Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: April 9, 2023

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

What's in this issue:

• Planning for Festival in October: Better Mark the Date(s) Again
• Performance Committee to Review Applications
• Festival Benefit Concert with Janice Belflower April 21
• In Memoriam: John Conoboy, 77
• In Memoriam: Chilton Gregory, 84
• Volunteers Needed for Pre-Festival Work
• Updates on Monthly Jams at the B2B Garden Brewery
• It’s Always the Season to Donate

Planning for Festival in October: Better Mark the Date(s) Again

Certainly, you all have Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, marked on your calendar with a big smiley face icon, but you should go back and note Friday, Oct. 6, as well. Volunteers will already be at the National Hispanic Cultural Center then for set-up for the next day, but we’re planning to have a concert that evening as well in one of the theater venues. Some members of our board and performance committee have been jonesing for a second day of programming, or even a third, and after checking it the champions of this idea have convinced us to add another evening this year. The Performance Committee will figure out which artists will play then.

Performance Committee to Review Applications

The Performance Committee, with new co-chairs Randy Martin and Jason Sewell, has met to review applications artists submitted for the fall. Committee members reviewed individually the applicant entries with their email submissions, photos, and stage plots, and rated them 1 to 10 and submitted comments. The ratings were averaged to help guide the discussion at the meeting. Both Randy and Jason initially had concerns for possible lack of applicants, but those fears have been allayed by more than 40 applicants who are considered for an estimated 23 stage slots needed. Dance musicians and welcome tent performers are in addition to that number. We strive for diversity and breadth in the music and dance presented and considered national, regional, and local performers among the traditions of Latin/Hispanic, bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, Celtic, Cowboy, Americana, and singer/songwriter.

The acts must fit our programming, stages and budget, and Randy and Jason will contact the applicants with our offers and see who is game to come.

Festival Benefit Concert with Janice Belflower April 21

Albuquerque singer and songwriter Janice Belflower will do a benefit for the festival at a house concert April 21. Reservations are required and can be made at nwmesaconcerts@gmail.com.

Janice grew up singing in church and studied classical and jazz. She was drawn to folk music by the story-telling aspect of folksong and pours her heart into her lyrics and melodies. Her music shows that combination of folk, pop, and jazz, and the stories in her songs relate to a life spent in small towns and international cities, and an expanded view of the world. She will be accompanied by Randy Martin and Alan Benham.

Plans are also underway for a benefit concert June 10 at Casa San Isidro in Corrales. It will be a bluegrass double-header with Silver String Band and Duke City Swampcoolers.

In Memoriam: John Conoboy, 77

John Thomas Conoboy, Jr., vital member of the local Irish music, passed away suddenly on New Years' Day, at 77. He was born in Ohio and studied geology in California and came to New Mexico with National Park Service in 1989. After moving to NM, John dove headlong into his interest in Irish music and joined an Irish singing group and learned to play the bouzouki. Zoukfest board member Rick Boyle said "I used to tell a joke just to hear John's great laugh!" His dedication to Irish music followed John and his wife, Carol, for years as they traveled historic trails and Route 66, joining jam sessions and seeking out fellow musicians in towns across the country and around the world. When in Ireland, John played music with local musicians, both famous and infamous. He and Carol volunteered regularly at the Albuquerque Folk Festival since its inception, often leading the Celtic jam.

John never met a stranger. After Covid limited further travel and his playing music indoors, John continued to play a Friday session every week. Susan Sponar of the Friday music sessions says, "John made it clear that all were welcome at the session, even lesser musicians like me. That kindness meant the world to many who were beginning their journey into Celtic music."

In Memoriam: Chilton Gregory, 84

We are sad to note the death of Chilton Gregory, who attended the first meetings that started the Albuquerque Folk Festival more than 25 years ago. Chilton was involved in folk music and dance in Albuquerque even before he met Patsy, his wife of 59 years, and who survives him. His interest in folk music and dance started in Portland, Oregon, at Reed College. He and a friend, who is now known as “Doctor Demento,” formed a club, “The Reed College Ethnomusicological Society,” so they could invite Pete Seeger to give a concert at the college. The Portland folk music scene of the 1950s and 60s induced him to teach himself to play folk guitar and learn some of Leadbelly’s blues on the 12-string. He also started folk dancing there.

After moving to Albuquerque around 1961, he danced at the YMCA and frequented the Purple Turk Coffee house across Central Avenue from UNM, where he worked as a research engineer in particle physics. Continuing his involvement in folk music and dance in Albuquerque, he broadened his instrumental skills in many Eastern European strings. He danced, sang, and played at parties and in many amateur groups, including Albuquerque Light Opera, the Anything Goes Jam and International Folk Dancing at UNM, Hopa! Folk Dancing group, Opanci Eastern European Exhibition Dance group, FolkMADS Megaband, Teška Vremena (Hard Times) Balkan band, Sandanski Men’s Eastern European Singing/Instrumental performing group, New Mexico Welsh Society Mixed Voice Choir, The Nahalat Shalom Community Klezmer Band, and Thursday Night Folk Dancing at the Unitarian Church.

Chilton was a regular for many years at the Albuquerque Folk Festival until problems with walking made it too difficult for him to attend. We hope those who remember him will reflect kindly on his contributions to the folk music and dance scene in Albuquerque.

Volunteers Needed for Pre-Festival Work

We always welcome volunteers for festival day, but as we progress to October, we are in special need of volunteers who help with outreach, such as manning tables at other events prior to our festival, like Herb Fest or the Celtic Festival, to distribute discount cards and flyers.

New volunteers can sign up at our website: http://www.abqfolkfest.org/volunteers.shtml.

Updates on Monthly jams at the B2B Garden Brewery

Spring is here with the Lion/Lamb thing of March continuing in April. Most of the regular jams at the B2B Brewery have continued through the winter and will be inside or outside depending on the weather.

Our new monthly schedule is:

• First Sunday, 4 pm Sing Along with Dan Matthews.
• Second Sunday, 4 pm Our partner FolkMADS holds a megaband fiddle/dance music jam.
• Third Sunday, 4 pm ABQ FOLK FEST sponsor Judy Muldawer holds a jug band jam.
• Fourth Sunday, 4 pm The ABQ FOLK FEST acoustic jam is on hold for now, but the Western Music Association has been offering a jam in its place.

B2B Garden Brewery
8338 Comanche Rd NE (West of Comanche and Wyoming)
Albuquerque, NM 87110

It’s Always the Season to Donate

Your donations are always welcome in any kind of weather.

Donors can donate here: http://www.abqfolkfest.org/sponsors.shtml

Thank you.

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: December 20, 2022

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

What's in this issue:

• Hope Your Holidays are Warmer with Memories of a Great Festival
• A Letter from the Albuquerque Folk Festival Board President
• Plan for Our 25th Anniversary at the National Hispanic Cultural Center
• Application Form for Performers is Up on the Website
• Consider Volunteering and/or Managing
• Updates on Monthly Jams at the B2B Garden Brewery
• It’s a Good Time to Donate to the Festival

Hope Your Holidays are Warmer with Memories of a Great Festival

Here’s wishing you happiness for the holidays as this year closes, to our many volunteers and festival attendees. Thanks for your generosity with your time, creativity, and resources that made a successful and fun event in a new venue and day with room to grow for next year. It has provided lovely memories and helped to make the season bright.

Our festival board president and intrepid song leader, Dan Matthews, says it well:

A letter from the Albuquerque Folk Festival Board President

If you were at the National Hispanic Cultural Center on Sunday, October 9 between the hours of 10 and 10, odds are you were enjoying good music, food, drink, and companionship. Good news! We are moving back to Saturday. Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 7, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

You probably have some good memories from that day. Here’s a hint for making the most of those memories: Remember all the good things you did or played or sang or listened to. Don’t even think about what you DIDN’T do. Because here’s the truth I’m asking you not to look at. If you got there at 10:00, stayed all day, and attended one event an hour, you saw a dozen good-to-wonderful performances. You didn’t attend about 90 other equally good events. Try not to think about them. The experience of AFF teaches you to enjoy what you have.

So, remember one song or tune or performer you particularly enjoyed. Now think of another and another. And another. Great day, wasn’t it?

It takes a lot of people to put this on—performers, volunteers, managers and the AFF Board. The only names I have room for are our amazing Directors, Erika Gerety and Bill Balassi. Can’t say enough about them. Won’t try.

And if you didn’t get enough, go to B2B Garden Brewery any Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to play or sing. Albuquerque Folk Festival sponsors a sing-along the first Sunday of each month. This and other Sunday jams are listed below. These will hopefully sustain you until Oct. 7, 2023 (a SATURDAY) when you are invited again to make hard choices (all of which will work out fine), for the next Albuquerque Folk Festival. The National Hispanic Cultural Center wants us back, and we want them. It’s a lovely match and we’ll see many of you again next year.

Dan Matthews, President, Albuquerque Folk Festival

Plan for Our 25th Anniversary at the National Hispanic Cultural Center

Again, we have a date and place, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center for our 25th anniversary. The center is the newest of several different sites in our festival history. This year the center staff welcomed and helped us very much, and all parties seem to agree that we are a good fit. Like any change in venue and/or time, we had to experience some things and then re-consider, try as our directors and managers did to anticipate the day. Post festival meetings with center director James Chavez have helped focus on details and potential changes for next year to make things smoother for and more fun for you.

Application Form for Performers is Up on the Website

Prospective performers for the festival next fall will need to apply online, and that application form is now up on our website here. March 15 is the priority deadline, but it’s a good idea to apply earlier than later. Some artists may need to start developing a tour to bring them to our area, so their consideration likely might start before the deadline.

We welcome Randy Martin and Jason Sewell, current board members, as they take over the job of directors of the Performance committee from Debra Fortress, who is stepping back. Debra has given us invaluable service in the years she has served in that position, drawing from her years of presenting folk music at Apple Mountain Music. Randy will also work with Cleve Sharp to plan benefit concerts for the upcoming year.

The board of directors also elected a new member, Sara Charlton, who attended the past two festivals and brings a rich interest in folk music and dance to our meetings.

Consider Volunteering and/or Managing

We always welcome volunteers for festival day, but as we progress to October, we are in special need of volunteers who help with outreach, such as manning tables at other events prior to our festival, like Herb Fest or the Celtic Festival, to distribute discount cards and flyers. We also can use help in setting up for the festival the day before and help with breakdown when the festival ends to bring down signs and backdrops. We also need to find a manager for the handheld radios during the festival used for communications and safety, as well as a Fundraising Director. Directors are automatically added to the Advisory Board while serving as director and are invited to board meetings. We also need a Backstage Manager who would help with getting acts on and off the stage. Randy said the Hispanic Center staff was expert in this area and made the job easy.

Updates on Monthly jams at the B2B Garden Brewery

As the winter weather has come, it’s mostly the trees who are singing outside now, and our outdoor jams have moved inside. Our new monthly schedule is:

• First Sunday, 4 pm Sing Along with Dan Matthews.
• Second Sunday, 4 pm Our partner FolkMADS holds a megaband fiddle/dance music jam.
• Third Sunday, 4 pm ABQ FOLK FEST sponsor Judy Muldawer holds a Jug Band Jam.
• Fourth Sunday, 4 pm The ABQ FOLK FEST acoustic jam is on hold until spring, but the Western Music Association is offering a Jam in its place.

B2B Garden Brewery
8338 Comanche Rd NE (West of Comanche and Wyoming)
Albuquerque, NM 87110

It’s a Good Time to Donate to the Festival

Our festival stayed a bit under budget this year, which is welcome relief after a couple of dicey years working around the pandemic. Your donations and continued support are most welcome, and at this time of year, it would be a comfort to have some money to start with to help our planning, and you can still get a tax deduction before the end of the year.

Donors can donate here: https://www.abqfolkfest.org/sponsors.shtml

Thank you!

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: September 27, 2022

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

What's in this issue:

• Festival Map and Full Schedule Are Now Posted
• Advance Ticket Prices Still in Effect
• Band Scramble and Sign-Up Stages Are Back
• Consignment Sales contact Gretchen Newman
• Some Fine Items Up for Raffle

Festival Map and Full Schedule Are Now Posted

Why wait until after you have gained admission to the 23rd Albuquerque Folk Festival at its new venue and you are walking around juggling your water bottle and sunglasses to try to read the schedule and turn the map around to navigate the grounds? You can do most of that right there in your chair at home by checking out our Festival map for a good advance look at how the festival activities are planned at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. Want to know when your favorite activities are happening? There's a Festival schedule summary here, a complete schedule overview showing what's happening when and where here (pdf), and the whole Festival program, with descriptions and other useful information here (pdf).

Advance Ticket Prices Still in Effect

Advance tickets are available online: Go to https://www.abqfolkfest.org/tickets.shtml. A link there will let you purchase them online from the National Hispanic Cultural Center, and paper tickets can also be purchased in person at the center. All are at the lower advance price through the day before the Festival.

Band Scramble and Sign-Up Stages Are Back

Lots of folks go to a festival looking for the spontaneous and unexpected, and for them the band scramble was a highlight of the day. It has been gone for a couple of years but has now returned thanks to Eric Carlson, who has agreed to manage it. He organizes the youth old-time ATC String Band and has booked jams with bands at the Santa Fe Tradfest.

Playing music with new people is fun and an interesting way to get to know someone. It is also a good exercise in the important musical technique of listening and then responding to what is being played. So you put your name in a pot, and the organizers draw a group of them at a time, and give the groups an hour to put together six minutes of music. Singers and dancers are welcome. It can be a little nerve racking but remember: It’s all in fun. If you can repeat a mistake, it’s jazz. Groups will also be scored by their band names. For more info, check out our website.

For those who already have it together and want to share a couple of songs by themselves or in a group, the Sign-up Stage at the center’s Wells Fargo Auditorium is a perfectly intimate 90-seat theater with lovely acoustics. Robin Howard will be running the sound, so it should make for easy set-up and go. It’s another good list to get onto. For more details, see the website.

Consignment Sales contact Gretchen Newman

Should you have an instrument around the house you know won’t get played, consider taking it to the Festival consignment table in a tent adjacent to the Pete V. Dominici Education building. Gretchen Newman can help you get it displayed and priced. (Please don’t bring anything worth more than $500.) 20 percent of the sale price goes to the Festival. Conversely, this is also a good table to check out if you were looking to acquire an instrument.

Some Fine Items Up for Raffle

Expert quilter Trylla Esherick, of Albuquerque, made this fine new quilt and generously donated it for the raffle.

The Kentucky KM-350 Sunburst Mandolin is like new and includes a hard-shell case, a set of strings, two mandolin instruction books, a leather strap, and a few picks. You are ready to go.

Gretchen Newman also has donated two signed prints of balloon painting done by her late mother, Dorothy Newman.

Tickets are $3 each, 4 for $10, or 9 for $20, and you can choose which item(s) you want to go for.

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: August 29, 2022

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

What's in this issue:

• Tickets on Sale Now for Folk Festival October 9
• “Good Ale, Thou Art My Darling:” Beer and Wine Are Back
• Get Out There

Tickets on Sale Now for Folk Festival October 9

Advance tickets are available online: Go to abqfolkfest.org/tickets.shtml. A link there will let you purchase them from the National Hispanic Cultural Center, and paper tickets can also be purchased at the center. All are at the lower advance price until the day before the festival.

Who might you see there, you may ask. How about ATC String Band, Skeleton Crew Watermelon Mountain, Hoth Brothers, Hijo, Joe Jencks, Dark-eyed Juncos, Carlos Medina, RISO, Adobe Brothers, Eli Del Puerto Trio, The Sheep Stealers, Squash Blossom Boys, Le Chat Lunatique. Virginia Creepers, Jim Jones, Rumelia Collective, Atomic Grass, Wilson & McKee. Bayou Seco, Lone Piñon, Timothy Hill.

New to our festival are

¡Hijo!, a New Mexico band playing old-school Cuban Son from the 1940s-60s and feature the Cuban Tres, guitar, and percussion and paying tribute to the great pre-salsa Cuban conjuntos.

Joe Jencks, a 25-year veteran of the international folk circuit and award-winning songwriter and celebrated vocalist based in DeKalb, IL. His performances are known for their musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration.

Dark Eyed Juncos is a new Celtic and folk band based in Albuquerque, comprised of Bruce Thomson of the Adobe Brothers and JJ Crowley of the Duke City Ceili Band. The two play a lively mix of newly composed folk songs about New Mexico and Celtic tunes.

Carlos Medina Trio is led by the New Mexico traditional accordionist and songwriter and includes his friends Armando Fernandez and Ryan Cordova and perform regional Mexican and Northern New Mexican music Carlos’ original songs.

In their Arizona-based band RISO, Matt Rolland and Rebekah Sandoval Rolland graft the roots of the acoustic soundscapes of their childhoods and combine Matt’s contest fiddling in Texas and bluegrass styles and Rebekah’s fascination with the crooked rhythms and phrasing in old-time music.

Eli del Puerto belts out originals and covers in both Spanish and English and travels to ports around the world singing and dancing. Her artist name was born while living in the port city Veracruz, México.

The Sheep Stealers, from Ireland and the U.S., play Irish and American folk songs fused with traditional Irish music with the inscrutable uilleann pipes, champion concertina playing, and guitar and bouzouki.

“Good Ale, Thou Art My Darling:” Beer and Wine Are Back

We are excited about our new venue, the National Hispanic Cultural Center and have found great ways to fit our performances, workshops and vendors into this wonderful event space. After our dry spell at the Bosque School, we’re pleased that beer and wine will be available again. Pop Fizz, located at the center, will be selling beer and wine in the concert hall building. We will host a variety of food and craft vendors and can still accommodate more at this time.

Let's Get Out There

Events, arts and performance venues all over the country are seeing attendance levels that are short of pre-pandemic levels, and some believe that folks have gotten out of the habit of going out for entertainment, that the pull of the easy chair is strong. We’re going to have a great weekend with music and many activities in the lovely fall weather. So let's get out there!

