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Welcome to the Northwest Folklife Festival 2018 schedule!
Trad Stage [clear filter]
Friday, May 25
 

4:00pm PDT

Evan Snoey
One Man, Many Instruments.

Performers
ES

Evan Snoey

Evan is a multi-instrumentalist who started playing fiddle here in Seattle when he was 5, played his first dance at 6 & at 17 has added mandolin, tenor sax, piano, & guitar to his list.Repertoire includes bluegrass, Northwest, Scandinavian, Scottish, Irish, & French Canadian fiddle... Read More →


Friday May 25, 2018 4:00pm - 4:35pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

4:50pm PDT

SixTeen Strings
Teen Fiddlers Afire!

Performers
SS

SixTeen Strings

Sixteen Strings are a band of 4 teenagers playing fiddle tunes from around the world, brought together by their teacher, Ruthie Dornfeld. They have been playing together in jam sessions for several years, and in 2017 decided to form a band. Now ready to conquer the world!


Friday May 25, 2018 4:50pm - 5:25pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

5:40pm PDT

Magical Strings
Celtic Harp and Hammer Dulcimer

Performers
MS

Magical Strings

Philip and Pam Boulding founded Magical Strings in 1978, the same year they began the Celtic Yuletide Concerts with their family. They have performed throughout the U.S., Canada, Ireland and Japan, toured and recorded with Dan Fogelberg, appeared on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie... Read More →


Friday May 25, 2018 5:40pm - 6:15pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

6:30pm PDT

The Stumbling Fiddler
Minivan Celtic Band

Performers
TS

The Stumbling Fiddler

What started as a few friends playing celtic music around a dinner table while sharing food and libations has turned into a vibrant performing group, The Stumbling Fiddler has played together since 2014 at Burns Night and St. Patrick's Day festivities as well as at local pubs around... Read More →


Friday May 25, 2018 6:30pm - 7:00pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

7:10pm PDT

Northwest Passage
High-energy Celtic Music

Performers
NP

Northwest Passage

Northwest Passage formed in Seattle in 2016 and have been delighting audiences ever since with their fiery tunes, strong singing, and engaging performances. Their music is steeped in the Irish tradition, although they have been known to delve into Scottish, English, Canadian, maritime... Read More →


Friday May 25, 2018 7:10pm - 7:40pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

7:50pm PDT

The Surly Goats
Riotous Irish Bagpipe Band!

Performers
TS

The Surly Goats

Irish traditional music played by a trio guys who most likely have an Irish ancestor way, way, way back there somewhere. Uilleann pipes and loud singers!!!


Friday May 25, 2018 7:50pm - 8:20pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

8:30pm PDT

the Home Rulers
Celtic: Wistful to Wild

Performers
TH

the Home Rulers

All members of The Home Ruler conduct a busy musical life. Susan Burke contributes to Red Crow, Au Contraire,Pride of Bothell, Home Rulers, and has performed Cape Breton, Scots and Irish music coast to coast for decades . Dan Carollo is a luminous and creative guitarist in the fingerstyle... Read More →


Friday May 25, 2018 8:30pm - 9:00pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109
 
Saturday, May 26
 

11:00am PDT

Kiérah
Celtic Fiddle Sensation

Performers
K

Kiérah

Kiérah is one of Canada’s finest and most versatile Celtic fiddle performers. With 13 years of classical training, Kiérah received one of the highest marks ever given by the Royal Conservatory of Music on her A.R.C.T exam. However, with an Irish/Scottish heritage, Kiérah’s... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 11:00am - 11:35am PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

11:50am PDT

Early Spirit
Celtic Swing

Performers
ES

Early Spirit

Guitarist, founding member of the band Spirit of the West, and singer-songwriter J. Knutson leads three of Vancouver’s most fearless young musicians in Early Spirit. They are not a family, but they act, look, and sound like an ideal family gathering; their conversational music makes... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 11:50am - 12:25pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

