Annual Traditional Music Festivals and Events in Alaska
Year 2008
Jan. 17-27, 2008 - Anchorage Folk Festival - is typically scheduled for the last two weekends of January - The AFF hotline is 907-566-2334 or you can try to contact Karl Wilhelmi at wilwhale@gci.net. Some fine guest musicians and more.
Sat. Feb. 9, 2008 - Fairbanks Winter Folk Fest at the Civic Center at Alaskaland/Pioneer Park. The festival will begin around noon and go till 11 pm with local talent. If you think you have musical talent, contact Trudy at trudy@acousticadventures.com to see about performing. The annual Folk Fest Membership Meeting should take place around 6:00 pm at the Civic Center, with pizza provided for all Folk Fest members present (so make sure to be current). At least this used to be the case. Contact fairbanksfolkfest@gmail.com for further info.
April 7-13, 2008 - Alaska Folk Festival - in Juneau every April. This is one of the best of any folk festival I've been to - a real musician's festival. It takes over the town. Broadcasts on the radio every evening. Dances from Thursday through Saturday nights concurrent with performances. Workshops. Jam sessions all night for any kind of folk music. A crammed weekend at the end - a physical discharge and a musical recharge for all. Musicians come from all over the Northwest. Not to be missed. Call 463-3316 or check the website above for further info.
Here are a few very special festivals around North America worth mentioning, even if not in Alaska.
The Champlain Valley Music Festival, located in Burlington, Vermont
The Festival of American Fiddletunes in Port Townsend, Washington State
If there is a regular festival in Alaska that is not listed here and would like to be, send me the information: gary(at)alaskafolkmusic.org