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: July 19, 2022

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

Summer Preparations for Folk Festival in the Fall at New Venue

“In summer, the song sings itself,” said poet William Carlos Williams, and here we are. In past years Albuquerque Festival folks would be taking this time to decompress from a great festival in June, but instead now we’re making plans for the festival Sunday, October 9 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. There are many and great venues for music there, and it requires some creative thought and imagination to make the best use of both indoor and outdoor spaces. Artist booking has been complicated by higher travel costs and the varying ways people are emerging from pandemic life.

What's in this issue:

• Performers are mostly lined up!
• Come to This Month’s Folk Festival Benefit Jam
• Sunday is Folk Music Day at B2B
• Calling Arts and Crafts and Food Vendors

Performers are mostly lined up!

The performance lineup features 22 stage performances from local legends like the Adobe Brothers and Bayou Seco, past favorites like bluegrass from the Squash Blossom Boys and gypsy jazz from La Chat Lunatique, and New Mexican traditions from Carlos Medina and Lone Piñon. Traveling in from further away is Imarhan from Algeria, an Arabic-speaking band whose music draws from the nomadic Tuareg peoples of the Sahara. Timothy Hill, singer, throat-singer and songwriter, will be returning from the Hudson River, and RISO will bring their bluegrass, old-time and Celtic mix from in Phoenix. You can encounter much of the world in a single festival day. This is a preview, but our website has a current performer list and descriptions as well as other updates.

Advance tickets are available online. Go to http://www.abqfolkfest.org/tickets.shtml for information, and a link there will let you purchase them through the National Hispanic Cultural Center. Paper tickets can also be purchased at the center, and all are at the lower advance price until the day before the festival.

Come to This Month’s Folk Festival Benefit Jam

This month’s jam will be special because it is included in a benefit that B2B has agreed to host for AFF on July 24. The brewery will donate 20% of food receipts for the day. The AFF Acoustic Jam is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. To make a full day of it local bands have agreed to perform at other times from noon to 8 p.m, including the eclectic Lady Fingers and Cheap Shots; Celtic bands Duke City Ceili and Sandia Celtic Ensemble; old-time Virginia Creepers, and a sing-along to finish the day.

Sunday is Folk Music Day

We are happy that the folk festival monthly jam has resumed after we located a new venue, B2B Garden Brewery (8338 Comanche NE, near Wyoming), which has access to a fine outdoor covered seating area. Every fourth Sunday of the month from 4:00-6:00 p.m., the jam is open to all who want to bring instruments and voices or lend their ears.

Also, B2B has agreed to host our Folkfest Sing-Along which will now be held every first Sunday of the month instead of every fifth Saturday. Many of us feel this is a time we should be singing together. Song leader Dan Matthews says the formula will remain the same as we sing outside in person as well as on Zoom. We have a list of lots of songs that are familiar and very sing-able and in comfortably playing keys for players and lyric sheets. We’ll sing strong to make it easier for everyone to join in. Participants will pick the songs from the list.

The brewery is willing to dedicate its Sundays 4-6 to promote live folk music, and other groups like FolkMADS community based Megaband has claimed a slot for playing old-time dance music, and Judy Muldawer is hosting a Jug band too.

So the Sunday lineup at B2B is:

• 1st Sunday: Sing-Along
• 2nd Sunday: Megaband jam
• 3rd Sunday Judy Muldawer's jug band jam
• 4th Sunday: Folk festival monthly jam

Calling Arts & Crafts and Food Vendors

Vendor applications are now available:

• Arts & Crafts Vendors
• Food Vendors

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: May 20, 2022

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

Exciting Opportunities!

Two folk workshops with The Small Glories plus our monthly ABQ FOLK FEST folk jam are coming up in the next few days.

What's in this issue:

• Two Workshops by The Small Glories
• Folk Jam Sunday at B2B

Two Workshops by The Small Glories

The Albuquerque Folk Festival is partnering with AMP Concerts to bring you two Folk Workshops by The Small Glories!

Monday, May 23 7pm: School of Rock for Folkies Workshop

With voices and instruments working together in a group context, participants will acquire the "tools" necessary for bringing a song to life. Does that sound like fun or what!? Come prepared to rock out folk-style (i.e. taking rock songs and folkin' them up!). If you sing (untrained more or less) and/or play an instrument (beyond the beginner stage), then this class is for you. Some of those "tools" mentioned will include: how to learn and arrange a song as a group, dynamics within a song, blending instruments, listening to each other, knowing when to play simply and when to step it up, how to play in support of the vocalist or soloist, and how to get out of the way and let the song speak. We will also explore how to do tasteful fills, how to sing in harmony, and performance techniques. Any acoustic instrument is welcome (guitar, bass, dobro, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, ukulele, bodhran, accordion, etc etc), and don't forget about the voice! Come prepared to have fun!

Tuesday, May 24 7pm: Harmony Singing Workshop

Come experience for yourself the fun and unique qualities of singing with others in harmony and earn how to capture the essence of a song with your voice. You will learn listening techniques, how to recognize chordal relationships, how harmony fits into a melodic landscape, how to sing better lines while picking up some vocal techniques and exercises along the way. Join us for a fun and empowering experience! Everything is taught by ear and learned as a group.

Both workshops will be held at Rock 101 Headquarters at the Covenant Presbyterian Church (9315 Candelaria RD NE, Albuquerque, NM).

Workshops are $25 + $3 service charge each, and are available online (School of Rock, Harmony Singing) and by phone through Hold My Ticket at 505-886-1251.

Here's more info from AMP:

One of the top "new" folk groups from Canada, The Small Glories, the duo of Cara Luft and J.D. Edwards have been on our radar for some time. When AMP ED Neal Copperman saw them at Folk Alliance in Montreal in 2019, he vowed to get the group their first New Mexico shows. While the duo has never played in New Mexico before, Cara was an original member of The Wailin' Jennys, who played at the Biopark in 2004 and did a house concert with us while they were here! (That was our 63rd house concert, for those with a score card.)

We are going to have some great concerts with The Small Glories, and since they will be here for a few days, we are offering the opportunity for local musicians to hone their craft with the duo in a pair of fun, interactive workshops presented in collaboration with Rock 101. Workshops will be held at Rock 101 Headquarters at the Covenant Presbyterian Church (9315 Candelaria RD NE). The concerts are at FUSION's 708 space in Albuquerque (708 1st St NW) and Tumbleroot in Santa Fe (2791 Agua Fria St).

You can also go for the full Small Glories immersion package and come to the two workshops and the concert for just $60! If you want to go nuts, we'll throw in the Santa Fe show for free :)

• Saturday, May 21 7:30pm: Concert at FUSION's 708 space in Albuquerque 
• Sunday, May 22 7:30pm: Concert at Tumbleroot in Santa Fe
• Monday, May 23 7pm: School of Rock for Folkies with The Small Glories Rock 101 Music Academy in Albuquerque

• Tuesday, May 24 7pm: Harmony Singing with The Small Glories at Rock 101 Music Academy in Albuquerque

Monthly Jam This Sunday!

Jam Every 4th Sunday

The Albuquerque Folk Festival monthly jam is back!!! It will take place every fourth Sunday of the month from 4:00-6:00 at B2B Garden Brewery (8338 Comanche NE, near Wyoming). The jam is open to all and will take place under their covered outdoor space. So tune up your instruments and your voices and join us every fourth Sunday. See you there!

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: January 27, 2022

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

Happy New Year!

We're starting off the new year with some big news: a new location and a (slightly) different date!

What's in this issue:

• A Movable Folk Festival: We Are Moving! A New Location and a New Day
• Applications for 2022 Performers Now Available at Festival Website
• Reminder: First Sing Along of 2022

A Movable Folk Festival: We Are Moving! A New Location and a New Day

Mark your calendars and get out the map. We are excited that the Albuquerque Folk Festival is moving to what we hope to be a new home for this and future years, the National Hispanic Cultural Center at 1701 4th Street, at Avenida Cesar Chavez. The date is Sunday, October 9, 2022. We are happy to relocate to a facility that is an actual cultural center designed to host events with great indoor venues, ample outdoor spaces and a staff very happy to have us. The center hosts the annual Globalquerque every fall, so our event is an easy fit for things already in place like parking, ticketing, and marketing. And we’re just a ways downstream on the Bosque from our previous location at the Bosque School.

Proposed facility costs at the school were going to be too high to be sustainable according to directors Erika Gerety and Bill Balassi, with the rental fee staying the same but with much reduced indoor use of its buildings. That would require the same tent rentals we incurred this year because of the pandemic, and the board of directors agreed the festival could not continue to absorb those costs. The fee for the center is actually lower than that of the school and covers some costs not included at the school. The center was not available on Saturday, October 8, but there is a likely possibility that we can lock in the first Saturday in October for subsequent years and benefit from the lovely fall weather.

The center features three beautifully equipped theaters, seating 700, 300 and 100, an additional outdoor courtyard stage, rehearsal rooms with dance floors and plenty of outdoor space to host vendors and other activities. The space is more than ample and will take some planning to decide where best to locate the many festival activities.

Applications for 2022 Performers Now Available at Festival Website

If you are a performer or know a group or solo artist, you can now apply for the 2022 festival using the application form at the festival website. All prospective performers must use this application form to be considered, and priority will be given to applications received by March 15.

Reminder: First Sing Along of 2022

5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along - January 29, 2022, at 2:00 pm MT

Sing Alongs are fine group fun. Raising your voice with an ear to harmonize and synchronize with people in the room takes some sensitive but immediately rewarded effort. The musical experience isn’t the same on Zoom, but the camaraderie is there as well as the chance to join in some good old songs. The first chance of the year to share the 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along tradition, led by Dan Matthews, comes this Saturday, January 29, 2022. We wouldn’t expect the weather to accommodate an in-person outdoor session, so we will all meet online in what has become a familiar venue (Zoom link). Pants not required. Everyone has a chance to exercise their vocal cords by singing out loud and strong, choosing songs from our songbook. Here is the Song Book link for those who’d like to print their own copy before the Sing Along starts; this way you can plan your favorite selections in advance. Attendees will also be able to see lyrics and chords for each song as they scroll by on their screen to facilitate playing along with the instrument of your choice. The Zoom session sign-in process is easy using this Zoom link, which is also posted on our website. You don’t even have to have Zoom software. We have a few Zoom pointers here on our website. Join us for a good time this weekend!

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: December 13, 2021

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

Happy Holidays!

Here is hoping you have a happy, safe and joyous holiday season. As we sit back with a warming cup of wassail we can look back on our fall event.

What's in this issue:

• We Had a Really Fine Festival in October
• We will Keep Next Year’s Festival in October
• Welcome to Our New President and Board Members
• Folk Songs for a Christmas Day
• Let’s Count Some Beans

We Had a Really Fine Festival in October

We were all excited about bringing our “better than ever, better than Zoom” annual festival back to the Bosque School campus October 9, an actual live, in person gathering of musicians and fans. Most of the performers who participated in our online events this summer and last year were able to show up. But the Covid pandemic continued to dog us even after 20 months. To resume doing the things we loved to do together we realized we had to do them carefully. No one wanted our festival to be a spreader event, so we moved it all outside on the school campus, rented more tents and porta-potties and required proof of vaccination or negative covid test and required masks whenever people ventured indoors on infrequent instances.

It was nothing less than great to get back to the festival again, and you could feel that sense shared among the performers and the crowd, with real exuberance busting out under the tents. It helped to have larger, big-sound bands like Le Vent du Nord and Baracutanga punching it all out there, but at all the venues, from intimate storytelling to mainstage, instructional workshops, the instrument exchange, even the lines at the food vendors, folks were remembering what community felt like and what it’s like to express themselves in it with song, tune, or story. Hey, we even had a dance, masks and all, with caller Claire Zucker from STEAM! devising dance moves that incorporated wider distances between couples.

We will Keep Next Year’s Festival in October

Lots of people commented that they enjoyed the lovely fall weather, which made outdoor activities less challenging than our previous summertime event. The Bosque School liked having us during their fall break, and that made festival set-up easier. If we could guarantee the spectacular sunset we had Saturday evening, it would be enough to lock in the date. (See Peter Esherick’s photo below. Also you can see lots of pictures from the Festival here.) The plan is to do the next festival October 8, 2022, pending official school scheduling. A fall event brings different timing and outlets for promotion and grant opportunities, and we could use some volunteer help with some of those adjustments. We had fewer volunteers this year as well as lower attendance, and we could really use some people to fill those shoes.

Welcome to Our New President and Board Members

We truly have a fine board of directors, and our meetings are civil, efficient, friendly, sincere, not too long, even fun. A huge thank you to out-going president, Bill Miller, for his congenial demeanor and Bruce Washburne, Deb Fortress and Helen Stein for serving on the board, too. Our former treasurer and sing-along leader, Dan Matthews, will leave off his bean counting and serve as president. Board member Dianne Rossbach will assume the treasurer duties with her accounting background; Cleve Sharp will continue as board secretary, and we also retained Bruce Thomson – not in his usual padded cell, but as our vice president. We are happy to welcome new board members Steve Hunyady, who ran sound for us this year, Randy Martin, banjo player who performed with the Kipsies this year and Holly Vasic, a student of folklore who brought her guitar to her first ever jam session this fall.

Folk Songs for a Christmas Day

We’re all folksingers at Christmas. Songs from traditions across the Western Hemisphere, centuries old to recent -- they become special music for this specific time. The pandemic has limited our abilities and venues to share it with each other. We will host a Christmas Folk Song session on Zoom the afternoon of Christmas Day. Come on in and share a song you want to sing or perhaps make a request. Board member Dave Para will host the hour-long session. He has invited some friends and has some things he has sung for more than 40 years that you don’t hear very often. Join us at 2 p.m. Mountain Time on Saturday, December 25.

Here’s the Zoom link: https://abqfolkfest-org.zoom.us/j/88630264463?pwd=aHp3VFZaR01SdkVVZEpLOXdCUGtMZz09

Meeting ID: 886 3026 4463
Passcode: 265270

Here is some guidance if you are unfamiliar with ZOOM

You don’t need to have a Zoom account to join events listed on our schedule, but if you download the free app to your device, you’ll be sure to have the latest version.

If your internet connection drops at any time, leave the event and re-enter on the same link for that event.

Participants will be muted on entry to events and will not be able to unmute themselves. Due to the lag in sound participants don’t hear the sound when it’s made. But since you will be on mute, you will be able to join in even though others can’t hear you.

Use speaker view for a larger picture of the person performing/ talking. On a mobile or tablet swipe left and right to change between views.

Let’s Count Some Beans

We expected our attendance to take a hit this year. Anytime you change the date of an event, especially by four months, you can expect a drop. Plus, the pandemic and our Covid health requirements for attendance impacted us as well. The precautions we took were too strict for some, and for others the risk was too great regardless. For some of our audience, however, our health precautions made it possible for them to attend. When it was over and done, we lost a lot in ticket, vendor, and merch sales. It was great to see everyone who came, and the crowd size was admittedly comfortable if not sustainable.

The Covid threat also prompted us to move all of the event outdoors instead of using a number of the school buildings, and that meant we had to rent more tents. The school property still cost the same, so without us crunching the actual numbers please understand that we lost significant money.

We’re still waiting to receive some grant funding, so we will be able to do the festival next year, but we cannot afford another hit like this. Donations would be a lovely Christmas gift to the festival, so if your year-end giving can accommodate us, please go for it. Some volunteer organizers would also be a lovely gift if you can donate some time. Specifically, we need a volunteer manager, a band scramble manager, and a dance manager as well as other key positions.

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: October 4, 2021

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

Fall in Albuquerque is a wonderful season… there’s the aroma of roasting chile, the glorious golden leaves on treetops in the Bosque, and this year (cue the band…) the outdoor, live, and in person Albuquerque Folk Festival on the Bosque School campus. The festival will be held on Saturday, October 9th from 10 am to 10 pm. That’s a whole lot of outdoor festival! We are bringing our fans over 100 scheduled live performances, workshops, dances, jams, stories, and other activities throughout the day, in a comfortable outdoor setting on the school grounds under the Cottonwood trees.

Since it’s a live event, you’ll need to be there to experience the fun! Save yourself some time by purchasing your advance tickets soon through HoldMyTicket. And be sure to read our COVID Safety Policy. Read on for more details.

What's in this issue:

• COVID Safety - Our Vaccination Policy
• Festival Spotlight: Sharing a Love of Music
• Website Features
• Performer Video Sneak Peeks
• Merchandise Table
• Arts & Crafts Vendors
• Visit the Festival Food Vendors!
• HoldMyTicket now Selling Advance Festival Tickets
• Outreach Event: Last 2021 Sing Along is October 30
• This Festival is Your Festival!

COVID Safety - Our Vaccination Policy

We’ve been monitoring COVID safety news carefully because we are committed to a safe and enjoyable festival for all attendees, performers, vendors, and volunteers. Read this policy so you know what to expect before you arrive.

Masks and social distancing are encouraged, particularly in admission and food truck lines or under a tent. Feel free to spread out under the trees.

A free Covid Testing station will be set up at the entrance. The "Curative" company will be doing free on-site testing 10:30am-3:30pm and again from 5:30pm-8pm.

Festival Spotlight: Sharing a Love of Music

One of the special treats you won’t want to miss at the Albuquerque Folk Festival is the Planet Music Instrument Petting Zoo! This activity is for kids of all ages! Have you ever wanted to try out a fiddle? An accordion? Here’s your chance. Share the sounds and the feel of many of the instruments that you’ll see and hear on our stages, as well as a few others. Come by the Planet Music Instrument Petting Zoo to see what they have in store for you.

And if you have an instrument that you no longer play, but want to find a good home for it, consider selling it at our Consignment Table (nothing over $500). You get 80% of the proceeds, while 20% goes to the Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your generous heart may even want to donate 100% of the tax- deductible sales proceeds.

Contact us at directors@abqfolkfest.org if you want to drop off an instrument in advance.

Website Features

We’ve updated our website with the latest festival news and improved navigation so you can find the information you need more easily. You can see four very useful tabs placed just under the banner announcing the upcoming festival. In addition to the home page tab, three have helpful drop-down menus. They are labeled: schedule, details, about, and support AFF.

