Schedule of Events

April 6, 2025

Workshop Schedule

4:30pm-6:00pm
Main Stage
Stage Crew Skills
With: Lucy Peckham, Mike Sakarias, AFF Board
Required workshop for new and returning volunteer stage crew and stage managers.

April 7, 2025

Performance Schedule

6:30pm    
Alaska Youth Choir
Juneau, AK Featuring: Richard Moore, Adelaide J, Leonora J, Beni B, Lyla G, Ellie H, Kennedy S, Juniper H, Nyah H, Makaylah P, Ella M, Everly S, Henley P, Freya C, Ruth B, Atticus H, Jacob H, Gracie S, Lena McG, Maddy C, Esme W, Harmony L, Callie S
A high quality youth choir for choristers aged six to eighteen.

6:45pm    
Keith Heller & Deb Spencer
Juneau, AK Featuring: Keith Heller, Deb Spencer
A few old songs with original arrangements and maybe an instrumental.

7:00pm    
Soggy and Stomping
Juneau, AK Featuring: Sage Zahnd
Join Sage Zahnd, a local singer-songwriter, as he performs original songs about love and loss in his first solo set at AFF.

7:15pm    
Don’t Go Stey
Juneau, AK Featuring: Jim Stey, Martha Stey
A nod to the old cowboy and the singing painter.

7:30pm    
Michael Truax
Juneau, AK Featuring: Mike Truax
It's me again. An invitation to entertainment.

7:45pm    
Going Steady
Juneau, AK Featuring: Stuart Wood, Lisa Puananimohala'ikalani Denny, Quinton Woolman-Morgan, Anna Mahanor, Samuel Bluett
A trad folkgrasspel ensemble of local Juneauites. You've seen us serve and host the downtown nightlife. Now we're makin' sweet harmonies and Going Steady.

8:00pm    
Cod FySH Joe
Juneau, AK Featuring: Joe Gardenier, FySH Houck
The prodigal sons hath returned! Join Cod FySH Joe for their one night only reunion world tour.

8:15pm    
The Leftovers
Juneau, AK Featuring: Finn Kesey, Fin Shibler, Aidan Kovach, Gloria Bixby
Four people left behind by their college friends with nothing to do but play music.

8:30pm    
Wendy Byrnes & Steven Arends
Juneau, AK Featuring: Wendy Byrnes, Steven Arends
Two best friends singing some songs about friendship.

8:45pm    
Alyse Galvin and Family
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Bridget Galvin, Miles Allen, Sean Galvin, Alyse Gavin
Original songs with the family band! Playing music together since they could crawl, this Alaska family is excited to reunite on their favorite stage.

9:00pm    
Tucker Tunes
Chugiak, AK Featuring: Natalie Tucker, Tim Tucker
Tim and Natalie Tucker unravel the lyrical tapestry of the songs you love and stitch them together into a magical quilted mash they call Twisted Covers.

9:15pm    
Code Red
Juneau, AK Featuring: Dennis Hoffman, Mark Knight
Two singer/songwriter performers performing three country tunes.

9:30pm    
An Alaskan Traveler
Juneau, AK Featuring: Max Blust
Together alone again with an Alaskan traveler. Songs of yearning in a changing world.

9:45pm    
The Dorset
Juneau, AK Featuring: Flordelino Lagundino, Jenny Lagundino, Daryl Lagundino
A family singing folk-rock.

10:00pm    
Nelson Family Band
Juneau, AK Featuring: Gene Nelson , Courtney Nelson, Che Plang
Nelson family and friends share favorite songs.

April 8, 2025

Performance Schedule

6:30pm    
Sayiék: Gastineau Strummers
Douglas, AK Featuring: Travis Croteau, Students
At our school we start every Friday morning with a school-wide sing along! Students are also learning guitar at recess and after school! Check these kids out!!!

6:45pm    
Belcher/Buckley and Friends
Juneau, AK Featuring: Linda Buckley, Dixie Belcher, John Lager, Robert Cohen, Shoshana Selligman
From Siam to Siberia, Kenya to Cambodia and Lebanon to Laos these two have had music as their cultural bridge. And now they bring their music to you!

7:00pm    
Johnny Negotiable
Juneau, AK Featuring: Jane Hale
Just your garden-variety guitar-playing singer-songwriter.

7:15pm    
Cactus Woman
Nevada City, CA Featuring: Susan Lia Gladstone, Kipchoge Spencer, Zephyr Potin Spencer
Original songs about Alaska. Midnight streets of Juneau (walking Perseverance Trail after dark), Herring Rock in Sitka Sound.

7:30pm    
Spindrift
Seward, AK Featuring: Jim Pfeiffenberger, Stephanie Robertson
Harmony-driven acoustic originals from the shores of Resurrection Bay.

7:45pm    
The Geoff Kirsch Experience Experiment Projeqt
Juneau, AK Featuring: Geoff Kirsch, Margie McWilliams, Chris ''Uncle D'' Dionisio, Aaron Fong
Juneau most powerful power trio. How powerful? We have four people. For those about to folk, we salute you!