12:40pm PDT

Bad To The Bow
West Coast Celtic

Performers
BT

Bad To The Bow

Where traditional and contemporary folk meet – BTTB plays a fusion of world music styles. Whether they are taking a very traditional Celtic tune and applying cutting-edge contemporary string playing techniques and Afro-Cuban rhythms to accompany it, or trying out a new or experimental... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 12:40pm - 1:15pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

1:25pm PDT

Bad To The Bow
West Coast Celtic

Performers
BT

Bad To The Bow

Where traditional and contemporary folk meet – BTTB plays a fusion of world music styles. Whether they are taking a very traditional Celtic tune and applying cutting-edge contemporary string playing techniques and Afro-Cuban rhythms to accompany it, or trying out a new or experimental... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 1:25pm - 1:45pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

1:25pm PDT

Early Spirit
Celtic Swing

Performers
ES

Early Spirit

Guitarist, founding member of the band Spirit of the West, and singer-songwriter J. Knutson leads three of Vancouver’s most fearless young musicians in Early Spirit. They are not a family, but they act, look, and sound like an ideal family gathering; their conversational music makes... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 1:25pm - 1:45pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

1:25pm PDT

Kiérah
Celtic Fiddle Sensation

Performers
K

Kiérah

Kiérah is one of Canada’s finest and most versatile Celtic fiddle performers. With 13 years of classical training, Kiérah received one of the highest marks ever given by the Royal Conservatory of Music on her A.R.C.T exam. However, with an Irish/Scottish heritage, Kiérah’s... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 1:25pm - 1:45pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

2:00pm PDT

Strikes A Bell
Sing Along Chanteys

Performers
SA

Strikes A Bell

Members of Strikes A Bell met at Northwest Seaport’s Monthly Chantey Sing where sea chanteys and other maritime music are sung aboard historic vessels and in other great venues. This group sings familiar and catchy sea songs guaranteed to get all members of the audience joining... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 2:00pm - 2:20pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

2:30pm PDT

Alex Sturbaum
Transatlantic Songs

Performers
AS

Alex Sturbaum

Alex grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, in a household steeped in traditional music. A singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist in many traditions, Alex is equally at home belting out sea shanties, playing Irish reels, and singing old Appalachian ballads. His original songs have a timeless... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 2:30pm - 2:50pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

3:00pm PDT

Shanghaied on the Willamette
Plundered Sea Songs

Performers
SO

Shanghaied on the Willamette

With vocal harmonies and a fleet of acoustic instruments, Shanghaied on the Willamette performs songs plundered from land and sea. Their lively music reaches back into maritime traditions, to fishing, paddling, sailing, and to the early days of Portland, Oregon. Fiddle, banjo, harmonica... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 3:00pm - 3:20pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

3:30pm PDT

Kessler and Perasso
Maritime Stories with Harmony

Performers
KA

Kessler and Perasso

David Kessler and David Perasso each have broad and eclectic music backgrounds, including old ballads, sea chanties, traditional Italian songs, Americana, and more. They combine these repertoires with a large measure of harmony.David Perasso mixes a love for the American folk revival... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 3:30pm - 3:50pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

4:00pm PDT

Bigger Boat
Harmoniously Hollering About Herring

Performers
BB

Bigger Boat

Bigger Boat has been blasting the helpless towns of northern Idaho with shanties and sea songs for nearly four years. Originally hailing from the salty shores of Trinidad, England, Frisco Bay, and, um, Colorado, they gratefully return to Folklife in Seattle for a nostalgic glimpse... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 4:00pm - 4:20pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

4:30pm PDT

NORTH BY WEST
Northwest Coast Shanties

Performers
NB

NORTH BY WEST

The group's been together for 15 years, but have sung individually for more like 50 each. All originally from Vancouver; one now in Langley BC and three in Princeton BC, site of the Traditional Music Festival. Two of the group have been singing at Folklife since 1975.