• The home page prominently scrolls pictures of the festival’s musical performers, with links to their biographical information on the performers page. A brief Vaccination Policy is also available front and center on the home page.
• Under the schedule tab, you can find a schedule overview, or use the quick links on the drop-down menu for individual event descriptions and performance times at each venue. (We plan to have a paper festival booklet with the schedule at the admission gate when you arrive.)
• The details tab does indeed cover logistics (what, where, and when), FAQs, ticket information and pricing, a school map, and more. Check out the questions our FAQs cover. For instance… “Can I go in and out, and come back?” Yes! Read more FAQs here.
• We’ve included statements of our goal, purpose, mission, and more under the about tab. We want you to know that we are focused on sharing knowledge, skills, and traditions across generations. Browse through the list of community resources to follow your interests to groups who share your passion for tradition.
• The support tab provides information about our nonprofit status and funding sources. be sure to read the article titled Why Support the Albuquerque Folk Festival? to learn about our organization and its mission.

Performer Video Sneak Peeks

We’ve been busy talking to our 2021 festival performers. They’ve graciously given us some of their time to talk about their bands, tell us how they’ve spent the last year or so while the pandemic kept them from normal activities, and to offer sneak peeks at what they plan to include in their 2021 workshops. (You’ll find the strategies they used to get through the past year quite creative!) These video interviews are brief, informal, and humorous. They’ve produced a lot of new music to present at the festival! Videos are waiting for you under VIDEOS on the ABQ FOLK FEST Facebook page.

Merchandise Table

Remember to bring a little cash or plastic to the festival for your trip around the Merchandise Table. Although new music is distributed in so many electronic ways these days, and through so many online sites and smart devices, you might want to have a way to get an autograph from your favorite performing artist on their actual album cover. There will likely be new and vintage DVDs, CDs, vinyl, 8 track tapes, and who knows, maybe even books for sale. Check out our performers list to see who has new music out. Hint: that’s almost everyone in the lineup!

Arts and Craft Vendors

Festivals are never complete without an area dedicated to wonderfully imaginative and artful local vendors. Ours is no exception. The vendors will be eager to show you their creations, and explain why they will look great on you, next to you in your house, or next to your friends in their houses. For example, we are privileged to have handcrafted products made by Rainbow Silk, Ca*Be*Ju, Princess Pumps, and Laughinghare whose contact details have already been posted to our website.

Visit the Festival Food Vendors

The day will be full of fun, and you’ll want to stay all day. In case you become hungry or thirsty we haven’t forgotten about the food vendors. The following folks will be waiting for you with drinks, snacks, sandwiches, wraps and salads.

• BusyBee Custard – Custards and frozen desserts, coffee, burritos
• Gourmet Döner Kebab – Lamb or chicken sandwiches, wraps, and tacos, salads
• Kimo Hawaiian BBQ – Chicken, beef, and pork BBQ, plus hamburgers
• Sanchez Tacos – Tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas
• Supper Truck – Tacos, Banh Mi, Grits, Borrachitos

HoldMyTicket now Selling Advance Festival Tickets

HoldMyTicket is our online ticket vendor this year. They make it easy for you to purchase festival tickets early, reducing the amount of time you’ll spend in line on October 9th! Besides saving you time, an extra bonus to this online method is lower pricing than tickets sold at the Box Office on the day the event. It’s fun… It’s easy!

Outreach Event: Last 2021 Sing Along is in October

5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along - October 30, 2021, at 2:00 pm MT

Sing Alongs are a companionable and joyous pastime. Getting together to see, sing, and jam with friends (even via Zoom) is good for each of us. The last 2021 chance to share the 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along tradition, led by Dan Matthews, comes on Saturday October 30, 2021. Due to the wonders of technology, we hope to gather in person and hold a Zoom Sing Along at the same time for those who are unable to attend in person. Everyone has a chance to exercise their vocal cords by singing out loud and strong, choosing songs from our songbook. Here’s the Song Book link for those who’d like to print their own copy before the Sing Along starts. This is a great way to plan your favorite selections in advance. Zoom Sing Along attendees will also be able to see lyrics and chords for each song as they scroll by on their screen, so dust off your instrument of choice and play along, too. The Zoom session sign in process is easy using the link we’ll post on the website when October 30 rolls around. You don’t even have to have Zoom software. We have a few Zoom pointers and a zoom link on our website at abqfolkfest.org/zoominfo.shtml. Join us for a good time on October 30, 2021!

This Festival is Your Festival!

It’s important to the Albuquerque Folk Festival, and to you, that we get the word out about our live, in-person, outdoor festival on October 9, 2021. It’s much more fun to sing and play with our whole community. Help us promote the festival by wearing a T-shirt from one of our prior year festivals every day when you are out and about town. When people ask you about the festival, direct them to our website at www.abqfolkfest.org.

Kindly also share the ABQ FOLK FEST news by telling people about this distribution group. To join, all they need to do is send an email address using the following website link: http://abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml.

This newsletter goes out periodically to keep you informed about activities, links, and information. Let us know what information you’d like to see in the newsletter on occasion or year round. As always, don’t forget to Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abqfolkfest and then share your comments with friends.

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: August 26, 2021

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

Last spring, we told you about our plan to present not one, but two Albuquerque Folk Festivals this year. In June we rolled out our week-long Free Virtual/ Hybrid Folk Festival while Albuquerque was still under some pandemic limitations. It was a long, but very successful, week! Much coordination… and lots of participation! You can still see pictures from that event on our website at abqfolkfest.org. Thanks those of you who tuned in, zoomed in, and applauded the wonderful live performances in person!

And now we’re almost ready to present our second 2021 festival on October 9th. This is a record year! We’re eagerly putting together final plans for a heartwarming, live, and in person Albuquerque Folk Festival on the Bosque School campus. Once again, we’ll all be enjoying live performances on multiple stages, jam sessions, space for dancing, song circles, and workshops, as well as great local food, and an Arts and Crafts area. Look under Count Down to the 2021 Folk Festival for more information.

We’ve been listening to COVID safety news carefully because we are committed to providing you a safe and enjoyable festival. There’s a special section below for our Albuquerque Folk Festival Vaccination Policy so that all attendees, performers, vendors, and volunteers know what to expect before they even arrive on the Bosque School grounds on October 9, 2021.

What's in this issue:

• Counting Down to the 2021 Folk Festival!
• Albuquerque Folk Festival Vaccination Policy
• “HoldMyTicket” now Selling ABQ FOLK FEST Tickets
• We Can Always Use More Volunteers
• Other Folk News: Upcoming Sister Fests, Aug-Oct
• Festival T-Shirts Sold On Demand
• Outreach Event: Last 2021 Sing Along is in October
• You Help Us Grow When You Share Festival News

Counting Down to the 2021 Folk Festival!

We’re counting down the days to October 9, 2021, because we’ll soon be celebrating our southwest folk traditions with an all day, outdoor, not downsized in any way, festival. There’s not much time to waste, so find your BRIGHT RED MARKER to update your paper calendar and then make sure your smart phone calendar has the alarm set, too. And while you’re in planning mode, buy your ticket at HoldMyTicket. Read “HoldMyTicket” now Selling ABQ FOLK FEST Tickets for online ticket information.

We’ve collaborated with the Bosque School (here in Albuquerque, New Mexico, just off Coors Boulevard) to map out our stages and other venues on their campus once again. This is the site we used in 2019. It’s pleasant and familiar… and the school was glad to have us return! The traditional and personal style you love about our festival will be outdoors under their graceful cottonwood trees. Most activities will be outside and spread across the campus… even food, craft vendors, and the consignment table. We’ll have chairs under trees and tents, but feel free to bring a blanket or a comfy camp chair so you can enjoy more social distancing room while you watch and listen to performers.

We contacted the performers you would have seen at an outdoor 2020 June festival if we’d have been able to hold an in-person event. Most were able to return for our 2021 lineup. These terrific folks love to perform! Check out the performer list on our website at http://abqfolkfest.org/performers-october.shtml.

Festival fans (past, present, and those who are soon to be fans) will find ample doses of traditional southwest folksy fun while they explore the new and old skills, songs, and vibes of a multi-generational community. A website map at http://abqfolkfest.org/map.shtml will help you navigate to the school. And there will be plenty of signs on “the day of” the festival to help you find your way around to the various venues.

Check out our YouTube playlists (link) to remember your favorite moments from our 2020 Virtual and our 2021 Hybrid festivals. If you didn’t attend, you can watch the videos to see what you missed. And of course, buy tickets online at Hold MyTicket.

There will be outdoor performances, workshops, jam sessions, storytelling, and song circles, as well as space for dance workshops, great food and an Arts and Crafts area where vendors will eagerly display their wares. Don’t forget that we always include a special Kids Corner with hands on activities throughout the day. Did we mention the free parking? There’s free parking, too!

Albuquerque Folk Festival Vaccination Policy

Please check the website for updates before attending.

Announcement: New Vaccination Policy for the Albuquerque Folk Festival (AFF),

Based on the latest guidelines from health experts and from the State of New Mexico for the New Mexico State Fair, AFF will require proof of vaccination or negative results from a recent COVID test for everyone over the age of 12, including attendees, performers, vendors, and volunteers. Masks will be required indoors for everyone, even if you’re fully vaccinated.

We’ll ask to see your official vaccination card (photocopies and photos displayed on your smartphone are also fine) along with a photo ID. “Full vaccination” means you’ve received the complete dosage of the Moderna, Pfizer, or J&J vaccine—or other vaccines approved by the World Health Organization—by September 25, 2021, which is 14 days prior to the festival on October 9.

For those not vaccinated, we will also accept negative test results from a rapid Covid test taken the day before the festival or a PCR Covid test taken within 72 hours of the festival. If you need assistance finding a test location, the New Mexico Department of Health’s Screening and Testing Sites page is a good resource.

We ask that patrons review their health status before attending AFF. If you or anyone in your party is exhibiting symptoms of COVID, have been exposed to someone with Covid in the past two weeks, or has tested positive for Covid in the past two weeks, please stay home. Refunds will be offered for those who have already purchased tickets but need to cancel for Covid-related conditions. AFF will also offer refunds if updated guidelines from the State force the cancellation of the festival.

Thank you for your understanding and for helping to ensure that we have a wonderful and safe festival. Questions about how it will work? We’ll update FAQs soon.

“HoldMyTicket” now Selling ABQ FOLK FEST Tickets

Here’s a chance to get your festival tickets early and breeze through the admission line on October 9th! Order festival tickets on HoldMyTicket. Besides saving you time, an extra bonus to this online method is lower pricing than tickets sold at the Box Office on the day the event. It’s fun… It’s easy!

We Can Always Use More Volunteers

Consider becoming an ABQ FOLK FEST volunteer. By donating a few hours of your time, you can receive credit for free admission to the festival. The price can’t get much lower than that! You’ll enjoy the experience! Plus, you’ll be joining a team of exceptionally cool and dedicated people. We are an all-volunteer organization and can always use more helping hands. There is a more complete description of the volunteer process on our website. If you still have unanswered questions, contact abqfolkfest@gmail.com.

Other Folk News: Upcoming Sister Fests

This Weekend: Santa Fe TradFest:

Santa Fe’s traditional music festival on the Santa Fe Trail, the Santa Fe TradFest returns this year to an outdoor stage at Bishops Ridge Camp Stoney on the Old Santa Fe Trail this weekend, August 27 to 29. The festival features Appalachian Old Time, Bluegrass, Celtic, Klezmer, and New Mexico music in a beautiful setting in the mountains 10 miles east of Santa Fe. The festival features main stage performances, workshops, jam sessions, kids’ activities, food trucks, festival merchandise, and raffles with high quality prizes.

Accommodations include onsite camping in tents, small to medium RVs parking, and bunks in A-frame cottages. All are welcome to bring musical instruments and friends. Find out more at www.santafetradfest.org.

New Mexico Dulcimer Festival:

The 2021 festival is scheduled for Oct 15-16, online only with a hope to return to a live festival in 2022.

Below is the 2021 dulcimer teacher lineup. They also plan to offer other instrument classes, open mic, jams, evening concerts and more! Check their website for more information: nmdulcfest.com.

• MD - Carol Crocker (NC)
   
• MD - Sarah McWhirt-Toler (TN)
   
• MD & Autoharp - Karen Mueller (MN)
   
• MD - Irma Reeder (NM)
   
• HD - Colin Beasley (AL)
   
• HD - Carrie Crompton (CT)
   
• HD - Nate Pultorak (NY)
   
• HD & Bowed Psaltery - Scott Reeder (NM)

Festival T-Shirts Sold On Demand

People have asked about buying annual commemorative T-Shirts. The Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc., a nonprofit organization, sold annual commemorative T-Shirts for many years but found that the year over year unsold shirt inventory was difficult to manage. We are exploring an online, on demand, option to sell directly to you exactly the number of shirts you want. This online shop will be up and running soon, with a 2021 design. We’ll let you know when the website link to our “sales office” is up and running. Our 2020 shirts are shown below.

Outreach Event: Last 2021 Sing Along is in October

5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along - October 30, 2021, at 2:00 pm MT

Sing Alongs are a companionable and joyous pastime. Getting together to see, sing, and jam with friends (even via Zoom) is good for each of us. The last 2021 chance to share the 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along tradition, led by Dan Matthews, comes on Saturday October 30, 2021. Thanks to the wonders of technology, we hope to gather in person and hold a Zoom Sing Along at the same time for those who are unable to attend in person. Everyone has a chance to exercise their vocal cords by singing out loud and strong, choosing songs from our songbook. Here’s the Song Book link for those who’d like to print their own copy before the Sing Along starts. This is a great way to plan your favorite selections in advance. Zoom Sing Along attendees will also be able to see lyrics and chords for each song as they scroll by on their screen, so dust off your instrument of choice and play along, too. The Zoom session sign in process is easy using the link we’ll post on the website when October 30 rolls around. You don’t even have to have Zoom software. We have a few Zoom pointers and a zoom link on our website at abqfolkfest.org/zoominfo.shtml. Join us for a good time on October 30, 2021!

You Help Us When You Share Festival News

As Albuquerque reopens for festivals, we don’t want the ABQ FOLK FEST to get lost in the shuffle of competing outdoor events and gatherings. Share festival news with your friends so they can mark their calendars. You probably could help them out by sharing the BRIGHT RED MARKER you used to update your calendar.

You should also share the “news” by asking your friends to join this distribution group. To join, all a friend needs to do is submit an email address using the following link: http://abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml. It’s a cinch!

This newsletter goes out periodically to keep you informed about activities, links, and information. Let us know what you’d like to see in the newsletter. As always, don’t forget to Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abqfolkfest. We are posting great performer interviews and sneak peaks before upcoming events on Facebook. You’ll enjoy them! By the way, did you know that we’re on Twitter at #ABQFOLKFEST? You can follow us there, too!

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: May 6, 2021

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

The future is brighter because folk music, song, dance, and storytelling will be coming to you live very soon. The 2021 Albuquerque Folk Festival will be presented this year in two parts. First, we’re presenting a Free Virtual/ Hybrid Folk Festival from June 8th through June 13th. The lineup includes both Master Classes and performances! And then secondly, on October 9th we’re planning to bring back our heartwarming, live, and in person ABQ FOLK FEST at the Bosque School. Check out all the details under 2021 Festival Returns!

What's in this issue:

• Letter from the President
• 2021 Festival Returns!
• Outreach Events
• AmazonSmile! Generates Donations the Easy Way
• Help Build Our Fan Base by Sharing News with Your Friends

Letter from the President

This is a year of opportunity. June brings us an opportunity to view online, some of our favorite local musicians performing live on an intimate stage, as well as the opportunity to participate in 6 Master Class Workshops. October brings us an opportunity to attend in person a live festival at Bosque School. A live festival means there’s an opportunity to volunteer and show your support for the ABQ Folk Fest. At long last we are going to be able to join with other folk music lovers in person while we enjoy our beautiful Albuquerque Fall weather. Please consider attending, participating, and volunteering this October so that we can continue our more than 20 year tradition of bringing the finest in folk music to the land of enchantment.

We would like to thank you for your continued support during this difficult time. We have done our best to provide virtual performances and Sing Alongs in 2020. Now is the time to come together and prepare to celebrate a return to what we love and cherish most: live music, dance, and storytelling. We look forward to seeing you for the free Virtual/ Hybrid festival in June and again in person in October. Opportunity is indeed knocking on our door. Please help us make the most of it.

Bill Miller
President of the Board of Directors and Volunteer Coordinator

2021 Festival Returns!

We’re so happy to be celebrating two folk festivals in 2021! To honor our usual June festival timeframe, first we have a Free Virtual/ Hybrid Folk Festival featuring a full week of events beginning June 8, 2021. (We hear hybrids are becoming pretty popular!) And the second festival will be the familiar outdoor, all day, in person Albuquerque Folk Festival back on the beautiful Bosque School campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 9, 2021. Our plan ensures that festival fans (past, present, and future) have many ways to stay in touch with each other, that there are ample doses of traditional southwest folksy fun within our reach, that we can share opportunities to learn new skills, songs, and vibes within a multi-generational community, and that we can do so in a safe way. We’re updating the website often, as new information becomes available. For now read on…

Free Virtual/ Hybrid Folk Festival to be Held from June 8th to June 13th

Remember the Free first ever STAY-AT-HOME Virtual Albuquerque Folk Festival from last year? This is the second ever, but with a totally new approach and a full week format. There will be both Zoom sessions for the Master Class Workshops, and live performances in a limited space for a small audience. Don’t worry, we’re recording and streaming, too. You’re going to love it!

Master Classes: Dates, Times, Instructors, & Topics

The Master Class Workshops are free, but a simple registration to these Zoom sessions is required for admission. Workshop details (links, notes, pictures, etc.) and registration links can be found on our website.

Performances, Jams, Sing-Along: Dates, Times, Performers

The intimate audience performances will run from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm MT on both June 12th and 13th. Sing-Alongs begin at 2:00 pm each day. Look for details (links, notes, pictures, and more) on our website. Seating is limited, so signup early if you want to be there in person, but all performances will be streamed live also.