8:00pm    
The Wool Pullers
Seattle, WA Featuring: Liz Snyder, Alex Kotlarsz
An old Juneau staple reunites for 15 minutes of original classics

8:15pm    
Jacks In The River
Honomu, Hi Featuring: Doug DeMaster, Shannon DeMaster, Wendy Hladick, Brandee Gerke, Andrzej Piotrowski, Auguste Stiehr
We like uplifting harmonies, raucous melodies, and reminding the audience why we all like folk/rock. That’s who we are.

8:30pm    
The Soggy Joggers
Juneau, AK Featuring: Aldyn Brudie, Julius Adolfsson, Hannah Wilson, Matt Kern
Once again, the Soggy Joggers are brining you some sweet tunes that will get your feet stomping and your heart pounding.

8:45pm    
Greg
Juneau, AK Featuring: Greg albrecht, Greg pilcher, Eliza albrecht, Oliver albrecht
Your favorite moderately talented duo of Gregs is back! Featuring special guest artists Oliver and Eliza!

9:00pm    
The House Family Band
Juneau, AK Featuring: Tony Tengs, Albert McDonnell, Mike Bucy, Steve Tada, ?
Three more new songs fresh off the griddle, dedicated to our great incubator - The Alaska Folk Festival, for being such a fertile ground for songs to grow!

9:15pm    
Susan Warner
Gustavus, AK Featuring: Susan Warner, Katie Henry, Matha DeFreest
Three original songs in tribute to 50 years of Pat Henry family members ''playing some'' at this great Alaska Festival of Folk.

9:30pm    
Jane Roodenburg and the maybe Jane has friends...
East Greenbush, NY Featuring: Jane Roodenburg
Same gal on the inside, old as dirt on the outside. Still loves you madly.

9:45pm    
Mountcastle Family Band
Juneau, AK Featuring: Robert Mountcastle, Janell Mountcastle, Abby Mountcastle, Heather Mountcastle, Luke Weld
The Mountcastle Family Band brings our family roadtrips to the stage with sweet harmonious tunes by the Beatles. Buckle up, let’s take a drive!

10:00pm    
Natalie & Patrick
Juneau, AK
Appalachian Mtns run from NY to the Gulf of Mexico. Natalie (Blue Ridge Mtns) & Patrick (FL) play Appalachian music of banjo, guitar, & harmonica.

April 9, 2025

Performance Schedule

6:30pm    
Queens
Juneau, AK Featuring: Andria Budbill, Taylor Vidic, Cate Ross, Kelsey Riker, Margeaux Ljungberg, Ella Kelly, Elizabeth Ekins, Marian Call, Wendy Byrnes, Allison Waid
Singing a wide range of songs spanning the past 50 years, the QUEENS are back and ready to take the stage to rejoin the Folk Fest community. Here we go!

6:45pm    
The White Hots
Juneau, AK Featuring: Annie Bartholomew, Dylan Proudfoot, Nicole Lantz
Mountain music from Juneau, Alaska.

7:00pm    
Ice Jam
Fairbanks, AK Featuring: Seth Danielson, Sarah Garland, Skip Nodler, Kayt Sunwood
Ice Jam: a Fairbanks-based musical pileup found at festivals, contradances and beyond. Jumbled jamming in one configuration or another since 1997.

7:15pm    
Moccasin String Band
Whitehorse, YT Featuring: Johnny Mackenzie, Simon Crelli
Moccasin String Band is a traditional fiddle band that plays up beat jigs, ballads and reels.

7:30pm    
A Quiet Light
Juneau, AK Featuring: Nora DeSloover, Dan DeSloover, Sarah Shaddy-Farnsworth
Through darkness to the light. Original songs from an intergenerational ensemble.

7:45pm    
Full Circle
Juneau, AK Featuring: Greg Burger, Mary DeSmet, Don Rudolph
Soaring harmonies, hot licks, and great tunes artfully selected from folk, country, and roots music.

8:00pm    
Costa's Silver Jubilee
Juneau, AK Featuring: Collette Costa
Trying to figure out how to do 50 songs in 15 minutes...

8:15pm    
Grayscale
Cordova, AK Featuring: Amy O’Nell Houck, John Ingalls, John Lager
Old musicians and older tunes. Mostly unplugged renditions of not so classic tunes from around the twenties and thirties.

8:30pm    
The Jig's Up
Juneau, AK Featuring: Heather Parker, Carl Schrader, Tony Yorba, Chris Meade
With catchy tunes and a driving beat, The Jig’s Up is bound to make you smile!

8:45pm    
Dara Rilatos
Juneau, AK
Experience profound emotion and humor with singer-songwriter and lifelong Alaskan, Dara Rilatos.

9:00pm    
Reeb Willms & Caleb Klauder
Eastsound, WA
Original country and bluegrass songs performed with mandolin, guitar and vocals.

9:15pm    
Sunny Porch
Juneau, AK Featuring: Melanie Brown, Marcus Beckmann
Acoustic guitar and bass duo play originals and beloved songs.

