band (Traditional New Orleans jazz)
JFK Plaza
12:15-:15 p.m.: Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band (Traditional New Orleans jazz)
1:30-2:15 p.m.: Samba Ngo (Congolese)
2:30-3:15 p.m.: The Brotherhood Singers (African American a cappella gospel)
3:30-4:15 p.m.: Maeandros Ensemble (Greek)
4:30-5:30 p.m.: Glen David Andrews Band (New Orleans R&B and brass band)
5:45 - 6:30 p.m.: The Lucky Stars (western swing & honky tonk)
Market Street Stage
12-12:45 p.m.: Sana Ndiaye (Senegalese ekonting)
1-2- p.m.: Frank London's Klezmer Brass AllStars
2:15-3:15 p.m.: Big Apple/Big Easy with Frank London, Glen David Andrews, and Dr. Michael White
3:30-4 p.m.: Boston Bhangra (South Asian Punjabi dance)
4:15-5 p.m.: Niamh NÃ Charra (Irish)
5:15-5:45 p.m.: Boston Bhangra (South Asian Punjabi dance)
Lee Street Stage
12:15-2:45 p.m.: Grupo Canela (Puerto Rican jÃbaro)
1:15-2:15 p.m.: Sierra Hull & Highway 111 (bluegrass)
2:30-3:15 p.m.: Banjo Traditions with Detroit Brooks (Original Liberty Jazz Band), Sana Ndiaye, and Cory Walker (Sierra Hull & Highway 111)
3:45-4:30 p.m.: Sana Ndiaye (Senegalese ekonting)
4:45-5:30 p.m.: Alash (Tuvan throat singing)
St. Anne's Churchyard
12-1 p.m.: Fiddle Traditions with Niamh NÃ Charra, Megan Weeder (Maeandros Ensemble), Pascal Gemme (Genticorum), and Alash
1:15-2 p.m.: Maeandros Ensemble (Greek)
2:15-3 p.m.: Genticorum (Quebecois)
3:15-4 p.m.: Grupo Canela (Puerto Rican jÃbaro)
4:15-5:15 p.m.: Oldtime New England Barn Dance with Two Fiddles & The Sugar River String Band
Dutton Street Dance Pavilion
12:15-1:15 p.m.: Oldtime New England Barn Dance with Two Fiddles & The Sugar River String Band
1:30-2:30 p.m.: Trudy Lynn (blues and soul)
2:45-3:45 p.m.: The Lucky Stars (western swing & honky tonk)
4-5 p.m.: Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys (zydeco)
5:15-6:15 p.m.: Samba Ngo (Congolese)
Street Performances (John st. & Merrimack St.)
12:45-1:15 p.m.: Branches Steel Orchestra (steel pan orchestra)
3:15-3:45 p.m.: Branches Steel Orchestra (steel pan orchestra)