Saturday May 26, 2018 4:30pm - 4:50pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

4:50pm PDT

Maritime Showcase Finale
Maritime Jam!

Performers
MS

Maritime Showcase Finale

Finale to the Maritime Showcase! All of the groups: Strikes a Bell, Alex Sturbaum, Shanghaied on the Willamette, Kessler and Perasso, Bigger Boat, and North By West will all join together for one last song on stage before heading to the Maritime Beer Garden Sing-a-long at the Fisher... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 4:50pm - 5:00pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

6:00pm PDT

Pinniped
Lively Irish Et Cetera

Performers
P

Pinniped

Pinniped is an acoustic trio from Olympia, Washington, made up of a father, daughter, and this other guy. They were hanging out and playing music a lot anyway, so they decided to do the same thing but, like, as a BAND. They play music from Ireland and elsewhere, and have been known... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 6:00pm - 6:30pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

6:45pm PDT

The Gananimators
Traditional Irish Pub Music!

Performers
TG

The Gananimators

Dom- Playing Irish music on the fiddle since 1992. Fell in love with Irish music in Seattle pubs in the l970's.Joe- First learned traditional music in the New York pub scene. Love of the music runs deep in his family.


Saturday May 26, 2018 6:45pm - 7:20pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

7:35pm PDT

Celtic Fire
Fun, Wild, Irreverent Band

Performers
CF

Celtic Fire

This is a fun and wild band that has been playing together for 20 years. We love to play music, have fun with our audience. At times we can be irreverent!


Saturday May 26, 2018 7:35pm - 8:10pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

8:25pm PDT

Palmer's Gate
Fun-Driven Celtic Roots

Performers
PG

Palmer's Gate

Palmer's Gate was born out of musical friendships that developed at Folklife, specifically from jam sessions in the performers lounge. While Julie Bennett and Jesse Partridge are from Olympia, WA, Barbara Calm and Jason Foy are From Kalispell, Montana. Julie and Jesse have collaborated... Read More →


Saturday May 26, 2018 8:25pm - 9:00pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109
 
Sunday, May 27
 

11:00am PDT

Sky in the Road
Angel Grit, Earth Harmony

Performers
SI

Sky in the Road

Daniel Rhiger, Rahmana Wiest and Olivia Duffy write and perform songs in that magical place where heaven meets earth, the blend of ethereal and rhythmic, of eternal and temporal - where the Sky meets the Road.Sky in the Road performs all over the Western United States and has 6 CDs... Read More →


Sunday May 27, 2018 11:00am - 11:30am PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

11:40am PDT

Tra le Gael
Montana Celtic

Performers
TL

Tra le Gael

Tra le Gael hails from the Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana, right outside of Glacier National Park. Their Celtic style ranges from sweet vocal harmonies to energetic jigs and reels, with melodies from ancient to contemporary. Tra le Gael features a lightning hammered dulcimer... Read More →


Sunday May 27, 2018 11:40am - 12:10pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

12:20pm PDT

Countercurrent
Songs, Tunes, and Exuberance!

Performers
C

Countercurrent

Countercurrent is a contra dance and folk music band from western Washington, featuring driving guitar, foot percussion, lyrical fiddle, and harmony vocals. Over 8 years of playing together, Brian and Alex have developed a style that brings forth the pure joy and nuance in the music... Read More →


Sunday May 27, 2018 12:20pm - 12:50pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

1:00pm PDT

La Famille Leger
Acadian-powered Kitchen-party Music

Performers
LF

La Famille Leger

Born of a time when family and friends would gather in the warmth of the kitchens of Québec and New Brunswick to play tunes together, La Famille Léger keeps that rich tradition vitally alive. The Légers play the dancing music of French Canada - the music handed down through generations... Read More →


Sunday May 27, 2018 1:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

1:45pm PDT

Les Gens des Chutes (People of the Falls)
Exuberant Music from Québec.