9:30pm    
Muskeg Roots & Xtratuf Boots
Juneau, AK Featuring: Douglas Badilla, Susanne Carter Badilla, Mary Jane Tenny, Karen Larson
Former 'Pelicanites' (fishers, teachers, & cold storage workers), including performers at the 10th Fest, and individually for 40 years, reunite for song.

9:45pm    
The PEACESTERS
Juneau, AK Featuring: Dave Nichols, John Lager, Allan Nichols
Clever original ditties.

10:00pm    
Tramwreck
Gustavus, AK Featuring: Tania Lewis, Jamie Marks, Dave Kovach, TJ Lazar, Sergei Morosan, Colin Osterhaut, Heidi Johnson
Folkfest is fifty and Tramwreck is twenty so get on the bus for a brand new batch of jam.

April 10, 2025

Dance Band Schedule

7:00pm-7:50pm    
The Outsiders
Pleasant Lake, MI Featuring: John Hatton, Laura Skovlin, Ellie Sharman, Heidi Kristenson, Chuck Dineen, Judy Lungren, Brian Curtiss, Bruce Shwartz, Terry O’Hara, Genavie Thomas
Old time dance band extraordinaire! Musicians from all over the USA except Juneau!

With caller Julie Whatmough

9:00pm-9:50pm    
One Night Stand
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Jim Wolfe, Carol Anne Hogins-Wolfe, Katya Kirsch, Len Feldman
Four friends from Port Townsend and Anchorage playing old time music to swing your partner by.

With caller Guest Caller Suzanne Girardot

10:00pm-10:50pm    
The Simple Sugars
Fairbanks, AK Featuring: Aurora Bowers, Christopher Behnke, Heidi Kristenson, Scott Walter, Amanda Simmons, Ryan Bowers
Old time tunes that go straight to your bloodstream.

With caller Brian DeMarcus

11:00pm-11:50pm    
Definitely Not The Legs of Jake
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Johnse Ostman, Peter Johnson, George Sleichter, Jason Bent, Jeff Snedgen
Ooh ooh ooh we're going to make a big splish splash!

With caller Tom Paul

Performance Schedule

6:30pm    
Juneau Community Chorus
Juneau, AK Featuring: Misuri Smyth, Jacque Farnsworth
Under Artistic Director Misuri (Missouri), Smyth; the Juneau Community Chorus is made up of community members who love to sing.

6:45pm  
SKODEN
Juneau, AK Featuring: Gene Tagabon, Doug Koester
Skoden means “let’s go then” and these two will get you going by mixing contemporary native music, rhythmic drumming and messages from the heart.

7:00pm    
Chris Thompson & Friends
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Chris Thompson, Rolfe Buzzell, Harrison Jennings, Don Rudolph
We perform love and loss songs, along with tunes that uphold the dignity of humanity, and our love for others..

7:15pm    
The Strongbacks
Kodiak, AK Featuring: Evan Coombs, Tim Borden, Brendan Best, John Lauber, Blake Jones
Serving stirring sea shanties sprinkled with scintillating stories sure to satisfy the senses and sooth the sea-starved soul.

7:30pm    
Ellorie McKnight
Whitehorse, YT
Ellorie writes lyrics & melodies that explore the emotional breadth and depth of the individual and collective human experience during these wild times.

7:45pm    
The Heists
Juneau, AK Featuring: Erin Heist, Andrew Heist
Bluegrass and folk duets to crack your heart open like a pretty sparkly geode.

8:00pm    
Rhiannon Giddens with Dirk Powell
GUEST ARTIST

8:45pm    
Marian Call
Juneau, AK
Marian Call is back on the mainstage with more little songs about big feelings.

9:00pm    
Ice Worm Serenaders with Sam & Ella
Pleasant Lake, MI Featuring: John Hatton, Terry O’Hara, Brian Curtis, Bruce Shwartz
Back from the Glacial highlands of the Chugach Mts, the IWS will present more artistic rhapsodies for your enjoyment. Nothing like Sam and Ella to make it go.

9:15pm    
Curley and Slim
Haines, AK Featuring: Burl Sheldon, Nancy Berland
Original tunes and an old favorite from Burl Sheldon and Nancy Berland.

9:30pm    
Fishpickers
Haines, AK Featuring: Mark Carroll, Laurie Mastrella, Gregg Bigsby, Dennis Gudmanson
Old Time, Americana.

9:45pm    
Buried Garden
Victoria, BC Featuring: Emma Grant, Myriam Parent, Arkady Futerman
Friends and neighbors from Vancouver Island bring stories of loss, grief and hope through their strings and voices.

10:00pm    
Dennis and Dona Townsend
Tacoma, WA Featuring: Dennis Townsend, Dona Townsend
Pulling a few new tunes out of the hat. Okay, now where's my hat?

10:15pm    
Blind Hogs Redux
Los Alamos, NM Featuring: Patrick Webb, Erin Tilly, Lynn Basham, and Friends
Group of Fairbanksans, from near and far, finding tunes and each other. Even a blind hog will find an acorn.

10:30pm    
Caleb Tomlinson
Whitehorse, YT
Caleb Tomlinson plays indie folk and alt-country rooted in the north and the west coast.