June 12 Morning Lineup (11:00 am to 2:00 pm) Scott & Irma Reeder, Duke City Ceili Band, Scott & Johanna Hongell-Darsee; Sing-Along with Dan Matthews at 2:00 pm; Evening Lineup (7:00 pm to 10:00 pm) Lara Manzanares, Virginia Creepers, and Ladyfingers and a Thing’r, Too.

June 13 Morning Lineup (11:00 am to 2:00 pm) Holy Water & Whiskey, Garry Blackchild, Mandology; Sing-Along with Dan Matthews at 2:00 pm; Evening Lineup (7:00 pm to 10:00 pm) Secret Life of Drones, El Dueto Brenda y David, and Silver String Band.

Here’s the link to register for all in person performances and the festival sing-alongs.

To register for the Sing-Alongs on Zoom, here’s a special Zoom meeting invite that will enable you to participate in the Sing-Alongs. (Use the same link for both the 12th and the 13th.)

Sing Along Zoom meeting link and instructions:

You are invited to a Zoom meeting. 

When: May 29, June 12 & 13, 2021 02:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)



Register in advance for this meeting:

https://abqfolkfest-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0pcu2hrzIuEtyKk2FNdulO--w_bFv1RZjD

Here’s the song book for those who’d like to print their own copy before the Sing-Alongs start. You can also use it to do advance planning for selections.

Outdoor In Person Albuquerque Folk Festival on October 9, 2021

We are all excited about bringing our “better than ever” annual festival back to the Bosque School campus in Albuquerque this coming fall. We’re keeping the traditional and personal character you love, while ensuring festival “safety”. The schedule of performances, workshops, and jams for musicians, singer songwriters, storytellers, and dancers will be posted on the website once it is finalized. Don’t forget that we always include a special Kids Corner, fabulous food, and craft vendors! Did we mention the free parking? There’s free parking, too. The full schedule will be up for your review on the website soon.

Outreach Events

5th Saturday of the Month Sing-Along - May 29, 2021 2:00 pm MT

Sing-Alongs continue to draw us in and keep us close. Great to see, sing, and jam with ABQ FOLK FEST friends, even via Zoom. Another chance for a 5th Saturday of the Month Sing-Along, led by Dan Matthews, is coming up on May 29, 2021. Here’s the song book for those who’d like to print their own copy before the Zoom Sing-Along starts. This is a great way to plan your selections in advance. Zoom Sing-Along attendees will also be able to see lyrics and chords for each song scroll on their screen. Whatever platform you use, it’s easy to sign into the session using the link and full details shown below. The information will also be posted on our website at http://abqfolkfest.org/localevents.shtml and on our Facebook page.

Here’s an invitation directly from Sing Along leader, Dan Matthews:

May has five Saturdays.  They always sneak up on me.  I’ll have my 5th Saturday of the Month Sing-Along on at 2:00 pm MT on May 29th.  I’m hoping that more of us will be able to get together.  That said, I think we’ll keep inviting folks with Zoom in the future.  Hybrid models are in. I’ll also send out an invitation to other lists I have as well.  You are all invited.  (This is the same link we’ll use for the Free Virtual/ Hybrid Folk Festival.)

Sing-Along Zoom meeting link and instructions:

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.



Register in advance for this meeting:

https://abqfolkfest-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0pcu2hrzIuEtyKk2FNdulO--w_bFv1RZjD

2021 Future Fifth Saturday of the Month Sing-Along Dates

Sing-Along – July 31, 2021
Sing-Along – October 30, 2021

AmazonSmile! Generates Donations the Easy Way

Are you buying more items online this year?  Did you know that AmazonSmile customers can earn money to help support the Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc. without costing themselves, or our nonprofit organization, a penny?  All you need to do is enroll at smile.amazon.com, and choose “Albuquerque Folk Festival” as your AmazonSmile
charitable organization. Then Amazon can begin contributing 0.5% of the value of your eligible purchases. Remember, it costs you nothing but a few moments of signup time. It’s a painless way to use the online shopping you already do to support one of the causes you love!

AmazonSmile even shows you the dollars they’ve donated in your name each time you sign in. Nice to know it’s working. For your convenience, there’s also a mobile app you can use for your AmazonSmile shopping.

What a boon it would be to increase the number of AmazonSmile customers who designate the Albuquerque Folk Festival as their chosen charitable organization. Ben Franklin would be proud of us!

And as a charitable organization, we are grateful for your participation.

Help Build Our Fan Base by Sharing News with Your Friends

This newsletter goes out periodically to keep you informed about ABQ FOLK FEST activities, links, and other information. Your other membership organizations may find it helpful to receive a newsletter or may want to set up a link to the ABQ FOLK FEST website. Tell them and your friends about the ABQ FOLK FEST. We’re stronger when we stand together. Share the “news” by asking your friends to join this distribution group. To join, all a friend needs to do is submit an email address using the following link: http://abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml. It’s a cinch!

And don’t forget to Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abqfolkfest. We’ve had fewer activities to announce this past year, or so, but our Facebook page often shows news from related organizations. Hopefully, you’ll Like us on Facebook soon so you can follow us everywhere. Facebook is where we‘ll be posting performer videos and sneak peaks before the upcoming festivals. By the way, did you know that we’re on Twitter at #ABQFOLKFEST?

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: January 23, 2021

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

Happy New Year to our wonderful ABQ FOLK FEST friends! The winter holidays have come and gone in a flurry of torn wrapping paper, so that means it’s time to focus on choosing a 2021 resolution. How about resolving to join us at the 5th Saturday of month Zoom style Sing Along on January 30th, 2021? Not only is this a worthy endeavor, it’s also a totally fun event, and you’ll be ahead of the resolution game before January rolls on by. Look for more details under Outreach Events.

In the spirit of mindless, but oddly comforting, “cat humor” we offer this cartoon to brighten the day.

What's in this issue:

• Outreach Events
• ABQ FOLK FEST Board Membership
• What's Happening! Board Survey
• Fundraising Fun
• Remember the 2021 Festival Date!
• Resolve to Share News with Your Friends

Outreach Events

5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along - January 30, 2021 2:00 pm MST

The Zoom Sing Alongs held last December were well attended. Great to see, sing, and jam with ABQ FOLK FEST friends. Another Fifth Saturday of the Month Sing Along opportunity happens on January 30, 2021. Remember that lyrics and chords for each song will scroll on the screen. Whatever platform you use, it’s easy to sign into the Zoom session using the link and full details shown below. This information is also posted on our website at http://abqfolkfest.org/localevents.shtml and on our Facebook page.

Here’s an invitation directly from Sing Along leader, Dan Matthews:

January has five Saturdays. They snuck up on me. I’ll have my Zoom on at 2:00 pm MST on January 30. I’m hoping we can emphasize songs of hope and renewal. Donna Bauer, an advisory Board member, wanted (and will get) “Big Rock Candy Mountain” added to the song list. I’m also adding “Wasn’t That a Time” by the Weavers to the list.

My hope is that the next Fifth Saturday (in May) will find more of us able to get together. That said, I think we’ll keep inviting folks with Zoom. Hybrid models are in. You all are invited. Here's the new link!

Topic: Sing Along with Dan Matthews, ABQFOLKFEST

Time: Jan 30, 2021 02:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://abqfolkfest-org.zoom.us/j/94601838410?pwd=dTZwanFGdGhLR1YvUzR0RTFFQndCUT09 Meeting ID: 946 0183 8410 Passcode: 833652

2021 Future Fifth Saturday of the Month Sing Along Dates

Sing Along – May 29, 2021
Sing Along – July 31, 2021
Sing Along – October 30, 2021

ABQ FOLK FEST Board Membership

Here’s the current lineup of our dedicated active members. We probably don’t thank them often enough for the work they do for the Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc. The Board meetings also often include advisory members, contributing on a time-to-time basis. Thanks to one and all!

What's Happening! A Board Survey

Board members, like so many facing stay-at-home COVID 19 constraints, have been able to move communications and meetings to Zoom and other applications to ensure all members are up to date and that the planning cycle moves forward. In the midst an onslaught of online quizzes and surveys (you know the ones… promoted through email threads, and Facebook), we hatched the idea to circulate our own completely non-scientific survey to be sent to the Board for comment. The responses were fun, sentimental, and heart-warming so we decided to share them. First the questions, then the results with more than a few ad libs. With Board member permissions, a few of the responses have been included below. We thought you’d probably be able to identify participants yourself, so no identifying names are shown. This is the message that was sent out:

How about a quick dose of pandemic wisdom/ witticism from the Board?   Please answer some or all questions below for inclusion in the newsletter.

• What tune/song/poem/story/dance did you turn to during your stay-at-home pandemic? Discover any new talent?
• How many Post It! note pads have you used up during the last year?
• What chores were you finally able to finish? How many trips did you make to Lowes or Home Depot to get it done?
• Best new “snack” you created during 2020… or yesterday?
• There are some super chefs among the Board members. What’s your go-to pandemic, comfort, Folk, Soul Food?
• Anyone learn how to juggle? Knit? Other new, quiet time skill?
• Average number of Zoom meetings per week? Most creative use of Zoom… be careful here…
• Time for a wee bit of inspiration, or a gag joke. What’s your best new/ old joke you’ve heard/ read?
• How has your hair style changed? Who let their hair grow? Or who cut it off? Found a new favorite hat?

Response 1

• Haven’t received a haircut in a year plus 3 months…but I ordered a haircutting kit and started cutting my husband’s hair.
• Learned to make chocolate Depression cake with no butter, eggs, or milk. It’s appropriately named.
• An hour of commuting each way was reduced to walking from the bedroom to the living room and back. Less gas.
• Rearranged the chord bars on my Sparrowharp and worked up “Better Times Will Come“ by Janis Ian, “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood, and “Something So Right” by Paul Simon, for some good cheer.
• Wrote a misguided song parody for some of my students (I’m a school based SLP): “There’s a Bathroom on the Right” to the tune of “There’s a Bad Moon on the Rise”. Straight ahead “Blue Bayou” went over a lot better, though.
• But alas, no wisdom!

Response 2

• As a Gifted and School-wide Enrichment teacher, I have been using a lot of music in my virtual/ remote classes with elementary level students, from songs like Skinamarink-a-dink-a-dink with preschoolers, to I Had a Little Overcoat with 3rd graders, and Sister Rosa with 4th and 5th graders.
• I’ve started appreciating Rap more after a training with Baba Bomani on using Rap to teach writing. The students and I are having a lot of fun with that.
• Children say sweet and funny things that help keep me going during the pandemic, like a preschooler who I see once a week saying, “I know you!”.
• The lines between work, organization committees, and home have become very blurred. I am in meetings during and after the school day almost every weekday and sometimes on the weekends.
• I have been getting my house ready to sell since last February but somehow instead of getting rid of things, I keep acquiring them. I do enjoy painting furniture and walls.

Response 3

• I’ve been studying Bach’s Violin Partita and Sonatas on Mandolin, that’s kept me quite busy.
• None, but I think I’ve written about a novel’s worth of text document notes on my computer.
• Not really a chore, but I finished building my first guitar. No trips to Lowes, but more than a few orders from StewMac and Luthier’s Mercantile.
• So many. I just learned how to make beef jerky the other day, and that’s life changing. So is learning how to make cheese.
• Pasta Carbonara, made according to the master’s recipe: https://www.tavoleromane.it/la-ricetta-della-carbonara-risolutiva/
• Luthiery, I guess! Haven’t had much time for quiet; between teaching online and a new kitten, I’m always busy!
• 14 zoom meetings per week, average. That is not an exaggeration. My most creative use of Zoom was using the green screen function to put myself on the bridge of the Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) for a parents’ night video.
• What is a child charged with when refusing to take a nap? Resisting a rest.
• My hair just keeps growing, much to everyone’s consternation.

Response 4

• I think often of the song Coffee Blues from Mississippi John Hurt.
• I don't use post it notes, but my to do list on my phone has more groceries than anything else.
• I was able to put my late wife Cathy's banjo tabs up on our website.
• Asian style pancakes using sourdough discard and green onions.
• Smoking a tri-tip is great.
• My new son-in-law got me started roasting coffee. Good morning, baby. I also made an outdoor grilling table for Erika, and it looks pretty good from a healthy distance.
• At least three Zoom meetings a week. I have come to appreciate the connection. Erika and I got married and put our little ceremony up on Zoom. Initially it seemed odd, but it was a beautiful time and we're lucky to share it with lots of folks who couldn't or wouldn't be able to attend.
• I get my hair cut every two months whether I need it or not. Between here and Missouri I have been able to pull it off.
• You should understand that the pandemic prevented me from doing four-week rotations on and off a riverboat last year and currently. Instead, I have spent the entire year with Erika and we have drawn ever closer to each other. It's one of the most important times in my life.

Response 5

• Got married.
• Learned a new waltz written by Dave Firestine for Dave and I called Giggles and Tears.
• Thought I would have my garage cleaned by now...that was a funny thought.
• Best use of zoom: sing-alongs and song circles.
• Learned how to make a chicken Vietnamese noodle dish. Yum.

Response 6

• At first could not think of anything but then thought of a service I did with Peter, Dan, and Skylar (Gretchen’s son in law). I was contacted by David Millstone, a caller from back east, who was the caller at the FolkMADS camp in May. He asked me to find a photographer that could take pictures of the Hall of Fame callers of squares, contra, and round dance leaders that are on the wall at Lloyd Shaw Dance Center (in Albuquerque).
• That same day I thought of Peter Esherick who takes super pictures. I contacted Peter and he agreed to take photos of the paintings at no charge which blew me and David away. Then I decided to find two other folks to be involved in taking the paintings off the wall very carefully. That is where Dan and Skylar came in.
• The photos came out beautiful and are now being put on a website for all to see with information about each one and with a recording of them calling a segment of a dance. It is now possible to view these paintings online thanks to the volunteers that made it possible.

Response 7

• “Everyone Gets Crazy Now and Then” the Highwaymen
• For the New Year, the Youngblood’s “Get Together“, as in “Everyone get together, try and love one another right now,” desperately needed.
• Post Its! hardly any, doing nothing.
• Chores? In town… feed and water our chickens and turkey… walk our doggie.
• Snack? beer! And lost 12-15 pounds.
• Comfort food, my hubby’s cooking. Folk folks know Chuck’s cooking and are probably missing it.
• New OLD skill, got back to my Enchanted Lens Photo Club photo portfolio of Florida shore birds, which I was able to photograph thanks to Gretchen and Steve’s place to stay just before the shutdown (Gretchen and Steve of used instrument sales and jamming at Folk Fest).
• Zoom, only one or two, but thanks to Dan Matthews of AFF board and Sing Along fame, a guitar group of forty years has kept meeting WEEKLY! Spreading love and music. 40 YEARS! 
• Hair thinning, breaking, longer but shrinking, getting’ old just like me.
• Sorry that it is hard to find jokes, the biggest one I find is NOT funny but ironic as all get out “Alone Together” an oxymoron.
• So how can we break isolation in 2021 and bring people together, NOT alone.

Fundraising Fun

We are incredibly grateful to all who donated to the Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc. during our year end Facebook drive. The annual Giving Tuesday campaign netted $4,140 through Facebook, the Just Giving button on our website, and checks mailed in. We thank our sponsors!

We’ve Set the 2021 Festival Date!

The outdoor Albuquerque Folk Festival is our most important annual event. Unfortunately, the current world makes planning a little complicated. We’re still targeting June 12th, 2021 as a festival date but may not be able to produce an outdoor event that soon. We’re working with the Bosque School to see if there’s another date open later in the year.

We’re ahead of schedule in planning for performers as most of the artists who were performed in 2020 have agreed to perform in 2021. The Bosque School on Albuquerque’s West Side is still eager to participate, and we’re “patiently” holding out for a normal outdoor event. But if it wouldn’t be safe to hold the festival outdoors, we have already learned how to present a virtual festival. We’ll keep you posted on our progress!

Resolve to Share News with Your Friends

This newsletter goes out periodically to keep you informed about ABQ FOLK FEST activities, links, and other information. Please share the “news” by asking your friends to join this distribution group. To join, all a friend needs to do is submit an email address using the following link: http://abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml. It’s a cinch!

And don’t forget to Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abqfolkfest.

Hopefully, you’ll Like us on Facebook soon so you can follow us everywhere… That’s where we‘ll be posting performer videos and sneak peaks before the festival. By the way, did you know that we’re on Twitter at #ABQFOLKFEST?

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: November 30, 2020

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

Hello ABQ FOLK FEST fans! The winter holidays are almost here! We have some newsy, musical, seasonal events to crow about… such as a virtual Giving Tuesday video concert and a Holiday Sing Along. Read on for details and be sure to mark your calendars.

The Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is bringing you some seasonal, virtual fun… and an amazing festival in 2021! Hope you are staying safe and well in the meantime!

What's in this issue:

• Facebook Giving Tuesday Fundraiser on December 1, 2020
• New! Holiday Sing Along on December 19, 2020
• We’ve Set the 2021 Festival Date!
• Donations are Virtually Wonderful
• Share This Newsletter with All of Your Friends

Facebook Giving Tuesday Fundraiser on December 1, 2020

New ABQ FOLK FEST Fundraiser Event presented on Facebook

Tuesday, December 1, 2020, is Giving Tuesday. Join us on our Facebook page any time Tuesday for a video concert to support our ABQ FOLK FEST fundraiser. Here's a handy link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/abqfolkfest

Our video will include segments from Southwest Wind, the Kipsies, and the Julian Dossett Trio which were recorded for the virtual festival in June 2020. We are really looking forward to seeing all our fine musicians back for our annual festival on June 12, 2021. Your donations will help us realize that goal. Good to know that Facebook will match any donations made from 6am MST to whenever Facebook's allocation runs out.

The ABQ FOLK FEST website makes donations easy. Go to the Just Giving button at the bottom of the page, http://abqfolkfest.org/index.shtml.

