Folk College: A Fun & Friendly Weekend of Playing & Listening to Folk Music

One of our biggest events of the year is Folk College. Held every year on Memorial Day weekend at Juniata College (May 23-25 this year), Folk College was founded to help more people learn to play music together. It is a non-competitive environment where you can kindle—or rekindle—your love of playing through folk music.

Each year the staff includes nationally known musicians and wonderfully nurturing teachers from a broad spectrum of folk styles. Within one weekend, you’ll have a choice of workshops ranging from old-time to Celtic to blues to international, and you’ll get to sing, dance, play, and listen.

This year’s faculty of professional musicians includes host band Simple Gifts, the music of South & North Americas with Acoustic Nomads, the English, Celtic & Baroque music of the Chivalrous Crickets, the progressive acoustic bluegrass sound of High Horse, the country blues sound of the Piedmont Bluz Acoustic Duo, and multi-genre trad Midnight on the Water, and singer, songwriter and humorist Jamie Anderson. And the small music camp allows you to get to know and interact with the musicians. (And meet fellow participants and make new friends.)

Opportunities for Local Residents

For local residents, Folk College provides a number of opportunities.

1. If you are a musician or a want-to-be musician, you can participate for the whole weekend. There are workshops galore for you to choose from. More details are here.

2. You can come to the public concerts on Friday and Saturday nights. As part of Folk College, a live folk music concert is open to the public. Friday’s concert features host band Simple Gifts, the English, Celtic & Baroque music of the Chivalrous Crickets, the country blues sound of the Piedmont Bluz Acoustic Duo, and the progressive acoustic bluegrass sound of High Horse. Saturday’s concert features singer, songwriter and humorist Jamie Anderson, the fusion of traditional fiddle tunes, jazz, tango, classical, and more with Midnight on the Water, and the music of South & North Americas with Acoustic Nomads. The concert are at 7 pm at Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts on the Juniata College campus in Huntingdon, PA. The concerts are open to the public, with tickets available in advance and at the door. Tickets are $20 for general admission for each night and $16 for current Arts Council members.

3. There is a free Ceilidh dance after the Friday concert and a free contradance  after Saturday night concert. Both are in Von Liebig building. Dancers and spectators are welcome.

Hope to see you there!