April 11, 2025

Dance Band Schedule

7:00pm-7:50pm    
Hugh Joergen & the Polkamatics
Juneau, AK Featuring: Dale Wygant, Bobbie Mitchell, Steve Tada, Befh Liebowitz, Ken Guiher, Quinn Tracy, Katie Giorgio, Russell Strandtmann, Alan Young, Hugh Joergen
The original hoppy music. Come kick up your heels and Polka, Waltz, Schottisch, and Chicken Dance like a real barbarian. Bavarian!

8:00pm-8:50pm    
Bobb Family Band
Juneau, AK Featuring: Clay Good, Jane Roodenburg, Albert McDonnell, Riley Woodford, Bob Banghart
Folk Fest favorite Bobb family reunites with all your Bob Wills, Patsy Cline, and Buddy Taborfavorites. Donald E. Drew-approved Country AND Western Swang.

9:00pm-9:20pm    
Country Two-Step Dance Lesson
Instruction by Guest Caller Suzanne Girardot

9:20pm-10:20pm    
Deke Dickerson Western Swing All-Stars
GUEST DANCE BAND

10:30pm-11:20pm    
North Country Cajun Club
Juneau, AK Featuring: Sergei Morosan, Maridon Boario, Erin Heist, Jack Fontanella, Andrew Heist, Colin McGovern, Collette Costa
Boot scootin, hip shakin cajun country music with a northern flare!

Performance Schedule

6:30pm    
Pointy & The Birds
Sitka, AK Featuring: Jeannie Jay, Lori Whitmill, Sherie Mayo, Phyllis Hackett, Beth Caffrey, Mary Chambers, Wendy Alderson, Marg Parsons
A group of 8 women singing popular songs accompanied by their ukuleles

7:00pm    
Tom Begich, Sarah Sledge and friends
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Tom Begich, Sarah Sledge
Tom's first Festival was 1983 and they've watched each other grow together! With Sarah Sledge, they perform original music where the heart and the mind meet.

7:15pm    
Jesse Appelman Quartet
Oakland, CA Featuring: Jesse Appelman, Eli West, Brandon Godman, Forrest Marowitz
California mandolinist Jesse Appelman previews tunes from his debut album (coming late 2025). Expect spontaneous, interactive, & toneful stringband music.

7:30pm    
Joe Page
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Joel Kadarauch, Angela Oudean, Dan Booth
Joe Page is back after a 13-year hiatus.

7:45pm    
The Panhandle Crabgrass Revival Band
Juneau, AK Featuring: Johnse ''Father JP'' Ostman, Erik ''Panhandle Slim'' Chadwell, Ethan ''E-Dog'' Abbott, Andy ''Ferg'' Ferguson, Maridon ''Princess M'' Boario, Sean ''Silver Tongue'' Tracey
How ‘bout now?

8:00pm    
Will Putman
Fairbanks, AK
More original songs from our perspective on the edge of the middle of nowhere.

8:15pm    
Pharis Romero
Seattle, WA Featuring: Pharis Romero, Eli West
Pharis Romero and Eli West sing and play their favorites.

8:30pm    
Harmiddler Brothers
Douglas, AK Featuring: Grant Dermody, Bob-o Bell, Bob Banghart
Exploring the uncharted space between breath, bow and banjo.

8:45pm    
The Lottie Doddies
Seattle, WA Featuring: Ethan Lawton, Forrest Marowitz, Hailey Pexton
A Seattle-based group of musicians who got together to eat and play music so much that they decided to become a band.

9:00pm    
Valley Below
Fairbanks, AK Featuring: Caitlin Frye, Jeremiah Bakken, Jason Norris, George Gianakopolous, Josh Paul
Valley Below is an electric Americana mashup from Fairbanks with soul-forward genre-blending original music.

9:15pm    
Taylor Dallas Vidic
Douglas, AK
Taylor is recording her debut album. But really this time. Here are three songs she loves that may or may not be on that album.

9:30pm    
Spit Shake
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Chris Bieri, Nichole Campanale
Husband and wife duo Chris Bieri and Nichole Campanale. The world is crooked, let us tell you about it.

9:45pm    
Paul Clements
Sitka, AK
Back again from Sitka at the Festival's half century, very grateful to be sharing tunes from here, there, and in between....

10:00pm    
Bad Honey
Juneau, AK Featuring: Lu Seapy, Dale Brandenburger, Karen Larsen, Heather Parker
What do you get when you cross bad-*** rhythm and sweet harmonies? Bad Honey plays original and singer songwriter faves in this dynamic and fun set.

10:15pm    
Lou Nathanson
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Lou Nathanson, Kat Moore, Dan Booth, Shonti Elder, Natalie Tucker, Tim Tucker
We don't actually have a set list yet, but we do have a Concept of a Plan for a set list! On the other hand, we do have a brand new album, Darwin's Tango!

10:30pm    
Daughters of Johan
Seattle, WA Featuring: Mary McIntyre, Keturah Walker, Haley Stats
We're a three-piece band from Seattle with guitar, bango and washboard player. We do mostly covers of Carter Family and Sierra Ferrell.