Or view the website’s Support AFF page for other donation options: http://abqfolkfest.org/sponsors.shtml

NEW! Holiday Sing Along on December 19, 2020

New Holiday Sing Along: December 19, 2020 at 2:00 PM MST

It’s not easy to find a place to sing Christmas carols and other winter songs. Holiday music starts earlier and earlier each year and people can just tune it out while shopping. But many of us love these songs and they come alive again when we sing them out loud.

Albuquerque Folk Festival loves inviting people to sing by picking familiar songs, giving you the lyrics, and having a few strong voices in the lead. There is no reason for the pandemic to stop us! We’ll do this by Zoom, show the lyrics on the screen (or you can download them here) and sing while a COVID-safe number of people will lead the caroling. Even though we’ll be physically distant, we’ll be close in spirit! The Zoom invite link and password are on the website at http://abqfolkfest.org/localevents.shtml

Thanks to Dan Matthews who loves to spread joy, music, and good seasonal vibes to one and all. Dan Matthews has offered to add a Holiday (Christmas Carol) Sing Along to our 2020 schedule with a few seasonal carols, and perhaps a few rousing, but sentimental, folk songs. A bit of cocoa or cinnamon spiced cider beside you will add to your enjoyment, too. Be sure to get the cocoa ready early.

To bring you this Holiday Sing Along, we’ve partnered with the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Senior Affairs. They’ve generously shared the flyer below to us and have sent it out to all their contacts. And you might like to share it with all the folks you know who might enjoy a little singing. Spread a little holiday joy yourself. We are looking forward to a full choir of smiling faces! See you December 19th at 2:00 PM MST.

We’ve Set the 2021 Festival Date!

The actual Albuquerque Folk Festival is our most important annual event. Unfortunately, the current world makes planning a little complicated, but we’re targeting June 12th, 2020 as the festival date. We’re ahead of schedule in planning for performers as most of the artists who were scheduled for 2020 have ready agreed to perform in 2021. We’ve also already confirmed to hold the festival at the Bosque School on Albuquerque’s West Side. We’re patiently holding out for a normal outdoor event. But if it wouldn’t be safe to hold the festival outdoors, we know already we have learned to present an all-day virtual festival. We’ll keep you posted on our progress!

Donations are Virtually Wonderful!

The calendar year end and “income tax friendly” opportunities that can also support the Albuquerque Folk Festival are upon us. Remember the amount of your donation is not the most important part. We do this together. The fact that you care enough to help warms our hearts.

To those who have already made a 2020 donation in whatever manner and amount, we thank you for your generosity! You give us new energy and motivation as we move into the New Year. You make it happen!

The ABQ FOLK FEST website makes donations easy at http://abqfolkfest.org/index.shtml. Go to the Just Giving button at the bottom of the page, or read the website’s Support AFF page for other donation options at http://abqfolkfest.org/sponsors.shtml.

Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

This newsletter goes out periodically to keep you informed about ABQ FOLK FEST activities, links, and other information. Please share the “news” by asking your friends to join this distribution group. To join, all a friend needs to do is submit an email address using the following link: http://abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml. It’s a cinch!

And don’t forget to Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abqfolkfest.

Hopefully, you’ll Like us on Facebook soon so you can follow us everywhere… We often post performer videos and sneak peaks. By the way, did you know that we’re on Twitter at #ABQFOLKFEST?

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: August 21, 2020

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

Thanks to all who attended (and all who participated behind the scenes) in making the 2020 STAY-AT-HOME Virtual Albuquerque Folk Festival become such a successful community experience! We are delighted so many people joined in! And we’re delighted the quality of our performers and workshops was so high! Thanks, too, for the feedback and encouragement we received along the way that helped to make this whirlwind event happen!

If you missed anything on June 13, edited videos are still available for viewing on YouTube via playlists for each venue, thanks largely to the efforts of Peter Esherick. We learned so much while producing our first ever virtual festival, and we are proud to be part of the diverse community committed to the joy and healing spirit of the folk festival experience. There were many technical skills involved in producing such a festival that we didn’t possess at the start of the process, but which we did learn by the end with Peter’s generous help. As a result, he was awarded the 2020 Director’s Award, given annually to the Volunteer of the Year. You can read more about it at abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml.

Through the judicious use of funding obtained from the CARES Act, NM ARTS (a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs), the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Urban Enhancement Trust Fund, we’ve covered the cost of producing a free festival. At this point, we’re optimistically looking forward to producing an outdoor festival in 2021, returning again to the Bosque School Campus here in Albuquerque. And we’re also working on producing other virtual events for the coming year that you won’t want to miss (see below for details).

While we were frantically closing on June 13, 2020, the world wasn’t standing still. Please take a moment to read A Message from Our Organization on Justice and Equality published at http://www.abqfolkfest.org/about.shtml.

The journey to a virtual festival was long and hard, but we’ve loved every minute of it. Thank you everyone once again for pulling off a historic virtual performance and keeping us on track to come back to live stages in 2021 in better shape than ever before.

What's in this issue:

• ABQ FOLK FEST Sponsors More Free Virtual Events
• Other Locally Produced Events Coming Up Soon
• Donations are Virtually Wonderful
• Share This Newsletter with All of Your Friends

ABQ FOLK FEST Sponsors More Free Virtual Events

Fifth Saturday Sing Along: August 29, 2020 at 2:00 PM

Too many months in the year have only four Saturdays, but whenever there’s a fifth Saturday there’s an ABQ FOLK FEST Sing Along!  You may find that some group singing feels good to you about now, as so many of the songs we’ve sung for years still resonate today. Please join us on August 29, 2020 at 2:00 PM as Dan Matthews leads us in a rousing folk song revival.

This will be our second physically distanced, but socially close, Fifth Saturday Sing Along.  We also did two Sing Alongs at our June 13, 2020 STAY-AT-HOME Virtual Albuquerque Folk Festival.  They worked pretty well! You can view them on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/PUEGfc3L2Xc and https://youtu.be/hTCbLgMSvyQ

When you “Zoom” in on Saturday, August 29, 2020, you’ll see an approved number of people (5 “COVID units"; individuals or couples) in a circle six feet apart singing songs that viewers pick.  Lyrics of familiar songs mostly from the folk revival are attached and with technical luck will be viewable, scrolling by on your screen (chords and lyrics) so we don’t tax all of your memory cells too early in the day. Use the chat function in Zoom to suggest songs. Here’s a link to the Woody, The Weavers, Lead Belly & Their Children (2018) Song Book for titles and lyrics so you can look for your personal favorites.

Zoom delays and drop-outs keep us from singing truly together.  But you’ll hear five or so voices in the circle and your own.  Others (and you) will be muted to avoid cacophony. When you join the session with other “COVID units”, you can all sing and play together with us.

If you are not used to Zoom, please know that you can join us from any computer, tablet, or smart phone that is connected to the internet by clicking the link below.  An app will be installed; then you will be instructed to join with audio and with video.  If you have already used Zoom, you can start your app and type in the meeting number 928 3335 7663.

Sing Along leader Dan Matthews invites you to the following scheduled Zoom meeting.
ABQ FOLK FEST Fifth Saturday Sing Along
August 29, 2020 at 2:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join the Zoom Meeting by clicking on this link: https://unm.zoom.us/j/92833357663

Meeting ID: 928 3335 7663

First Tuesday Anything Goes Jam is Back: September 1, 2020 at 7:00 PM

Other Great Locally Produced Events Coming Up Soon

Santa Fe TradFest At Home: August 29, 2020

The acoustic traditional music festival, Santa Fe TradFest, will be a virtual festival this year, with free live streaming on YouTube. Their flyer (below) includes a great performance summary and other key facts, but be sure to go to their website for the workshop and performance scheduling details at www.santafetradfest.org . The festival lineup includes an impressive variety of entertaining, heart-warming, creative, collaborative, and awe-inspiring performances.

New Mexico Dulcimer Festival: October 17, 2020

The New Mexico Dulcimer Festival focuses on mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer instruction and jamming, with additional instrument workshops and concerts that are open to the general public. They feature nationally acclaimed instructors and performers. The New Mexico Dulcimer Association may also provide other activities throughout the year. Contact them at www.nmdulcfest.com/.

Donations are Virtually Wonderful!

Our beloved organization still depends on the generous contributions of the community it serves. As we’ve learned from this year, there are always new challenges to face. Please consider making a contribution, of any amount in your name, so that Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc. can continue to produce great events that bolster our community spirit. We appreciate your support as we move on to “going live” at the Bosque School in June of 2021!

You can make a credit card donation using the Just Giving button on our website at http://abqfolkfest.org/sponsors.shtml, or by mailing a check. Make your check payable to The Albuquerque Folk Festival. Then mail it to following address.

Albuquerque Folk Festival
PO Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196

But before you leave the page, read through the schedule of sponsorship benefits. You may want to become a sponsor for the 2021 festival.

Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

This newsletter goes out periodically to publicize ABQ FOLK FEST activities, informational links, and other cool data. You are a vital link in this communication chain. Please share our “news” by passing along an encouraging invitation to your friends to add themselves to our distribution group. All a friend needs to do is submit an email address using the following link: abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml. By the way, don’t forget to Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/abqfolkfest/. And did you know we’re even on Twitter at #ABQFOLKFEST? The ABQ FOLK FEST Crew wants to stay in touch!

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: June 1, 2020

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

The FREE, first ever Stay-At-Home Virtual Albuquerque Folk Festival is less than two weeks away. Here’s one last newsletter to help you maximize your festival experience. (Consider stocking up now. You won’t want to be in the slow lane at the grocery at the last minute and risk missing any of the live performances on Saturday, June 13, 2020.)

The festival runs on our website all day from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, and 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm for stage performances. There are seven tents worth of performances; review the 2020 Virtual ABQFOLKFEST Program Overview at the bottom of the schedule page to plan your day. Just click a tent to find the various schedule pages. Links to the Zoom sessions and Facebook Live events will become active Saturday morning on the windows that pop up when you click a tent and on the more detailed schedule pages.

Even though we won’t be gathering together in the place, we have a way to celebrate together.

What's in this issue:

• Top 10 Reasons to Love the Stay-At-Home Virtual ABQ FOLK FEST
• We’re on Facebook… and Twitter
• General Zoom Advice
• Festival has Two Song Circles
• Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

Top 10 Reasons to Love the Stay-At-Home Virtual ABQ FOLK FEST

1. Wholesome active screen time for the kids! The Kids’ Korner Tent will have your kids singing, moving, spoofing, goofing… and more. Take this opportunity to pass our great folk traditions on to the next generation.
2. Get a little exercise! Take your shoes off, roll up the rug, and strut your stuff to live music all day in the privacy of your own home. There are dance workshops to get you moving, too.
3. It’s so easy… no driving, no parking, no wind (you remember the wind, right?), no sunburn, no bugs, no instrument cases to carry around. There are performances all day and into the night in seven Tents just like the traditional festival. That’s actually sixty-four performances, workshops, Sing Alongs, Jam Alongs, and Hosted Jams that you can attend without having to find your car keys.
4. This is still our annual reunion! Even if we can’t be together, you’ll be able to connect with favorite presenters, and maybe spot familiar faces on Zoom.
5. Join in: sing, play, and learn something new at our live Sing Alongs, Jam Alongs, and instrumental, vocal, and storytelling workshops. This is aril a participatory festival. Our focus is on doing even if it’s in front of a screen.
6. This is a chance to wear your favorite “vintage” ABQ FOLK FEST T-shirt. Make sure we get to see it by posting a selfie on our Facebook page. You do follow us on Facebook, right?
7. The lineup of performers is terrific! There will be new faces and old favorites. The website list of performers is at http://abqfolkfest.org/performers.shtml.
8. There are so many choices, just like we have at our outdoor festivals. Seven venues… sixty-four mostly live performances, workshops, and jams will be recorded and remain available online for several days. That way you can return to the website and experience even more of the festival!
9. The festival is FREE!
10. The festival is FUN! Even if we can’t gather together in person, we have a way to celebrate together.

We’re on Facebook… and Twitter

Hopefully, you have Liked us on Facebook and are following us everywhere… We’re sharing performer videos and sneak peaks. And hopefully, too, you’ll be with us on June 13, 2020. We’ll look for you. By the way did you know we’re even on Twitter at #ABQFOLKFEST.

General Zoom Advice

You’ll find a schedule of performances and viewing/ listening opportunities for the Stay-At-Home Virtual Albuquerque Folk Festival on the Overall Schedule page at the very bottom of the page. Note that much of the schedule is highlighted in yellow, indicating these performances will be streamed through Zoom. General advice and information can be found on the Zoom support page. Here is some guidance if you are unfamiliar with this application.

• You don’t need to have a Zoom account to join events listed on our schedule, but if you download the free app to your device, you’ll be sure to have the latest version.
• If your internet connection drops at any time, leave the event and re-enter on the same link for that event.
• Participants will be muted on entry to events and will not be able to unmute themselves. Due to the lag in sound participants don’t hear the sound when it’s made. But since you will be on mute, you will be able to join in even though others can’t hear you.
• Use speaker view for a larger picture of the person performing/ talking. On a mobile or tablet swipe left and right to change between views.
• Events will be run with Zoom tech-hosts who will handle technical issues. If you have problems, use the chat function to communicate with the tech-hosts. The ability to chat with others in the Zoom room will be disabled.
• Some performances will include 5-10 minutes to speak with the performer at the end of their set. The Host will unmute individuals. Let the Host know you’d like to speak by raising your hand.
• In order to show appreciation to artists you can either clap your hands (this will not be heard but will be seen) or wave both your hands at about shoulder/ face height.
• The information you need to enter an event will be available on the scheduling page.

Festival has More Than One Song Circle This Year

Dan Matthews will lead a Zoom Folk Song Revival Song Circle (Weavers, Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, and 60’s folk groups) at 11:00 am. The songs you choose will scroll on your screen (chords and lyrics). You won’t be able to hear everyone… but come sing with whoever is in your home and the five or so people on the screen.

Dan will also lead a Zoom Songs of Freedom, Protest, and Hope at 3:00 pm. Many of the key songs of the 60’s revival were songs with meaning and purpose. We intended to change the world. We provided the soundtrack to the Civil Rights movement, the anti-war movement, free speech, and the like. Many of these songs resonate today and take on new importance. Again, we hope you’ll sing and play along.

There will also be two Kids’ Korner Sing Alongs starting at noon and organized by Queen Bee Music Association, who believe that everyone can be a musician. You can check them out on Facebook.

Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

This newsletter goes out periodically to keep you informed about ABQ FOLK FEST activities, links, and other information. Please share the “news” by passing along the message to join the group. All a friend needs to do is submit an email address here. And don’t forget to Like us on Facebook

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: May 17, 2020

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

We are excited to announce that the first ever Stay-At-Home Virtual Albuquerque Folk Festival is on track for June 13, 2020. That’s the same day we had originally planned to hold our annual outdoor festival, so it should be an easy date to remember. The free festival will run on our website all day in two parts, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and after a short break, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm for the main stage performances. This Stay-At-Home Virtual Albuquerque Folk Festival is our way of honoring the Southwest’s folk-arts community and folk traditions. Even when we can’t congregate together, we can still celebrate together.

What's in this issue:

• Stay-At-Home Virtual ABQ FOLK FEST
• Albuquerque Journal Readers’ Choice Vote for Best Annual Event
• Consignment Sales This Year
• Help Support ABQ FOLK FEST
• Albuquerque Folk Festival Returns to Bosque School in 2021
• Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

Stay-At-Home Virtual ABQ FOLK FEST

The Stay-At-Home Virtual Albuquerque Folk Festival brings the diversity of talent and traditional cultural experiences we have enjoyed at our annual outdoor festivals to you and others in the folk arts community. We will primarily be offering live concerts through Zoom and livestreaming, with a few supplemental pre-recorded segments. There will be concurrent events throughout the day because there are so many traditional folk arts to be shared within our community. You’ll be able to tune in to one of the live music or dancing events early in the day, join an instrumental workshop or the Sing Along Circle, listen to live storytelling, and then attend our fabulous evening concert… all from the comfort of your cozy home. “Oh no!” you say. “Even online I can’t see it all in one day?” We have a solution for that problem. We plan to record as much of the festival as possible so it will remain available to you for a short while after the festival has ended via links on our website at abqfolkfest.org. We hope to give you the opportunity to just click see more of the festival… eventually.

We’re pleased to let you know that performers who were originally scheduled for our outdoor festival responded enthusiastically to participating in this virtual event. Most performers you were hoping to see this year will be included in the line-up for this Stay-At-Home Virtual Albuquerque Folk Festival. Check the website to see a list of performers at abqfolkfest.org/performers.shtml.

Did we mention that this event is free? Well, it is free! There is no fee charged to see some, or all, of this family friendly Stay-At-Home Virtual Albuquerque Folk Festival. A virtual “tip jar” will be included. If you feel moved… if you love the event, please feel free to let the performer or the festival know that you care by using the “tip jar” feature.

Be sure to review information on our website at www.abqfolkfest.org often during the next month. We’ll continue to add information that will help you get the most out of your festival experience.

Albuquerque Journal Readers’ Choice Vote for Best Annual Event

There’s still time to vote for the Albuquerque Folk Festival as Albuquerque’s Best Annual Event in the Readers’ Choice poll. Join us in letting people know about our fabulous festival by visiting https://dealmeinnm.secondstreetapp.com/abqj-rc2020/. Several voting categories will be on the page. Click on the picture titled Out & About, then go to Annual Event, and WRITE IN Albuquerque Folk Festival. The poll stays open until May 31, 2020 at midnight, but please don’t wait that long. Thank you for your vote.

Consignment Sales This Year

Every year we offer a consignment sales concession to find new homes for musical instruments folks are no longer using, and to help folks looking for a great deal to adopt a “new to them” instrument. Although we don’t plan to handle the buying and selling of instruments as a virtual activity, this popular concession can be managed in conjunction with the Stay-At-Home Virtual Albuquerque Folk Festival.