Performers
LG

Les Gens des Chutes (People of the Falls)

Les Gens des Chutes, People of the Falls, grew out of a very popular French Canadian jam session held monthly in Olympia, Washington. Some members decided they wanted to share this wonderful music. We began performing in 2013 at Fort Nisqually in Tacoma, then at the annual Fiddle... Read More →


Sunday May 27, 2018 1:45pm - 2:15pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

2:30pm PDT

The Jocelyn Pettit Band
Blazing New-Trad Celtic Fiddle

Performers
TJ

The Jocelyn Pettit Band

West Coast Canadian, award-nominated musician, Jocelyn Pettit, is a lively fiddler, stepdancer and singer.With grace and passion, Jocelyn delivers an engaging and uplifting performance of original and traditional repertoire, inspired by the Celtic and folk music of Canada, Ireland... Read More →


Sunday May 27, 2018 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

4:00pm PDT

JON BARTLETT and RIKA RUEBSAAT
BC & Other Traditional

Performers
JB

JON BARTLETT and RIKA RUEBSAAT

Active singers & scholars of traditional Canadian song since 1968. 4 CDs of same. 2 CDs west coast shanties, I CD-ROM of 16 30 min. radio shows of Canadian traditional music. Life Members of Vancouver Folk Song Society; Founders & organizers of Princeton Traditional Music Festival... Read More →


Sunday May 27, 2018 4:00pm - 4:30pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

4:45pm PDT

Clallam County
Original Traditional Folk Americana

Performers
CC

Clallam County

Clallam County has been playing our original, traditional and delusional folk/Americana music with a political edge since 1980. We are proud to be known as "Seattle's Slowest Rising Folk Group".


Sunday May 27, 2018 4:45pm - 5:15pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

5:30pm PDT

Crònan
Gaelic Ballads, Reels, Jigs

Performers
C

Crònan

We play/sing Scottish, Gaidhlig & Irish Music. Crònan has been playing and performing together for the past 14 years. Christine learned to love fiddle at her Grandfather's knee, played with Wicked Celts and performs with many local musicians. Christian is a multi-instrumentalist... Read More →


Sunday May 27, 2018 5:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

6:15pm PDT

Wilde Thyme
Irish Music and Fun

Performers
WT

Wilde Thyme

Wilde Thyme has been together for a couple of years. We have performed at venues, festivals, retirement homes, etc on the Eastside.


Sunday May 27, 2018 6:15pm - 6:45pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

7:00pm PDT

The Fiddle Footed Cummings
Scottish Song Through Generations

Performers
TF

The Fiddle Footed Cummings

Both of our daughters have been involved Scottish Gaelic music, language and dance since birth. They have been studying suzuki violin and Scottish fiddle for the past 7 years. During that time they have also been studying Scottish Highland Dancing and dancing competitively in the... Read More →


Sunday May 27, 2018 7:00pm - 7:30pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

7:45pm PDT

Castletown
Energetic Celtic and Americana

Performers
C

Castletown

Portland, OR based "Castletown" has a sound best described as "AmeriCeltic," blending the heart and soul of traditional Irish reels with modern folk, blues, jazz and country influences featuring fiery fiddler Katie Jane Lubiens on fiddle/vocals and Robert Richter on guitar/vocals... Read More →


Sunday May 27, 2018 7:45pm - 8:15pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

8:30pm PDT

The REDS
Groovy, Energetic, Trad Tunes

Performers
TR

The REDS

The REDS are a teen folk band from Olympia, WA, playing a variety of fiddle music genres from Scottish, Irish, Cape Breton, Scandinavian, Old Time and bluegrass. They are a set of two brothers (Dante and Eros Faulk - River and Sage Scheuerell). The REDS have appeared at the Bellingham... Read More →


Sunday May 27, 2018 8:30pm - 9:00pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109
 
Monday, May 28
 

11:00am PDT

Al and Cathy
Autoharp Guitar Vocal Duets

Performers
AA

Al and Cathy

Al is a guitar pro and sings the songs your grandpa sang to you. Cathy is 2005 international autoharp champion, and lives for harmony. They join together for sweet and lovely duets with maybe a little virtuosity here and there.