April 12, 2025

Workshop Schedule

10:30am-11:50am
Hammond
Intermediate    
Learn a Western Swing Tune
With: Burl Sheldon
Participants will learn an easy Willie Nelson tune played with a western swing style. We'll study two-step syncopation. We'll use diminished, 6th, and 7th chords, and closed chord-shapes.

10:30am-11:50am
Main Stage
All Levels    
Stagecraft Workshop for Musicians
With: Lucy Peckham, Rick Miller, Michael Sakarias
Learn how to use the stage equipment, mics, monitors, to your best advantage as a performer.

10:30am-11:50am
Egan
All Levels    
Western Swing & Americana Music History
With: Deke Dickerson
Insights on the origins, development, and legacy of Western swing music.

10:30am-11:50am
Sheffield
Family Concert
With: Geoff Kirsch, Shona Osterhout, Ed Schoenfeld
Bring the kids and the wiggles!

10:30am-11:50am
Hickel
All Levels    
Fiddle Chords and Seconding
With: John Palmes
Teach your muscle memory to play chords and chord patterns same way as you learned to play melodies. Stop thinking! Feel the chord changes and move chord patterns automatically on all four strings. Fiddle Chord fingerboard diagram handout.

10:30am-11:50am
JACC
Songwriting in Tradition
With: Rhiannon Giddens, Dirk Powell, Amelia Powell
Rhiannon and Dirk have written countless songs together, including “We Could Fly,” which has become a successful children’s book, and the Grammy-nominated “Too Little, Too Late, Too Bad.” Some of the songs which are most informed by tradition have gone on to become part of tradition themselves over time. This workshop will find them sharing original songs and delving into ways for songwriters to open to that process.

12:00pm-1:20pm
JACC
Intro    
Dance Calling 101
With: Suzanne Girardot
Are you in a community where you wish there was a dance but there is no one to call it? Or have you been at a rocking old-time music house party where a square dance would be great in that living room? We’ll learn the basics of calling some simple but satisfying dances that get people up and dancing fast, including circles, scatter mixers, and squares.

12:00pm-1:20pm
Egan
Intermediate    
Western Swing Fiddle
With: Katie Shore
Guest Dance Band fiddle player Katie Shore teaches Western Swing fiddle.

12:00pm-1:20pm
Hammond
Intermediate-Advanced    
Intermediate/Advanced Harmonica
With: Grant Dermody
We'll be focusing on bigger tone, better intonation on bent notes, and more fluid improvising over a 12 bar blues form. You'll need a key of A diatonic harmonica.

12:00pm-1:20pm
Hickel
All Levels    
More Fun with Crooked Tunes
With: John Hatton, Jack Fontanella, and friends
More crooked tunes to talk about and dazzle your friends. This year we will pick from old time ‘C’ and ‘G’.

12:00pm-1:20pm
Sheffield
Intermediate    
Couple Dance
With: John Laskey
Mostly waltz with some polka and swing. An opportunity to dance with experienced dancers to beautiful music.

1:30pm-2:50pm
Egan
Intermediate-Advanced    
Western Swing Lead & Rhythm Guitar
With: Ian Miller & Deke Dickerson
Guest Dance Band guitarists discuss, demonstrate, and teach the complimentary parts of lead and rhythm guitars.

1:30pm-2:50pm
Hickel
Intermediate    
Western Swing Percussion
With: Lisa Pankratz
Guest Dance Band drummer Lisa Pankratz teaches Western Swing percussion techniques.

1:30pm-2:50pm
Hammond
Intermediate-Advanced    
Western Swing Steel Guitar
With: Russell Blake
Guest Dance Band steel guitarist teaches Western Swing steel guitar techniques.

1:30pm-2:50pm
Sheffield
Intro    
Intro to English Country Dance
With: Odette Edgar
Enjoy some dances and exquisite tunes from this traditional English folk dancing. Geared for all levels, including motivated children ages 8 and up. The workshop features live music.

1:30pm-2:50pm
JACC
The Music of Joe Thompson and Africa
With: Rhiannon Giddens, Dirk Powell, Amelia Powell
Rhiannon will share tunes and stories from her mentor and teacher Joe Thompson, who was central to the African American tradition in her home state of North Carolina, and delve into her deep knowledge of the evolution of the music, including thoughts on the history of the banjo. Open to all instruments and singers.

3:00pm-4:20pm
Sheffield
Intro    
Family Dance
With: Caroline Oakley
Bring the whole family aged zero-100 for a called family dance with a live band.

3:00pm-4:20pm
Egan
Instrument Swap
With: Come One, Come All!
Are your instruments making too little noise? Got your eye on something real nice? Meet, greet, and trade instruments with your fellow festivalgoers! 3-6 pm.

3:00pm-4:20pm
Hammond
All Levels    
Songwriting
With: Elise Leavy
Writing songs with a prompt, ways to get started and unstuck, and how to come away from a songwriting session with all or most of a song.

3:00pm-4:20pm
Hickel
All Levels    
Old Time Fiddle - Bowing and more
With: Carter Bancroft
Learn a few old time fiddle trade secrets and a new tune to boot. Focus is on bowing but I'll cover a lot of fiddling ground.