Normal rules apply… we can’t handle instruments valued at over $500. When your instrument sells, 1) you’ll receive 80% of the proceeds, 2) you get to donate 20% to the ABQ FOLK FEST, and 3) you'll have room at home for other new instruments! If you want to donate your instrument, 100% of the proceeds will go to the ABQ FOLK FEST. Remember that we are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, so your donation will be fully tax deductible. More details will follow, but it’s time to start sorting through your instrument closet.

Good deals at the 2019 Consignment Table

Help Support ABQ FOLK FEST

Please consider a financial gift to support the operations of the Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc. this year. As you surely know, this has been a difficult year for performing artists and arts organizations. We continue to work to keep the annual festival alive and well for today, and for the future. You can help, too, in many ways: 1) attend the festival and let us know what you think, 2) tip the festival musicians and other performers, 3) consider donating an instrument for this year’s festival consignment sales, 4) give to the nonprofit organization, Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc. Working together, we can come back next year stronger than ever.

To donate by check, make your check payable to: The Albuquerque Folk Festival Mail your check to:

To donate by credit card, go to JustGiving or click the Donate Now button at the bottom of this newsletter. You will be directed to a secure site where you can use your credit card or PayPal account.

Albuquerque Folk Festival Returns to Bosque School in 2021

More really good news! The outdoor Albuquerque Folk Festival will return to the Bosque School Campus next year on June 12, 2021. We are already posted to their calendar. Performers booked for 2020 have agreed to return in 2021. That’s long-range planning and is a credit to the good relationship we’ve built with the school and the performers. Before you know it, June 12th will be here! Then the Bosque School grounds will come alive again, featuring stages and impromptu jams with traditional vocal and instrumental music, dance, storytelling, and crafts.

Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

This newsletter ends with a plea for your social networking assistance. Help us keep your friends informed about ABQ FOLK FEST activities by sharing this newsletter, or by telling your friends how to sign-up to receive this newsletter themselves via email. All they need to do is submit their email address using the following link: abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml. Your friends will be glad you remembered them and will thank you for your “techy” ingenuity! And then don’t forget to Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/abqfolkfest/.

Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc.
P O Box 4837
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Website: www.abqfolkfest.org
Newsletter signup: www.abqfolkfest.org/newsletter.shtml
Issue Date: February 27, 2020

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

Watching your budget? Go to https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4472907 for Albuquerque Folk Festival admission tickets (including in/out privileges).

Performance photo from our 2016 photo archive. The “whole” audience loved it!

Just the facts and features! See below for information on the 5th Saturday Sing Along, advance notice for Spring Festival promotions, and a look back at archived photos.

What's in this issue:

• Sing Along February 29, 2020, 2-4 pm
• Outreach Events Coming Up in Albuquerque
• Take A Moment to Look at Last Year’s Photo Gallery
• Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

Sing Along February 29, 2020, 2-4 pm

Congregation Nahalot Shalom, 3606 Rio Grande Blvd NW

It’s the 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along. Please join Dan Matthews and friends for an afternoon of well-loved folk songs. No need to memorize lyrics or practice chord changes for this community get together. All voices and instruments are welcome!

The ABQ FOLK FEST community has a tradition of coming together on the last Saturday of every month that has five Saturdays to sing. Dan Matthews organizes an afternoon Sing Along and leads us in song from 2 – 4 pm. The formula for the 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along is: 1) a lyric sheet of 80 familiar and sing-able folk songs, 2) comfortable keys with plenty of lively guitar back up, and 3) lyric sheets (who remembers all the verses?). We sing and play loudly so everyone feels comfortable about “singing along”. Then … we pick the next song. Then… we do it again! We invite you to join us for an afternoon singing folk songs with friends!

Sing Along leader Dan Matthews had led Sing Alongs at the annual June ABQ FOLK FEST for many years. In 2010, he put together a main stage Sing Along tribute to Pete Seeger. Each year since that time he and a posse of musical friends with strong voices have led scores of people in rousing, meaningful, and joyous song. Dan’s joy is in singing with people, not singing for people, whether it's in a song circle, the 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Alongs, or at the annual ABQ FOLK FEST Main Stage Sing Along.

Congregation Nahalot Shalom has graciously opened its doors for us to sing together. Suggested donation: $15 at the door. Proceeds from this event benefit the Albuquerque Folk Festival, a nonprofit organization.

Sing Alongs make you feel good!

Outreach Events Coming Up in Albuquerque

One of our favorite things to do in the spring, as the weather warms up, is to set up a table at festivals around town and talk about the fun we all have at our annual festival. The date this year is June 13th, 2020, where we return to the Bosque School campus, at 4000 Bosque Road NW in Albuquerque, New Mexico. What a great venue for us.

You might like to join us as a volunteer. If you have questions, call Bill Miller, our volunteer coordinator at 505-615-7692 or email volunteers@abqfolkfest.org. Flyers, give away discount coupons, and cooling shade will be on hand for you. We’ll publish schedules, dates, and times soon. Stay tuned.

Dancing hands at the Albuquerque Folk Festival in 2015!

Take A Moment to Look at Last Year’s Photo Gallery

So far, the website’s archived photos date all the way back to 2014. They are indexed by year, so you don’t have to remember which Hawaiian shirt you wore which year. Here are the volunteer photographers who submitted their work: Dave Straub, Jerry Kelley, Peter Esherick, Will Herschler, and so many more. We are very grateful!

Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

This newsletter ends with a plea for your assistance. Help us keep your friends informed during the coming year about ABQ FOLK FEST activities by sharing this newsletter, or by telling your friends how to sign-up to receive this newsletter themselves via email. All they need to do is submit their email address using the following link: abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml. Your friends will be glad you remembered them and will thank you for your “techy” ingenuity! And then Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/abqfolkfest/.

January 30, 2020

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

Happy New Year! It’s a leap year! How did we get so lucky? It must be lucky to have one full extra day to get ready for your arrival on June 13, 2020 at the Bosque School for the Albuquerque Folk Festival. Indeed, we are leaping with gusto into the planning stages for our favorite festival. We hope you’ll join us! Buy tickets early at Brown Paper Tickets. Read below for “new” news and a few reminders to keep you in the know and on the inside track for the upcoming Albuquerque Folk Festival.

What's in this issue:

• Remembering Antonia Apodaca
• Performer Sign-up Link Open Til Midnight January 31!
• Sing Along February 29, 2020, 2-4 pm
• Amazon Smile! At Work for the ABQ FOLK FEST
• The Festival Song Circle is Back!
• Who Are the ABQ FOLK FEST Volunteers?
• Event in Albuquerque February 9, 2020, 3-5 pm
• Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

Remembering Antonia Apodaca

Antonia Apodaca (born November 1, 1923) died on January 25, 2020. During her long career she was an American musician and songwriter known for her performances of traditional New Mexico music. She came to wider prominence through her performances in the La Música de los Viejitos festival in Santa Fe, the festival's nationally circulated radio broadcasts, and appearances at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. We will miss her.

Performer Sign-Up Link Open Til Midnight January 31!

Applications received by January 15, 2020 are already in the review process, but if you have a passion to perform the application link is still live on the website! The performer selection criteria and application are at abqfolkfest.org/selectioncriteria.shtml. Each year we draw festival performers from our local folk-art community because our roots in traditional southwest folk music are deep, but we also book national and regional artists as well. Please read through the selection criteria before you begin, to help focus your application answers. Work all the way to the bottom of the page to locate the Submit Button. You’ll find it below the “Photo/ Release” section.

Sing Along February 29, 2020, 2-4 pm

Congregation Nahalot Shalom, 3606 Rio Grande Blvd NW

In keeping with our 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along schedule, please join Dan Matthews and friends for an afternoon of well-loved folk songs. How lucky we are to have such a Saturday appear on the calendar on February 29, 2020!

The ABQ FOLK FEST community has a tradition of coming together on the last Saturday of every month that has five Saturdays to sing. Dan Matthews organizes an afternoon Sing Along and leads us in song from 2 – 4 pm. The formula for the 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along is: 1) a lyric sheet of 80 familiar and sing-able folk songs, 2) comfortable keys with plenty of lively guitar back up, and 3) lyric sheets (who remembers all the verses?). We sing and play loudly so everyone feels comfortable about “singing along”. Then … we pick the next song. Then… we do it again! We invite you to join us for an afternoon singing folk songs with friends!

Sing Along leader Dan Matthews had led Sing Alongs at the annual June ABQ FOLK FEST for many years. In 2010, he was invited to put together a main stage Sing Along tribute to Pete Seeger. Each year since that time he and a posse of musical friends with strong voices have led scores of people in rousing, meaningful, and joyous song. Dan’s joy is in singing with people, not singing for people, whether it's in a song circle, the 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Alongs, or at the annual ABQ FOLK FEST Main Stage Sing Along.

Congregation Nahalot Shalom has graciously opened its doors for us to sing together. Suggested donation: $15 at the door. Proceeds from this event benefit the Albuquerque Folk Festival, a nonprofit organization.

Does anybody remember the next verse?

Amazon Smile! At Work for the ABQ FOLK FEST

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Your support is the heart of our organization. We know it’s true.

Our nonprofit organization has been participating in the Amazon Smile! Foundation’s public charity donation program for many years. This program offers a simple and automatic way you can support The Albuquerque Folk Festival when you shop online, at no cost to you. The good part of this program is that it works behind the scenes for you all year long. When you purchase items online through Amazon, the Amazon Smile! Foundation donates 0.5% of the cost of your purchases to the charity of your choice. We hope you’ll consider adding this idea to your ABQ FOLK FEST “giving” portfolio. Many of our fans have already designated The Albuquerque Folk Festival as their 501(c)(3) charity of choice through Amazon Smile! How great would it be if we all did?

This “giving” tool is available through the Amazon Smile! interface. Amazon will even prompt you to click the Smile! icon when your purchases are eligible for this program. To register, simply visit smile.amazon.com signing in with your normal Amazon credentials. The website will prompt you through the necessary steps. Our favorite public charity is listed as The Albuquerque Folk Festival. Thanks for adding your support!

The Festival Song Circle is Back!

We are pleased to announce that the Albuquerque Folk Festival 2020 will be bringing back an “all day” Song Circle under its own tent. This event will serve people who just love to sing and harmonize and even improvise. Festival participants of all ages will be able to gather throughout the day in a shady space to listen to each other, share their voices, and make music. Stay tuned for more details.

Who Are the ABQ FOLK FEST Volunteers?

Our unique annual festival comes together entirely through the graces of our many, many dedicated volunteers who stepped forward to help keep folk traditions alive and well in our community. From the set-up crew to the admission attendants, from the workshop leaders to the Board of Directors, this is an entirely volunteer (but very well loved) workforce. We are so grateful for the efforts of our tireless volunteers.

The volunteer workforce is large, but so is the amount of work to be done each year. If you, too, are interested in planning, fundraising, logistics, set-up, take down, ticket handling, distributing promotional materials, and other tasks before, during, and all through the year, contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteers@abqfolkfest.org. See the website for more information on volunteering: abqfolkfest.org/volunteers.shtml. Your hard work, imagination, and professionalism can help produce the 22nd Albuquerque Folk Festival! We look forward to hearing from you soon!

A quiet volunteer moment…

Event in Albuquerque on February 9, 2020, 3-5 pm

Adam G. Swanson, one of the finest ragtime piano players around, will be performing a benefit concert for The Wheels Museum at the First Unitarian Church in Albuquerque. There will also be a raffle for several terrific prizes including:

• Overnight stay at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, NM
• Overnight stay at the Casteneda Hotel in Las Vegas, NM
• Kala Waterman concert ukelele
• Turquoise and silver jewelry

Adam G. Swanson… ready for ragtime!

Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

This newsletter ends with a plea for your assistance. Help us keep your friends informed during the coming year about ABQ FOLK FEST activities by sharing this newsletter, or by telling your friends how to sign-up to receive this newsletter themselves via email. All they need to do is submit their email address using the following link: abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml. Your friends will be glad you remembered them and will thank you for your “techy” ingenuity!

December 23, 2019

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

Happy Holidays! We wish you a happy and joyous season to carry you through the New Year of 2020. We want to keep you in the loop for ABQ FOLK FEST 2020, so here’s an update on what’s new and happening as we begin our planning for 2020.

Then I think you take a right turn and you’re here!

What's in this issue:

• Message from the President, William Miller
• You Make it Happen!
• Performer Sign-up Deadline on January 15, 2020
• Annual Instrument Consignment Opportunity
• Advance Tickets Go On Sale January 2, 2020
• Outreach Events
• New Year! New Raffle! Plus Old Standard Needs
• Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

Message from the President, William Miller

Dear Friends

We are deep into the planning stage for another successful festival in 2020. Last year we moved the Albuquerque Folk Festival to Bosque School. The reviews were very encouraging as the overwhelming response was extremely positive. Bosque School turned out to be a good fit. The outdoor areas are very family friendly and offer wonderful shaded venues for jams. Giant cottonwood trees abound for younger festival goers to climb. Indoor workshops and stages provide ideal performance spaces. It looks like we have found our new home!

I attended my first Albuquerque Folk Festival in 2000 and knew that something special was in the making. If not for the help of thousands of volunteers and performers like you, ABQ FOLK FEST would not have thrived for 21 years. As we start the new year, I hope that our festival can count on your continued support. Each year we carefully balance our budget to provide the best possible experience for you. Our entire crew is made up of volunteers that work tirelessly for free. Every cent that we raise goes towards entertainment and the infrastructure required to offer one of the best participatory folk music events in the country.

There are many ways to help. We always need volunteers on the day on the festival. This year’s date is June 13th so don’t delay; sign up soon for the area where you want to help. If you can, we also need donations of money and in-kind services. Please consider making a donation at https://www.abqfolkfest.org/sponsors.shtml. You can also attend a house concert or other event sponsored by ABQ FOLK FEST and contribute to our festival while enjoying great entertainment.

We thank you for your support and hope to see you June 13, 2020 at Bosque School.

Bill Miller,
Albuquerque Folk Festival, Inc. 501 (c) (3), a Public Charity
President of Board of Directors, Volunteer Coordinator
http://www.abqfolkfest.org/

You Make it Happen!

Your loyal support is critical to the Albuquerque Folk Festival. Your time, in kind donations, and money are the lifeblood of this nonprofit organization. Time and services donated by our many volunteers and sponsors keep overhead low; gifts of money and other donations make it possible to keep admission prices low. Indeed, no cultural organization survives on admission receipts alone. We are constantly on the lookout for revenue sources consistent with our mission to pass on the skills, knowledge, and traditions that ensure the survival of folk activities.

Consider a tax-deductible donation by credit card or PayPal on our website at https://donate.justgiving.com/. (If you prefer to donate by check, one made payable to the Albuquerque Folk Festival can be mailed to: Albuquerque Folk Festival, PO Box 4837, Albuquerque, NM 87196.)

Or, include the Albuquerque Folk Festival in your will. Contact Erika Gerety and Cleve Sharp at sponsors@abqfolkfest.org for more information.

To those who have already made donations this year in whatever manner and whatever amount, we thank you for your generosity! You give us new energy and motivation to begin the New Year.

Folk music is for all ages!

Performer Sign-Up Deadline on January 15, 2020

The New Year is almost here… and with it an opportunity for local, regional, and national performers. This holiday season keeps us all hopping, so here’s a reminder to sign-up now for a spot on the ABQ FOLK FEST 2020 performance lineup! Don’t forget that the deadline is January 15, 2020, only days away! Please feel free to forward this newsletter (or at least the reminder) to fellow performers who should also sign up soon.

The link for both the performer selection criteria summary and the online performer application are at www.abqfolkfest.org/selectioncriteria.shtml. Each year most of our festival performers are drawn from the local folk-art community because our roots in traditional southwest folk music are deep, but we do book regional and national artists as well. Be sure to read through the selection criteria before you begin to help focus your application answers.

Remember to work all the way to the bottom of the page for the Submit Button. You’ll find it below the “Photo/ Release” section.

Annual Instrument Consignment Opportunity

Time to start thinking about the New Year and your opportunity (or perhaps resolution) to sell or buy a well-loved instrument through the festival’s Annual Instrument Consignment Table. Is there a rumor that Santa is bringing a new instrument to your home? Do you have a musical instrument you no longer use? Help the festival, help yourself, and declutter your instrument collection. Plan to consign your well-loved instrument (nothing over $500) for adoption by another festival fan in June 2020. You’ll receive 80% of the proceeds, be able to donate 20% to the festival, and gain more room for the new instrument! You could also donate an instrument to be sold at the consignment table, giving 100% of the proceeds to the ABQ FOLK FEST. Remember, the festival is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, so all donations are tax deductible.

If, instead, you are in the market for a new, but well-loved, instrument, you may find a great deal at the Annual Instrument Consignment Table. Start saving now, as even your purchase will help the festival. Remember that 20% of the sales price goes to support the ABQ FOLK FEST. All sales are cash only.

Then a band formed at the Consignment Table!

Advance Ticket Sales

Advance tickets for the Albuquerque Folk Festival on June 13, 2020 will be on sale through Brown Paper Tickets at a discount (that is, less the online fee) before May 15, 2020. Ticket sales open January 2, 2020. Purchase your tickets early at Brown Paper Tickets. If you have questions or would like more information, email sponsors@abqfolkfest.org.

If you are not ready to think that far ahead, that’s okay. Just remember to mark your calendar for June 13, 2020.

Outreach Events

First Tuesdays: ABQ FOLK FEST Jam

Where: Thirsty Eye Brewing Company, 206 Broadway Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM
When: The first Tuesday of every month. Music begins at 7pm
Price: No charge

There’s a jam each month at Thirsty Eye Brewing Company hosted by various festival organizers...what could be more fun! The Thirsty Eye jam is good for performing, listening, and kicking back on a Tuesday evening. And there are lots of good choices on the menu, too!

Bring your instrument and join in... Or just c'mon down and enjoy the music! Get a little bit of the folk festival vibe every month at the ABQ FOLK FEST Jam.

