Sisters Folk Festival: Folkin’ around in Sisters

Poster by Dennis McGregor

For more information on the 2012 Sisters Folk Festival and its many programs, visit www.sistersfolkfestival.org.

The Sisters Folk Festival has been bringing the best of American roots music to Sisters for the past 15 years. The festival has established a nationwide reputation for outstanding performances in an intimate and beautiful setting.

The festival, set for September 9-11 this year honors tradition while supporting artists that are breaking new ground, all in an intimate atmosphere that fosters a unique connection between artist and audience. In fact, many performers consider the Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) audience the best in the nation.

ìThe most important thing to know about the Sisters Folk Festival is that itís always been about the music,î says longtime festival chairman Jim Cornelius. ìWeíre all about creating an outstanding musical experience for the audience and the artists alike.î

This year the festival welcomes legendary folk singer-songwriter and roots rocker Dave Alvin to the stage.

ìWeíve been trying for years to bring Dave Alvin here,î Cornelius says. ìThe stars finally aligned in 2011 and weíre looking forward to one of those Sisters Folk Festival shows that weíll always remember.î

Welsh singersongwriter Martyn Joseph returns as the festivalís encore performer after knockout performances at SFF 2010. Also in the lineup are Mary Gauthier, Steve Forbert and Tony Furtado as well as exciting contemporary bands like JT & The Clouds and Hoots & Hellmouth. More acts were being booked at press time.

The Sisters Folk Festival features a multi-day songwriting academy leading up to the event itself and a songwriting contest that has helped launch the careers of a number of successful folk artists.

The festival also hosts a Winter Concert Series and sponsors a nationally acclaimed music education program called The Americana Project. The annual fundraiser for the Americana Project, called My Own Two Hands, is in itself one of Sistersí major events, featuring a spring art stroll and art auction that brings together the regionís finest visual artists in support of arts education in Sisters.

For more information on the 2012 Sisters Folk Festival and its many programs, visit www.sistersfolkfestival.org.