3:00pm-4:20pm
JACC
All Levels    
Zimbabwean Marimbas
With: Betsy Sims/Jesse Larson
Come try your hand at playing these super fun and friendly instruments. No experience necessary. This workshop is always overfilled - so come early. We'll get in as many people as we can!

Dance Band Schedule

7:00pm-7:50pm    
Njuzu Marimbas
Juneau, AK Featuring: Betsy Sims, Jesse Larson, Jeanne Rynne, Ren Scott, Emily Kane, Axel Gillam, Sheli Delaney, Grace Newman, Arne Ellefson-Carnes, Raven Swing
Super Fun Zimbabwean marimba tunes to get your Saturday evening rocking. Just try to stand still while you're listening to this music. We dare you!

8:00pm-8:50pm    
Bad Toe
Chapman, ME Featuring: David Putnam, Aaron Putnam, Ian Putnam, TBD
Formed in the back woods of Maine and named from our late three-legged pet turtle; a symbol of resilience and unapologetic desire to defy expectations.

With caller Dave Stutzer

9:00pm-9:50pm    
Deke Dickerson Western Swing All-Stars
GUEST DANCE BAND

10:00pm-10:50pm    
Elbow Grease
Juneau, AK Featuring: Emily Teachout, Tom Paul, Jamie Hascall, Jack Fontanella, Erik Netherlin
Providing old time sonic lubrication to make it easy to dance your pants off.

With caller Guest Caller Suzanne Girardot

11:00pm-11:50pm    
Nine Miles from Town
Juneau, AK Featuring: Sergei Morosan, Dylan Proudfoot, Amelia Budd, Miguel Rohrbacher, Nicole Lantz, Ned Gaines
String band fiddle music: raw ingredients cooked right.

With caller Jacob Sweeney

Performance Schedule

12:00pm    
Ursa Minor Singers
Juneau, AK Featuring: Callie Conerton, Daryl Lagundino, Charlie Springston, Lilly Ingraham, Kaleena Penn, Petra Hatch, Orvel Skaflestad, Devlin Dalman, Henry Akiyama, Jun Hwang, Johnson Madrid, Jakob Sudduth, Luc Levasseur, Nels Lapenter, Noelle Shanley, Greta Thompson, Abby Auerswald, Addi Johnson, Alan Duvall, Winter Merrell, Benji Sears, Caisa Spickler, Dylan Dubois, Ember Giant, Hazel Wilburn, Maggie Norton
We are first, second, and third graders from Montessori Borealis singing some of our favorite tunes for you! We love singing together with our teacher!

12:15pm    
Ken Burch
Olympia, WA
If you are reading this, it means they let me onstage again. Originals, more or less.

12:30pm    
K1NFOLK
Petersburg, AK Featuring: Robyn Cardenas, Teagen Schwartz
Brother/sister acoustic duo singing folk/country covers and originals inspired by our surroundings/lifestyle/culture in Southeast Alaska.

12:45pm    
Sound Crew
Juneau, AK Featuring: Mark Alton, Derek Lail, Theresa Reynolds
Just a Juneau sound guy and his trusty crew, returning to play some new country tunes.

1:00pm    
Cold Town Hot Club
Fairbanks, AK Featuring: Ned Gaines, George Giankopolis, Scott Walter
Far north gypsy jazz in the spirit of Django and Stephane.

1:15pm    
Fu Bao and Friends
Juneau, AK Featuring: Fu Bao Hartle, Clare Pavia, John Hartle, Joe Emerson, Keith Heller, Joyce Levine
Old-timey, and a little randomness.

1:30pm    
Powell Brothers and Friends
Juneau, AK Featuring: Jim Powell, Doug Powell, Tom Powell
From Woody Guthrie to now, and in between - featuring mandolin, banjo, fiddle, and other strings, the brothers Powell harmonize Americana.

1:45pm    
Music Feeds My Family
Juneau, AK Featuring: Odin Brudie, Frankie Pillifant, Aldyn Brudie, Nina Brudie
Odin Brudie celebrates AFF50 with songs spanning 50 years, joined in singing by family members and AFF vets Frankie Pillifant, Aldyn Brudie, and Nina B.

2:00pm    
The Squash Blossoms
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Peggy Finnegan, Amy Hayes, Jessica Speed
Three gals singing originals and covers with sweet harmonies, guitar, bass, and mandolin

2:15pm    
Pure Brainstorming
Sitka, AK Featuring: Hank Moore, Leslie Wolf, Laura Turcott
We are a trio of like minded Folk souls who can inspire a booty shake a belly laugh and everything in between.

2:30pm    
The Scotty Stoneman Review
Eugene, OR Featuring: Leif Karlstrom , Jesse Appelman, Billy Moore, Zach Sharpe
Scotty Stoneman was a fiddler with an iconic style, known from the Kentucky Colonels and solo work. We aim to recreate his memorable sounds and energy.

2:45pm    
Jacob Sweeney
Juneau, AK
My background in music, acting and comedy make each performance a fun mix of original songs, jokes and ridiculous poetry guaranteed to be the only act like it.