New Year! New Raffle! Plus Old Standard Needs…

The annual festival raffle is quite a tradition! To prepare for Albuquerque Folk Festival 2020 we are already looking for folk art items, services, house concerts, tickets, lessons, studio time, and/ or stay-cation opportunities to raffle. Tell us about your item for the raffle. An ABQ FOLK FEST balloon ride would be a wonderful auction item! Contact sponsors@abqfolkfest.org if you’d like to donate an item to be raffled at the ABQ FOLK FEST.

Other operational and administrative operational items that would really help us are a 1) flatbed truck/ trailer that could be used as a stage and 2) year-round storage space for festival gear. Contact sponsors@abqfolkfest.org if you can help us with these items.

And of course, we always need interested volunteers like you for Saturday festival set-up and/ or breakdown, admissions/ check in, and/ or promotional support at pre-festival events. Contact us by filling out the form at abqfolkfest.org/volunteers.shtml. We look forward to hearing from you.

There’s always dancing! We need dancers, too.

Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

Help us keep you and your friends informed during the coming year about year-round ABQ FOLK FEST activities and the upcoming festival on June 13, 2020 at the Bosque School. Share this newsletter and tell your friends to sign-up to receive this newsletter themselves via email. All they need to do is submit their email address at the following link: abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml.

And then remind your friends and loved ones that it’s never too early to become a festival fan and volunteer, just like you. We especially value your donation of time, musical talent, organization skills, and love of folk traditions. Your friends will be glad for your initiative and wish you a very Happy New Year, too!

November 5, 2019

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

We have wonderful news! ABQ FOLK FEST 2020 will return to the Bosque School campus at 4000 Bosque Road NW, on Saturday, June 13, 2020. We loved being at this venue because it perfectly suits the variety of entertainment and workshop sessions we present, and it is very conducive to the learning environment so essential to our programming. As usual this festival will feature entertainment appearing all day on many stages. It continues to be fundamentally built around providing the opportunity to learn about, and participate in folk traditions such as singing, dancing, and playing instruments. The list of opportunities waiting for you is long and enriching. We’ll send more information as it becomes available. Check often for updates posted to our website at abqfolkfest.org.

What's in this issue:

• Announcing New Monthly Festival Jam
• Performer Sign-up Link is on the Website!
• Best Folk Sing Along in Albuquerque: November 29, 2019, 2-4pm
• Do Well and Do Good
• Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

Announcing New Monthly Festival Jam

We’re excited to announce a new event! The inaugural monthly ABQ FOLK FEST Jam at the Thirsty Eye Brewing Company was on October 8, 2019… both the Jam group and the crowd were wonderful! Now we’re looking forward to jams each month to be hosted by various festival organizers. Thirsty Eye’s website already has a printable calendar showing our recurring Tuesday event. The venue is good for performing, listening, and kicking back on a Tuesday evening. Lots of good choices on the menu, too! Hope to see you at the next ABQ FOLK FEST Jam on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at the Thirsty Eye Brewing Company at 206 Broadway Blvd SE. The music begins at 7 pm. Since November 5 is an election day, remember to exercise your right to vote first!

The ABQ FOLK FEST Jam will continue to be on the first Tuesday of each month following. We’ll send notices now and then to help you remember.

Performer Sign-Up Link is on the Website

Here’s a quick reminder to sign-up early (before the holidays) for a spot on the ABQ FOLK FEST 2020 performance lineup. The January 15, 2020 deadline will soon be here! The link for both the performer selection criteria summary and the online performer application for are at abqfolkfest.org/selectioncriteria.shtml. Each year, the majority of our festival performers are drawn from the local folk-art community because our roots in traditional southwest folk music are deep, but we do book some national and regional artists as well. Be sure to read through the selection criteria before you begin to help focus your application answers. Remember to work all the way to the bottom of the page for the Submit Button. You’ll find it below the “Photo/ Release” section.

Best Folk Sing Along in Albuquerque: November 29, 2019, 2-4 pm

Congregation Nahalot Shalom, 3606 Rio Grande Blvd NW

Still not over those “folk festival is gone” blues? Get together with others to remember the old times and share some old folk songs. Join Dan Matthews and friends for an afternoon Sing Along of well-loved folk songs. You may learn a few new verses, or even whole songs to love and sing again and again.

In every month that has five Saturdays, Dan Matthews organizes a Sing Along on the last Saturday afternoon (the 5th Saturday…) from 2 – 4 pm. The formula for the 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along is: 1) a lyric sheet of 80 familiar and sing-able folk songs, 2) comfortable keys with plenty of lively guitar back up, and 3) lyric sheets (who remembers all the verses?). We sing and play loudly so everyone can feel comfortable about “singing along”. Then … we pick the next song. Then… we do it again! We invite you to join us. Spend an afternoon singing folk songs with friends!

Sing Along leader Dan Matthews has led small sing alongs at the annual June ABQ FOLK FEST for many years. In 2010, he was invited to put together a main stage Sing Along tribute to Pete Seeger. Each year since that time he and a posse of musical friends with strong voices has led scores of people in rousing, meaningful, and joyous song. Dan’s joy is in singing with people, not singing for people, whether it's in a song circle, the 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Alongs, or at the annual ABQ FOLK FEST Main Stage Sing Along.

Congregation Nahalot Shalom has graciously opened its doors for us to sing together. Suggested donation: $15 at the door. Proceeds from this event benefit the Albuquerque Folk Festival, a nonprofit organization.

Do Well and Do Good

Are you over 70 ½? Do you have an IRA that has done well in the recent bull market? Congratulations!

And did you know that with a little planning you can make a charitable contribution to the ABQ FOLK FEST and reduce your taxes? With a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), you transfer a portion, or all, of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from an IRA and exclude that amount from your taxable income. A few IRS technical requirements apply:

• Only individuals can make QCDs.
• The IRA owner must be at least 70 ½ years of age.
• The recipient must be a qualified organization. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ABQ FOLK FEST qualifies to receive your charitable donation.
• The organization must provide the donor a written acknowledgement. We’re ready and willing to do this.
• The contribution must be from your traditional IRA, not a pension, or a 401(k).
• The gift has to be made by your IRA custodian directly to ABQ FOLK FEST. You can’t “touch” the money.

Consult your tax advisor to ensure making a QCD is appropriate in your situation. It’s possible that a QCD from your IRA can be a “win-win” deal for you and ABQ FOLK FEST. You’ll get a hearty thank you from us!

Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

Help us keep you and your friends informed about the coming year’s ABQ FOLK FEST activities by sharing this newsletter, or by telling your friends how to sign-up for to receive this newsletter themselves via email. All they need to do is submit their email address using the following link: abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml. Your friends will thank you for “techy” ingenuity!

Dear Friends:

Please find below midsummer news and opportunities for music lovers.

The next AFF Sing-along will be on Saturday, August 31, 2019 from 2:00 to 3:30ish pm at Congregation Nahalot Shalom in Albuquerque at 3606 Rio Grande Blvd NW. Join Dan Matthews and friends the fifth Saturday in August for a sing-along of well-loved folk songs. These get-togethers are such a sweet treat for our folk community. You’ll be surprised how good it will make you feel to join in the chorus. We'll look for you.

As is our style, the regular Fifth Saturday Sing-along will provide both a lyric sheet of 80 familiar and sing-able songs and some lively guitar musical back up. Feel free to bring your instrument of choice, too.

We're grateful to sing-along leader Dan Matthews for his efforts to organize this 5th Saturday of the month event throughout the year, as well as to present the annual June festival's Main Stage Sing-Along. He and a gracious posse of friends with strong voices continue to lead scores of people in rousing, meaningful, and joyous song.

Congregation Nahalot Shalom at 3606 Rio Grande Blvd NW once again opens its doors to the Fifth Saturday Sing-Along event on August 31, from 2:00 - 3:30 pm. Suggested donation: $15 at the door. Proceeds benefit the Albuquerque Folk Festival, a nonprofit organization.

The Enchanters Chorus of Albuquerque invites folks to join their educational fellowship while entertaining audiences across New Mexico. The mixed chorus has performed for nearly seven decades, drawing their musical selections from a wide variety of musical styles.

The choral season runs from August to May. Regular rehearsals are Tuesday evenings from 7-9 pm. Please note that this is an active group, booking about 20 performances in a typical year. Membership is limited to 25, but those interested are invited to contact Charlene Baker via email at hufftrot@gmail.com or by phone at (505) 350-2436 to schedule an audition. The chorus is currently especially interested in basses and tenors.

Just a final reminder... Help keep your friends informed about ABQ FOLK FEST activities by sharing this newsletter. Then tell them to sign-up to receive a newsletter directly using the following link: http://abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml.

Your friends will thank you for your "techy" ingenuity!

June 25, 2019

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

We celebrated the Albuquerque Folk Festival 2019 on a bright, sunny day with music, laughter, smiles and much fancy stepping in the comfortable Rio Grande bosque among so many happy people. Much thanks to the Bosque School for helping us bring this successful event together. And we’re already looking forward to Albuquerque Folk Festival 2020. We’ll keep you posted on the details.

What's in this issue:

• Next Sing Along is June 29, 2019 2-4pm
• Announcing Festival Raffle Winners
• You Make it Happen!
• Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

Next Sing Along is June 29, 2019, 2-4 pm

Congregation Nahalot Shalom, 3606 Rio Grande Blvd NW

Got those 2019 festival is over blues? Let’s get together to sing some more! Join Dan Matthews and friends for an afternoon Sing Along of well-loved folk songs. You may learn a few new verses, or even whole songs to love and sing again and again.

Every month with five Saturdays, Dan Matthews organizes a Sing-Along on the last Saturday afternoon (the 5th Saturday…) from 2 – 4 pm. The formula for the 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Along is: 1) a lyric sheet of 80 familiar and sing-able songs, 2) comfortable keys with plenty of lively guitar back up, and 3) lyric sheets (who remembers all the words?). We sing and play loudly so everyone can feel comfortable about “singing along”. Then you pick the next song. Then you do it again! A great way to spend an afternoon together is singing with friends!

Sing-Along leader Dan Matthews had led small sing-alongs at the annual June festival for many years. In 2010, he was invited to put together a main stage Sing Along tribute to Pete Seeger. Each year since that time he and a posse of friends with strong voices has led scores of people in rousing, meaningful, and joyous song. Dan’s joy is in singing with people, not singing for people, whether it's in a song circle, the 5th Saturday of the Month Sing Alongs, or at the annual ABQ FOLK FEST Sing Along.

Congregation Nahalot Shalom has graciously opened its doors for us to sing together. Suggested donation: $15 at the door. Proceeds from this event benefit the Albuquerque Folk Festival, a nonprofit organization.

Announcing Festival Raffle Winners

We were fortunate to have wonderful prizes for the annual ABQ FOLK FEST Raffle! Congratulations to all of our lucky 2019 Raffle winners! Here are the results and details:

• Classic Turquoise Bicycle … Meredith Smith
• Vintage Sheet Music … Michael Muldawer
• Piccolo/ flute … won by Tomas Wolff
• Original Trylla Esherick Handmade Quilt … won by Angela Welford
• Sanctuary Sound Recording Studio Time … won by Matthew Hecht

You Make it Happen!

Your loyal support is critical to the Albuquerque Folk Festival. Your time and your money are the life blood of the organization. Worked time from our many volunteers helps keep operating overhead low; your money and other donations make it possible to keep annual festival admission prices low. Indeed, no cultural organization survives on admission receipts. We constantly seek sources of revenue in pursuit of our mission to pass on knowledge, skills, and traditions that will ensure the survival of folk activities. Consider a tax-deductible donation through https://donate.justgiving.com/ or by including the Albuquerque Folk Festival in your will. Contact Erika Gerety and Cleve Sharp at sponsors@abqfolkfest.org for more information.

Share this Newsletter with Your Friends

Help us keep you and your friends informed about the coming year’s ABQ FOLK FEST activities by sharing this newsletter, or by telling your friends how to sign-up for to receive this newsletter themselves via email. All they need to do is submit their email address using the following link: http://abqfolkfest.org/contacts.shtml. Your friends will thank you for “techy” ingenuity!

June 12, 2019

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

What's in this issue:

• Announcing the 2019 Food Vendors
• And Here Are the 2019 Craft Vendors
• Helpful Festival Maps
• One More Reminder…New Festival Venue / New Date

Announcing the 2019 Food Vendors

Part of a good time at the ABQ FOLK FEST is sharing a cool drink and a bite to eat with your friends. Here are the Food Vendors who will be on the Bosque School grounds June 15th waiting to serve you some refreshments at the Albuquerque Folk Festival.

We are frequently asked whether it’s okay to bring your own food to the Albuquerque Folk Festival. Yes, you can, but your coolers need to stay in the car. Since your ticket includes in/out privileges you’ll have access to your cooler throughout the day. There will be a tent with tables and chairs, where you can eat and listen to music. Please don’t bring glass containers or alcoholic beverages, though. Remember that backpacks and other bags are subject to search.

And Here Are the 2019 Craft Vendors

Relax while browsing the Craft Vendor Booths at the Albuquerque Folk Festival on the Bosque School grounds on Saturday, June 15th. These vendors are offering everything from soap to nuts… from clothing to handcrafted guitar straps. We hope you enjoy the variety on display.

Helpful Festival Maps

Just in case you haven’t had time to pull the Bosque School address up on Google Maps, we’ve done it for you on our website. (Bosque School Road NW is just off Coors Boulevard, a little south of Montaño.) And you’ll want to know where the scheduled activities are located around the festival grounds, so we’ve also included a festival map on our website.

One More Reminder…New Festival Venue / New Date

Just one more time. The ABQ Folk Fest will at the Bosque School on June 15, 2019! Aren’t you glad you read to the end of the newsletter?

This is the view eastward into the bosque from the Bosque School. It’s open, grassy, and shaded. Just add performers, and you in the audience on June 15, 2019. In the school's buildings, out on the campus lawn, and in this beautiful area shaded by cottonwood trees you’ll find workshops and other events. The new location and new date have been recorded in your calendar, right? And you’ve started reviewing the master schedule, right? Take your time. It’s hard to choose from so many great options. There will be a printed program for you at the festival, but you can also get a PDF version on line. We know you want to see it all. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

June 4, 2019

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

What's in this issue:

• Planning Your Day at the ABQ FOLK FEST
• Festival Tickets Available Online
• Stuff You Should Bring to the Festival
• One More Reminder…New Festival Venue / New Date

Planning Your Day at the ABQ FOLK FEST

Here’s a quick checklist of some of the activities that will be waiting for you on June 15 at this year’s festival. They are listed in no particular order… but sure to tempt you to explore both the indoor and the outdoor events!

• Performances by great national, regional, and local bands
• Saturday night contra dance until 10:00pm
• Music Workshops
• Dance Workshops
• Singing Workshops
• Storyteller Performances
• Musical Instrument Petting Zoo (by Music Guild of NM)
• Band Scramble
• Sign-up Stage
• Hosted Jams & Jam with the Band
• Arts & Craft Vendors
• Free Parking
• Kids Showcase
• Recycling
• Free Bike Valet
• Food Trucks
• Consignment Sales
• Raffle
• Free Instrument Check
• Tree-Shaded eating areas

Things to Do at the Festival That Aren't on the Grid Schedule:

• Sign up for the Band Scramble at the information table by 3:30 pm if you are a musician or dancer
• Recycle your trash at the recycling stations around the grounds
• Fill out a feedback card and let us know what you think

Where to purchase Festival Tickets

The ABQ FOLK FEST will open the gates for you soon! For your convenience, you can buy tickets online from now until the day of the festival. So save yourself a little hassle AND a little money. Don’t wait in line! Buy your advance tickets through Brown Paper Tickets.

Family rates (including discounts) are also available online. Here are our new family rates: $30 online buys you a ticket for a whole family. The online family ticket covers 2 adults and any number of kids under 18. Hint: Family tickets are $35 at the gate. Plus, purchasing an online ticket in advance is really easy to do.

Check out our website for all of our ticket pricing and information. Remember, “In/Out” privileges are included free and there’s no extra online fee. Additional ticket information is available at https://www.abqfolkfest.org/tickets.shtml.

But if you’d prefer to buy your ticket on the day of… Here are more ways to earn a $5 discount off the gate price.

• Bring an instrument! (Of course, we hope you’ll play the instrument while you’re at the festival.) A ticket volunteer will apply your discount to the purchase of an adult, student, or senior ticket at the gate.
• Bring an instrument to sell at the consignment table. (Perhaps you’ll see another that suits your current style a little better.) A volunteer will apply your discount to the purchase of an adult, student, or senior ticket at the gate.
• Bring the $5 off Coupon you wisely picked up at one of our outreach events around town. A volunteer will apply your discount to the purchase of an adult, student, or senior ticket at the gate.

No computer? No worries. Purchase Early Bird (paper) tickets for $15 at these locations through June 3rd.

• Albuquerque:
  • Baum's Music, 2908 Eubank Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112, 505-292-0707, comments@baumsmusic.com (Map)
  • Bookworks, 4022 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107, 505-344-8139, orders@bkwrks.com (Map)
  • Grumpy's Guitars, 2514 San Mateo Pl NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110, 505-255-0599, steve@grumpysguitars.com (Map)
  • Guitar Vista, 3117 Silver Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, 505-268-1133, sales@guitarvistanm.com (Map)
  • Music Go Round, 7116 Menaul NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110, 505-875-0110 (Map)
• West Side:
  • Frame-n-Art, 3563 Corrales Rd, Corrales, NM 87048, 505-898-0660, info@frame-n-art.com (Map)
• Santa Fe:
  • Borrego's Guitars and Music Supply, 1636 St. Michaels Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87505, 505-471-9043, davidborrego@outlook.com (Map)
  • Candyman Strings & Things, 851 St. Michael's Dr., Santa Fe, NM 87505, (505) 983-5906, info@candymansf.com (Map)
  • High Desert Guitars, 1808 2nd Street, Santa Fe, NM 87505, 505-983-8922 (Map)

Stuff You Should Bring to the Festival

Stuff to bring:

• Your bike! Ride your bike to the festival and use our free bike valet.
• Kids! There is so much for them to experience: they can try out instruments at the instrument petting zoo managed by the Music Guild of New Mexico, check out the stiltwalkers, hang out at the Children's Tent (they have activities all day: music, games, and dancing), listen to stories at the shaded Storyteller Stage, watch other kids perform at the Kids Showcase on the Bosque Stage. (Remember that kids 11 and under get in free!)
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat (although there are tents with chairs)
• Empty, re-useable, non-glass water bottles to fill at the water fountains (although the vendors will be selling drinks)
• Spare instruments to sell at our consignment table (under $600 is best)
• Cash to buy stuff from the food trucks, craft vendors, and instrument consignment table
• Cash to buy raffle tickets
• Your ATM card in case you forget to bring cash (or didn't bring enough given all the fun ways to spend it)
• Instrument and/or dancing shoes: you can leave them safely at Instrument Check while you are at performances, etc (open til 9 pm)

Don't Bring This Stuff:

• Glass bottles
• Alcohol
• Dogs or other pets (except uniformed service dogs)

One More Reminder…New Festival Venue / New Date

Just one more time. The ABQ Folk Fest will at the Bosque School on June 15, 2019! Aren’t you glad you read to the end of the newsletter?

