The 36th Annual Anchorage Folk Festival! featuring Guest Artists AJ Lee and Blue Summit and Corey Ledet Zydeco!
The full festival schedule will be posted here shortly. In the meantime, please consult the following pages for schedules of Main Stage and Folk Week performance sets at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium and at venues around Anchorage as well as Workshops held at the Wendy. All events listed here are free and open to the public!
Schedule Of Events
Main Stage
Uncle Ned and the Harp Unstrung 1:00 pm
One man and his harmonica playing songs from around the world. Ned Gaines – harmonica
Silly Strings 1:15 pm
Nora Esping – guitar and vocals; Logan Esping – guitar; Ellie Trevithick – violin
Sweet Pow 1:30 pm
The sweet sounds of baritone ukulele driven by the steady beat of the cajón and haunting melodies of harmonica all wrapped up in the poetic lyrics of a troubled soul. Joe Schumacher – vocals, baritone ukulele, harmonica, cajón, and high hat
Reed Wirschem 1:45 pm
Guitar and vocals.
Lizzie Guillot 2:00 pm
Blending elements of alternative, indie, and folk, Lizzie creates emotional, heartfelt music that resonates deeply with listeners. Lizzie Guillot – vocals and guitar
Megan and Nigel 2:15 pm
Megan and Nigel have been playing music together at home and for the occasional open mic night for the past few years. Megan works as a choir teacher, and Nigel is a programmer here in Anchorage. This is their first performance together at Anchorage Folk Festival. Megan Webb – guitar; Nigel Kibodeaux – bass
j@y and abigail 2:30 pm
J@y and Abigail are siblings who are excitedly making their second presence with the Anchorage Folk Festival. They are fully supported by their family who love seeing them learn and grow.
Musical Friends 2:45 pm
We started as a family band last year and, with the coaching and guidance of Mary Schallert, we have grown into a larger group, including our musical friends! Greta Cladouhos – guitar; Tova Cladouhos – cello; Della Cladouhos – vocals; Joel Cladouhos – bass; Alicia Besh-Barber – violin; Anya Besh-Barber – violin; Bea Besh-Barber – violin; Juniper Stone – violin; BJ Stone – violin; Amy Rayess – guitar; Sylvia Rayess – vocals; Lucy – piano; Brooke Rayess – vocals; Emmi
Russell Ariel 3:00 pm
The greatest folk punk musician you are ever going to see in this time slot. Russell Ariel – acoustic guitar
Cy Two Elk 3:15 pm
Three original songs that tell a story of youth, love, loss, and redemption. Cy Two Elk, acoustic guitar
KG on the SAX 3:30 pm
A variety of tunes played on the sax. Kathy Goins – on the sax with a variety of tunes
Uke Oughta Be Kiddin’ 3:45 pm
Light-hearted tunes with ukulele. Allen Levy – Ukulele, Koko Meinig – vocals
Benjamin Heller 4:00 pm
Benjamin Heller is a dynamic guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with a wide background in rock, blues, jazz and classical and world music. After graduating with a music degree in Seattle, Ben has been a regular performer in Alaskan music for over ten years.
Fearsome Folksome 4:15 pm
Four musical friends who’ve combined their talents for decades between the Folk Festival, Renaissance Fair, Summer Markets, and the Fur Rondy Melodrama; this year’s Melodrama was written by Kathy and Van. Natalie and Kathy are members of the Alaska Sound Celebration chorus, which produces the Melodrama. Van Horn Ely, Kathy Hughs, Timothy Tucker, Natalie Tucker
Point McKenzie 4:30 pm
Dad and daughters’ homegrown harmonies. Dean Paulson – vocals, guitar; Sadie Paulson – violin, vocals; Sophie Paulson – guitar, vocals
A band called "To be determined" 4:45 pm
We are three brothers, born and raised in Anchorage, who have been attending and loving folk fest for over ten years now. We felt the next step for us had to be an onstage performance! So here we are! Freeman Vander Lugt – mandolin; Arch Vander Lugt – guitar; Hardy Vander Lugt – violin
7–11 pm
Just Riding Through 7:00 pm
Classic Rock and Country meet Classical Guitar (solo). Scott Helle
Belle 7:15 pm
Belle presents her original works on acoustic guitar—rhythmic and lyrically driven pieces fueled by youthful optimism. Karina Elliott – acoustic guitar
Umucyo Band 7:30 pm
These African sisters sing praise to God from their hearts, supported by their American brothers. Mwiza – vocals; Jackie – vocals; Hope – vocals; Forrest – fiddle; Krister – guitar; Miles – his choice
Clay Arnold 7:45 pm
I grew up in Anchorage and now live in Wasilla. I write songs from memories of growing up in Anchorage, in the form of mental health issues and friends’ perspectives and drug/suicide and self-worth. Clay Arnold – guitar/vocals
Song Writing Experiment 8:00 pm
Lois Fedele, Karen Lease, and Wendy Luft are back again to write three new songs from the same prompt.
Greatland Chorus 8:15 pm
The Greatland Chorus provides a choral music education for homeschool students, grades 2-12. Students experience the beauty and goodness of singing with others while preparing and performing quality choral music from various genres, and they enjoy the added benefit of friendships and community. Jessica Swan – director; Cade Jeter – accompanist
Denise and Jim 8:30 pm
Hammered dulcimer and guitar duo Denise Martin and Jim Kerr.
definitely not the legs of jake 8:45 pm
"C’mon folks, let’s make a big splish splash!" Peter – fiddle; George – guitar; Jason – fiddle; Johnse – banjo, a boom boomer; Jeff Snedgen – bass
Suzy Crosby 9:00 pm
Finger-pickin’ good original and traditional folk and country tunes. Suzy Crosby – guitar and vocals
Paul Sangl 9:15 pm
Paul is a self-taught guitar player and songwriter. His original songs are inspired by life, family and everyone from John Prine to Hobo Jim to Johnny Cash.
Music Is Medicine 9:30 pm
Music Is Medicine is a folk-pop music group made up of four high schoolers with a shared love of playing and creating music. The group formed at a summer camp in July of 2024, with three ukuleles they had brought with them, an old guitar they found, and their own voices. Ruby Kelsey – vocals, cello; Anna Kanyer – vocals, guitar, shaker; Izzy Elbow – vocals, Sticks; Zoe Hartlieb – vocals, guitar
Taylor Maids 9:45 pm
Direct descendents of the leaders of the Whiskey Rebellion (circa 1792). Jeremy Cohen – guitar and mandolin; Karen Loso – guitar/bass; Mike Loso – banjo
Tim Samuelson 10:00 pm
Tim plays and sings country folk fingerstyle guitar tunes. Travis-style picking—come see some great moves. Tim Samuelson – guitar, vocals
Woody Bill 10:15 pm
Folk and bluegrass originals inspired by his travels in all 50 states and more than 50 countries. Woody Bill – acoustic guitar
The Empty Chair 10:30 pm
A new trio trialing a set of folk tunes with carefully crafted harmonies and graceful guitar melodies. Jonathan Schick and Nicole Swenson – rhythm guitar and vocals; Bryan Jipping creating magic as lead noodle guitarist
Click Here To Folk Week performance
Click Here To Workshops