3:00pm    
Wings To Fly
Wasilla, AK Featuring: Shonti Elder, Elsa Aegerter, Karl Wilhelmi
High-flying harmonies of original and thoughtful songs.

3:15pm    
Gunnysack Annie (Hopper) & JD Mason
Fairbanks, AK Featuring: Annie Hopper, Jeff Mason
Rising from the Eastern Alaska Range, Annie & JD play folk rock & homemade songs, in an easy playful style. The Lodge at Black Rapids is their home stage!

6:30pm    
50 BANJOS!
Gustavus, AK Featuring: Goal is 50+ banjoists
ALL banjoists invited, ALL levels, ALL banjo types: OT, bluegrass, tenor, banjolele. ALL tunes Key of G *Buffalo Gals *Cotton-Eyed Joe *NC Breakdown

6:45pm    
Robin Hopper
Chugiak, AK
The Anchorage Daily News calls Robin’s music ''As warm and comforting as a favorite sweater.'' No telling what she’ll have up her sleeve for this year.

7:00pm    
Colin McGovern
Homer, AK
Originally from a small town in Maine, now residing in Homer, Alaska. I first came to the festival in 2006 and it changed the trajectory of my life...

7:15pm    
The Good Friendlys
Juneau, AK Featuring: Hiram Henry, Katie Henry, Martha Defreest, Ariel Svetlik, Mike Janes, Kelly Henrikson
Friends playing songs for friends, 'cause our Country is full of Folk and we all need friends.

7:30pm    
Kennedy Jo
Juneau, AK Featuring: Kennedy Kruchoski
Emerging from a doozy of a southeast winter surrounded by some tangled emotions, the warmth of some lovely folks, and the songs that carry me through.

7:45pm    
Eli West Trio
Seattle, WA Featuring: Eli West, Forrest Marowitz, Patrick McGonigle
Eli West sings originals with Forrest Marowitz on bass and Patrick McGonigle on fiddle.

8:00pm    
Albert McDonnell
Portland, OR
Songs of joy and sorrow. A tribute to Buddy Tabor.

8:15pm    
Elise Leavy
Lafayette, LA
Elise Leavy, raised in California & based in Lafayette, LA, writes classic folk songs with a tinge of humor that will have you crying and laughing at one time.

8:30pm    
The Centuries
Los Angeles, CA Featuring: Roberto Avalos, Dylan Patterson, Alexander Griffith
The Centuries play 1950s style Americana with hints of rock 'n roll and rockabilly.

8:45pm    
R.O. Shapiro
Los Altos, CA
R.O. Shapiro is a troubadour, a traveler peddling original tunes of love, loss, and social justice, carefully crafted and soulfully sung.

9:00pm    
The Ogives
Bishop, CA Featuring: Howie Schwartz, Scott Meyer, Karen Loso, Mike Loso
Ogive (''oh-jive'') -glacial iceform- Mysterious, rhythmic bands of alternating color reveal the past to a modern world with unique, old-time instrumentation.

9:15pm    
The Fresh Boys
Bozeman, MT Featuring: Andrew Schauer, Sean Raming, Nash Reilly, Gordon Sevee, Scott Stebbins
Pretty much just Bluegrass.

9:30pm    
Marie Reid
Mooresville, NC
Sturdy and soulful… Tunes written to paint a journeying woman's experience. Inspired by family and her SW VA roots she invites you to come along!

9:45pm    
Shoreline Band
Juneau, AK Featuring: Joe Emerson, Ben Higdon, John Hartle, Chris Frary, Luke Weld, Stew Rowland, Robert Mountcastle
Boomer classics guaranteed to satisfy!

10:00pm    
Docktones & Friends
Douglas, AK Featuring: Bob Shorey, Chris Frary, Margaret Shorey, John Shedd, Carleton Shorey, Bob Banghart
From their first set in 1980, the Docktones were Folk Fest regulars for over 35 years. Now they're back to celebrate the 50th with their classic sound.

10:15pm    
Women With Hair
Clinton, WA Featuring: Julie Mae Pigott, Katie Henry, Rex Blazer, Will Putman
Women With Hair returns to the stage with curly harmonies & plucky antics! Sing along with musical body hair activists Wilhelmina, Raeon, Poly & Ester!

10:30pm    
Red Cap and the Cyser Boys
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Chris Richardson, Ben Richardson, Mike Richardson Jr.
The Richardson brothers (Mike Jr., Ben, & Chris) have played Irish music since the 1990s. They may be joined onstage by the older or younger generations.

April 13, 2025

Workshop Schedule

10:30am-11:50am
Egan
All Levels    
Going Places with Your Art
With: Ken Waldman
1989, the AK Folk Fest was one of Ken Waldman's first times ever on stage. Since then he's made a life on tour combining fiddle tunes, poetry, and storytelling--and now has 20 books, 12 CDs. Come learn how you too can take your art further.

10:30am-11:50am
Hickel
Intro-Intermediate    
Documentary Songwriters
With: Clara Schneid
DocSong is an 8-step process between Teaching Artist and Storyteller. Together, we write/record a complete song from a story that had an emotional impact on the storyteller. The process is powerfully transformative for all participants.