Monday May 28, 2018 11:00am - 11:30am PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

11:40am PDT

Elsa and Jeff Hay
Banjo Songs with Birds

Performers
EA

Elsa and Jeff Hay

Elsa and Jeff met playing old-time music together more than 10 years ago and and here now to play music for you!


Monday May 28, 2018 11:40am - 12:10pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

12:20pm PDT

John Gothard
British Isles Traditional songs

Performers
JG

John Gothard

Singer and instrumentalist who has been performing traditional music for many years. Born and raised in Liverpool, England, John’s style is a mixture of songs he first heard and learned there, together with other songs he acquired over the years John is well-known in singing circles... Read More →


Monday May 28, 2018 12:20pm - 12:50pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

1:00pm PDT

Waterbound
Spirited Celtic Roots Mando/Autoharp

Performers
W

Waterbound

As Waterbound, Steve Akerman and Mimi Geibel perform a rich diversity of beautiful melodies, bringing a new twist to Celtic world roots music with their singular blend of autoharps and mandolins. From fiddle tunes, folk, Celtic, Metis, Candian and Swedish tunes, these songs grabbed... Read More →


Monday May 28, 2018 1:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

1:40pm PDT

Jori Chisholm
Incredible Bagpipe Music

Performers
JC

Jori Chisholm

Jori Chisholm is a well-known Seattle-area bagpiper and bagpipe teacher and frequent performer at NW Folklife. Jori is one of the world's most active bagpipe teachers and he teaches pipers around the world through his educational website BagpipeLessons.com. He travels internationally... Read More →


Monday May 28, 2018 1:40pm - 2:10pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

2:20pm PDT

The Drunken Maidens
Traditional Songs, Rich Harmonies

Performers
TD

The Drunken Maidens

The Drunken Maidens, an all-female acoustic band, specialize in tight vocal harmonies which are inspired by performers such as Sweet Honey in the Rock, Mediaeval Baebes, Great Big Sea & the Wailin’ Jennys. In addition to their voices, the band incorporates guitar, melodeon, fiddle... Read More →


Monday May 28, 2018 2:20pm - 2:50pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

3:00pm PDT

SeaStar
Award Winning Celtic Folk

Performers
S

SeaStar

Since 2007, SeaStar's music has been described as both "timeless" and "authentic". From dusty Americana postcards, to Celtic anthems with hints of bluegrass and old-time, to passionate ballads, and award winning story songs, Fae Wiedenhoeft and her band takes their audiences on a... Read More →


Monday May 28, 2018 3:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

3:45pm PDT

The Moving Hats
Beer Should be Served!

Performers
TM

The Moving Hats

The Moving Hats formed for a St Patty's Day gig that turned out to be much more fun than expected. We all bring a different set of skills, and we're excited about the energy and tradition we create when we work together!


Monday May 28, 2018 3:45pm - 4:15pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

5:15pm PDT

In FolkMotion Cloggers
In FolkMotion Cloggers

Performers
IF

In FolkMotion Cloggers

We are a group of dancers from Shoreline Recreational Center who learn, dance and perform Appalachian clogging. We encourage family members to dance together and our members consist of all ages from young people to seniors. Lorna Koth & Maureen Pettit are teachers and choreographers... Read More →


Monday May 28, 2018 5:15pm - 5:45pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109

6:00pm PDT

Eclectic Cloggers with Moonshine and Turpentine
Clogging to Old-time Music

Performers
EC

Eclectic Cloggers with Moonshine and Turpentine

The Eclectic Cloggers is a Seattle dance group that performs a high-energy style of traditional Appalachian step dancing. This percussive dance form comes from the eastern mountain region of the United States, where it began as a mix of Irish, Scottish, and English step dances with... Read More →


Monday May 28, 2018 6:00pm - 6:30pm PDT
Trad Stage 305 Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98109
 


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