May 3, 2019

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

What's in this issue:

• ABQ FOLK FEST 2019 Performers
• ABQ FOLK FEST is Looking for Business Partners
• Festival Tickets Now Available Online
• Events Around Town

ABQ FOLK FEST 2019 Performers

Check out the performers playing at this year’s ABQ FOLK FEST, June 15, Bosque School.

ABQ FOLK FEST is Looking for Business Partners

Consider adding a charitable sponsorship to your business plan by investing in the Albuquerque Folk Festival. You’ll have a greater impact on your community while helping us share the traditions of folk music, song, dance, and storytelling through educational workshops, demonstrations and performances.

If you are a business (or you know of a business) that would like to support the ABQ FOLK FEST and its goals, we invite you to sponsor a workshop tent, a stage, and/or a performer. Sponsorship rates are directly related to the cost of the venues you’d like to support. Sponsorships range from $200 for most workshops to $2000 for a large stage venue. The ABQ FOLK FEST provides a banner (or sign placement) clearly showing the sponsor’s name at each venue selected. To work out details, please contact Erika at sponsors@abqfolkfest.org.

Additional sponsorship information for individuals and businesses is available on our website.

Festival Tickets Now Available Online

The ABQ FOLK FEST is coming soon! For your convenience, you can buy tickets online from now until the day of the festival. Family rates (plus discounts) are also available online. Here are our new family rates: $30 online buys you a ticket for a whole family. The online family ticket covers 2 adults and any number of kids under 18. Hint: Family tickets are $35 at the gate. Plus, you have the ease of purchasing an advance ticket.

So save yourself a little hassle AND a little money. Don’t wait in line! Buy your advance tickets through Brown Paper Tickets.

Check out our website for ticket pricing and information. “In/Out” privileges are included free and there’s no extra online ticket fee.

More ways to earn a $5 discount off the gate price.

• Bring an instrument! (Of course, we hope you’ll play the instrument while you’re at the festival. A volunteer will apply your discount to the purchase of an adult, student, or senior ticket at the gate.
• Bring an instrument to sell at the consignment table. (Perhaps you’ll see another that suits your current style a little better.) A volunteer will apply your discount to the purchase of an adult, student, or senior ticket at the gate.
• Pick up a $5 off Coupon at any of our outreach events around town: Celtic Festival, Herb Festival, Heidi Muller Workshop or Heidi Muller Concert. A volunteer will apply your discount to the purchase of an adult, student, or senior ticket at the gate.

Events Around Town

Look for the ABQ FOLK FEST at These 2019 Events

The Celtic Festival this weekend! Herbfest next weekend! And a special one-day dulcimer event featuring Heidi Muller and sponsored by our friends at the New Mexico Dulcimer Association.

• Celtic Festival, May 4-5 at their new location… Rotary Park in Bernalillo, NM. The 31st Rio Grande Valley Celtic festival presents ceremony and celebration. Live music, Celtic dance demonstrations, Heavy Scottish Athletics, Clan Row, and… bag pipes! Look for the ABQ FOLK FEST table for information, schedules, $5 off coupons, and bumper stickers.
• Herbfest, May 11 - 12 at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. Speakers, vendors, Audubon bird ID, a raffle, Wildlife Rescue birds, herb sales, live music, and more. The Herbfest is free, but a park day use fee ($3) applies. Look for the ABQ FOLK FEST table for information, schedules, $5off coupons, and bumper stickers.

Herbfest Saturday, May 11 Music & Speaker Program

• 10:00 Music for all Seasons
• 11:00 Dog Star
• 12:00 Timothy Lowrey, "Origins of Commonly Used Herbs & Spices"
• 1:00 Michael Halverson, "Native Plants in Your Landscape"
• 2:00 80 Jackson Street
• 3:00 Adobe Brothers

Herbfest Sunday, May 12 Music & Speaker Program

• 10:00 Friends Forever
• 11:00 Virginia Creepers
• 12:00 Wesley Brittenham, "Earthly Delights of Gardens"
• 1:00 Lulu Sage, "Beekeeping in an Urban Environment"
• 2:00 Saoirse
• 3:00 C & J Ltd



• Heidi Muller Workshops and Concert, May 18 at Grace Baptist Chapel. Heidi Muller, an award-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist, and mountain dulcimer player, is known throughout the American folk community for her crystalline alto voice and comfortable stage style. She's in town for one day only for a concert at 7pm and workshops in the afternoon preceding the concert. For more details, see the flyer. To reserve a spot be sure to RSVP to NMDulcFest1@gmail.com. Look for an ABQ FOLK FEST presence for information, schedules, $5off coupons, and bumper stickers.
  
  
  • Who: Singer/ Songwriter Heidi Muller
  • What: Mountain Dulcimer Workshops and Concert
  • When: May 18, 2019 at 7 pm
    (Workshops at 1:00 pm & 2:45 pm; Concert at 7:00 pm)
  • Where: Grace Baptist Chapel, 12201 Comanche Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM.

April 23, 2019

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

What's in this issue:

• New Festival Venue / New Date Change Reminder
• San Ysidro Church Concert on April 25, 2019
• Volunteering for the ABQ FOLK FEST
• Last Call for Vendors
• Looking for a Space to Jam on June 14, 2019
• ABQ FOLK FEST Tickets Available Online
• ABQ FOLK FEST events around Albuquerque

New Festival Venue / New Date Change Reminder

ABQ Folk Fest at Bosque School on June 15, 2019!

The Main Stage will be set up here, behind the Bosque School building (Bosque School Road North just off Coors Boulevard) on June 15, 2019. The new location and new date are already recorded in your calendar, right? We want to see you there!

San Ysidro Church Concert on April 25, 2019!

We are honored to announce three wonderful bands performing this Thursday evening, April 25th, in the historic San Ysidro Church in Corrales! This is a lively, toe tapping, way to spend a lovely Spring evening. Let’s come together for music in Corrales.

Higher Ground, known for tight harmonies and tasteful instrumentation has been playing together since 1998. Be prepared to grin from ear to ear while listening. Voted “Best Folk/Americana Band” in BEST OF BURQUE MUSIC 2019!

Silver String Band, a premier roots and Americana ensemble with a spunky and engaging style, is bound to take your breath away. They proudly cite a broad background of musical influences: BlueGrass, NuGrass, JazzGrass, Grunge, Punk, Metal, and even some old country thrown in.

The Squash Blossom Boys have been blending a mix of old time Cajun and driving Bluegrass on southwestern stages for over 10 years. Their folksy sound is sure to win your soul. (Must be present to applaud.)

• Who: Higher Ground Bluegrass, Silver String Band, Squash Blossom Boys
• Where: San Ysidro Church, 966 Old Church Road, Corrales, NM
• When: 7:00 pm Thursday, April 25, 2019 (Doors open at 6:30 pm)
• How: Ticket price is $30… at the door, or thru www.BrownPaperTickets.com

A huge thank you to each of these bands for their in-kind support to ABQ FOLK FEST! Proceeds go to support the Albuquerque Folk Festival, a nonprofit organization. Get your tickets today.

Volunteering for ABQ FOLK FEST

April is a busy month for Albuquerque Folk Festival volunteers as activities ramp up to meet our deadlines. Would you believe it? During the festival there are 18 hours of continuous educational music and dance workshops, live performances, and spontaneous band jams. So much has already been accomplished, but there’s still more to do before we set up the stages for June 15th, 2019. Work continues throughout the year, carried on by many dedicated volunteers. Fortunately, volunteers have courageously stepped into the important roles of managing, scheduling, promoting, and planning bringing with them key skills and an impressive dose of enthusiasm. It takes approximately 700 volunteers to accomplish this feat; even board members are volunteers! This is indeed a dedicated group of people. We thank them all!

If you share a kinship to our mission to preserve and pass along folk traditions, why not join us? There are many ways to participate in the nonprofit organization, from pre-festival setup hanging signs to committee work during the year… from sponsorships to grant writing. Check out the volunteer page on the website at www.abqfolkfest.org for more information and send an email to volunteers@abqfolkfest.org to let us know of your interest. Or ask one of the managers at the festival how you can join this organization when you bring your friends and/ or family to the festival on June 15, 2019. We’ll be happy to point you in the right direction. This festival brings people together!

Last Call for Vendors

Calling all vendors! May 1 is the due date to mail in Arts and Crafts Vendor Applications if you would like to vend with us this year. Arts and Crafts Vendor Applications are available online at https://www.abqfolkfest.org/vendors.shtml. Send queries to vendors@abqfolkfest.org.

Looking for a Space to “Jam”: Friday, June 14th

The ABQ FOLK FEST is looking for a place to jam together for free (not requiring city permits) with space for a few campers (dry camping) on June 14, 2019, the Friday night before the folk festival. If you have a place, or know of a place, please send an email to directors@abqfolkfest.org.

ABQ FOLK FEST Tickets Now Available Online

For your convenience, you can buy tickets online from now until the day of the festival. Save yourself a little hassle AND a little money. Buy your tickets in advance! Check out our website at abqfolkfest.org/tickets.shtml for ticket pricing and information. “In/Out” privileges are included free and there’s no extra online ticket fee. Additional ticket information is available at abqfolkfest.org/tickets.shtml

Events Around Town

Look for the ABQ FOLK FEST at These 2019 Events

The Nob Hill La Montanita EarthFest was a great time for talking to people about the upcoming festival, listening to music, and handing out $5 off coupons. If you weren’t there, make sure you catch us at the following events. ABQ FOLK FEST volunteers and performers will be out and around town handing out flyers (with the schedule on the back), answering questions, distributing flyers for other acoustic festivals in NM, handing out AFF $5 off coupons, and bumper stickers! Come talk to us soon!

• Celtic Festival, May 4-5 at their new location… Rotary Park in Bernalillo, NM. The 31st Rio Grande Valley Celtic festival presents ceremony and celebration. Live music, Celtic dance demonstrations, Heavy Scottish Athletics, Clan Row, and… bag pipes! Look for the ABQ FOLK FEST table for information, schedules, $5 off coupons, and bumper stickers.
• Herb Fest, May 11 - 12 at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. Speakers, vendors, Audubon bird ID, a raffle, Wildlife Rescue birds, herb sales, live music, and more. The Herbfest is free, but a park day use fee ($3) applies. Look for the ABQ FOLK FEST table for information, schedules, $5off coupons, and bumper stickers.

Herbfest Saturday, May 11 Music & Speaker Program

• 10:00 Music for all Seasons
• 11:00 Dog Star
• 12:00 Timothy Lowrey, "Origins of Commonly Used Herbs & Spices"
• 1:00 Michael Halverson, "Native Plants in Your Landscape"
• 2:00 80 Jackson Street
• 3:00 Adobe Brothers

Herbfest Sunday, May 12 Music & Speaker Program

• 10:00 Friends Forever
• 11:00 Virginia Creepers
• 12:00 Wesley Brittenham, "Earthly Delights of Gardens"
• 1:00 Lulu Sage, "Beekeeping in an Urban Environment"
• 2:00 Saoirse
• 3:00 C & J Ltd

March 28, 2019

ABQ FOLK FEST Newsletter

What's in this issue:

• Calendars Ready? Lots of News!
• ABQ FOLK FEST events around Albuquerque
• Call for Vendors! Deadline May 1
• ABQ FOLK FEST out on the Town
• ABQ FOLK FEST Tickets Available Online

Calendars Ready? Lots of News!

We're moving the festival to a new location in Albuquerque and a new date. The festival will be at the Bosque School at 4000 Bosque School Rd N, (just off Coors Boulevard) on June 15, 2019. Planning can be challenging, but we’re excited about playing music under the Cottonwood trees. And we’ll still have the festival events we’re famous for: live entertainment, great workshops, band jams, storytelling, crafts, and dancing all day.

ABQ FOLK FEST … Stage goes here on June 15, 2019!

Check out our current list of performers!

ABQ FOLK FEST events around Albuquerque!

Let's Sing Together this Coming Saturday! Sooo Fun! March 30
Congregation Albert, 3800 Louisiana Blvd, 2-4 pm

You probably feel your best when you’re singing! Right? So, let’s sing some more! Join Dan Matthews and friends for an afternoon Sing-Along of well-loved folk songs. You may learn a few new verses, or even whole songs to love and sing long into the future.

Every month with five Saturdays there’s an ABQ FOLK FEST Sing-Along organized by Dan Matthews on the last Saturday afternoon from 2 pm – 4 pm. The formula for the 5th Saturday of the month Sing-Along is 1) a list of familiar and very sing-able songs, 2) comfortable keys accompanied by guitar back up and, 3) lyric sheets (who remembers all of the words?). We sing and play loudly so people feel welcome to sing out. Then you pick the next song from a lyric sheet which has approximately 80 songs. Congregation Albert has graciously opened its doors for us to sing together. Come early and look around. Suggested donation: $15 at the door. Proceeds benefit the ABQ FOLK FEST.

Sing-Along leader Dan Matthews has led small sing-alongs at Albuquerque Folk Fest for many years. In 2010, he was invited to put together a main stage Sing-Along tribute to Pete Seeger. A posse of friends with strong voices has led scores of people in rousing, meaningful and joyous song each year since. Dan’s joy is singing with people, not singing for people… whether it's a song circle, the 5th Saturday Sing-Alongs, or at the ABQ FOLK FEST.

If you can’t make this one, join us next time! Sing-Alongs are held every fifth Saturday in the month. Mark your calendars for: June 29, August 31, and November 30, 2019. Save the dates!

Fundraising Concert April 25, 2019 in Corrales at Old San Ysidro Church!
Higher Ground Bluegrass, Silver String Band, & Squash Blossom Boys
Concert 7:00-10:00 pm; doors open to public at 6:30 pm

These are each truly wonderful bands by themselves, but together they have planned a spectacular musical night for all of us!

Higher Ground, known for tight harmonies and tasteful instrumentation, has been playing together since 1998. Be prepared to grin from for ear to ear while you listen. Sample Higher Ground at www.highergroundbluegrass.com/

The Silver String Band is a premier bluegrass/ Americana ensemble with a spunky and engaging style that will take your breath away. You can sample Silver String Band at www.facebook.com/AbqStringBand/

The Squash Blossom Boys have been blending a mix of old time Cajun and driving Bluegrass on our southwestern stages for us for over 10 years. Their folksy sound will win your soul. Check out "Outside Looking In" at www.squashblossomboys.com/

Ticket price is $30…available at the door, or through Brown Paper Tickets in advance.

A huge thank you to each of these bands for their in-kind support to ABQ FOLK FEST! Proceeds go to support the Albuquerque Folk Festival, a non-profit organization!

Historic Old San Ysidro Church is located at 966 Old Church Road in Corrales, New Mexico.

Call for Vendors! Deadline: May 1

Calling all vendors! Arts and Craft vendor applications must be mailed to the ABQ FOLK FEST by May 1st to vend with AFF this year at the Bosque School. For information, please contact vendors@abqfolkfest.org.

ABQ FOLK FEST out on the Town

Look for the ABQ FOLK FEST at any of these upcoming 2019 Events

ABQ FOLK FEST volunteers and performers will be out and around the town handing out AFF flyers (with that valuable schedule on the back), distributing flyers for other acoustic festivals in New Mexico, and handing out AFF $5 discount coupons. Come talk to us soon!

• EarthFest, April 22 in Nob Hill. La Montanita Co-op’s EarthFest is one of the largest Earth Day events in New Mexico. Farmers, artists, and non-profit organizations celebrate the Earth, our community, and our connections. A friendly and high energy event. Look for the ABQ FOLK FEST table to get flyers and $5 discount coupons.
• Celtic Festival, May 4 & 5 at Balloon Fiesta Park
• Herb Fest, May 11 & 12 at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. There will be herbs, plants, Albuquerque Folk Festival bands, speakers, crafts for all, and more. Proceeds go to support the Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center.

Bands performing at Herb Fest

The Herb Fest, at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park on Mother's Day Weekend (May 11-12), features 8 bands in support of the Nature Center and ABQ FOLK FEST. The Herb Fest is free, but a park day-use fee ($3) applies. Here's the lineup:

Saturday, May 11

• 10:00 Music for all Seasons
• 11:00 Dog Star
• 12:00 Timothy Lowrey, "Origins of Commonly Used Herbs & Spices"
• 1:00 Michael Halverson, "Native Plants in Your Landscape"
• 2:00 80 Jackson Street
• 3:00 Adobe Brothers

Sunday, May 12

• 10:00 Friends Forever
• 11:00 Virginia Creepers
• 12:00 Wesley Brittenham, "Earthly Delights of Gardens"
• 1:00 Lulu Sage, "Beekeeping in an Urban Environment"
• 2:00 Saoirse
• 3:00 C & J Ltd

ABQ FOLK FEST Tickets Available Online

For your convenience, you can buy tickets online from now until the day of the Festival. Save yourself a little hassle and buy your tickets in advance! Check our website for ticket information.