10:30am-11:50am
Hammond
Intro    
Dances of Universal Peace
With: Leah LaBar, Mark Kjerstad
Simple meditative dances honoring different spiritual practices. Open to all ages, no experience necessary.

10:30am-11:50am
Sheffield
Cajun and Creole Music
With: Dirk Powell, Amelia Powell, Rhiannon Giddens
Dirk and Amelia live in the heart of Cajun country and spend much of their time immersed in the music of Amelia’s grandfather, Dewey Balfa. They also have a long history of sharing music with Creole greats like Bois Sec Ardoin and the Frank Family. This workshop, open to all instruments and singers, will focus on what makes music from this part of Louisiana unique in terms of rhythm, language, melody, etc. Participants will learn about two-steps, waltzes, and blues.

12:00pm-1:20pm
Egan
Intro-Intermediate    
Playing Music with Others
With: Burl Sheldon
Participants will learn tips on playing songs and tunes in a group setting. How can we support the song/tune leader so that we make the best music possibly? All instruments welcome.

12:00pm-1:20pm
Sheffield
Intermediate    
Zesty Squares
With: Guest Caller - Suzanne Girardot
With cool floor movements and designed for fun, these squares get you moving and keep you connected. No lackluster figures in these dances - they'll keep you on your toes!

12:00pm-1:20pm
Hickel
Intro    
Shanty Shenanigans
With: The Strongbacks Shanty Choir
Hoist the anchor and warm up those pipes! Join us for rollicking maritime melodies, call-and-response fun, and harmonizing like a true sailor. No sailing experience needed—just bring your voice, your spirit, and a love for the good ol’ sea!

12:00pm-1:20pm
Hammond
All Levels    
Sacred Harp (Shape Note) Singing
With: Benjamin Hoffman, Phoebe Koenig
Sacred Harp is an community musical event emphasizing participation, not performance. The music, rooted in early American psalmody, is intense, haunting, and exuberant. No experience needed, but rudiments of music notation are helpful.

1:30pm-2:50pm
Hickel
Intro    
Beginning Harmonica
With: Ned Gaines
Take your first steps in the world of harmonica, and learn to start jamming now with the world's most popular instrument.

1:30pm-2:50pm
Hammond
Intro-Intermediate    
Jambusters Ukulele 101
With: Sherri McDonald and other Juneau Jambusters
Join us for a ukulele workshop, sponsored by the Juneau Jambusters! Perfect for beginners and intermediates, you’ll learn basic chords, master a one-chord song, and play in a group. Build rhythm, confidence, and have a blast!

1:30pm-2:50pm
Sheffield
All Levels    
20 Fillers For Square Dance Callers
With: Brian DeMarcus
Learn 20 alternative fillers to the ubiquitous Grand Right & Left that will spice up your dance calling, thrill your dancers, and keep them guessing. All levels of callers welcome. Let's have some fun.

1:30pm-2:50pm
Egan
Intro    
Dance Form & Etiquette for Fun!
With: Julie
Dance is a form of communication but communication helps dance form! How do we ask someone to dance, decline an offer, hold hands and spin? What about correcting someone, preventing injury, and expressing boundaries? Let's explore together.

3:00pm-4:20pm
Sheffield
Intro    
Intro to International Folkdance
With: Bruce Botelho & Kelsey Aho
We enjoy doing the dances done by people in other countries at weddings, parties, festivals – just about any time people get together and music is present. Our dances will be low-impact and accessible to all.

Performance Schedule

12:00pm    
Vox Borealis
Juneau, AK Featuring: Sara Radke Brown, David Monroe, Brian Crapo, Randy Wolfenberger, Jay Query, Steven Arends, Jacob Soboleff, Kristina Paulick, Elizabeth Ekins, Tania Green, Aria Moore, Christine Wick, Anneka Knotts Morgan, Skiba Wuoti, Kayla Kohlhase, Martin Harrington
Vox Borealis is an acapella chamber vocal ensemble in Juneau. We perform a variety of choral works, and as Victorian carolers during holiday season.

12:15pm    
The Wittones
Seattle, WA Featuring: Mark Wittow, Tom Kizzia, Anna Wittow, Matt Claman
From Homer, Anchorage, and Seattle to share a few great songs--we hope you’ll sing along.

12:30pm    
Ken Waldman & The Wild Ones
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Ken Waldman
Alaska's Fiddling Poet combines fiddle tunes + poems + friends--think fun, inspiration, surprises.

12:45pm    
Jenny Baker
Homer, AK
Jenny Baker was raised on volcanic rock in Bend, Oregon then traveled north to for adventures, to raise a family, and awaken her sub-arctic coastal soul.

1:00pm    
Your Favorite Sisters
Juneau, AK Featuring: Kirsa Hughes-Skandijs, Alicia Hughes-Skandijs
Forever young, just like this venerable institution, with the wind in our face and the bugs in our teeth. Playing a few favorites in these trying times.

1:15pm    
C.A. & Sonny
Ottawa, ON Featuring: Calum Jackson, Sonny Aiken
An Ottawa-based duo who enjoy playing old Canadian and American Folk, Ragtime, Blues, & trad fiddle tunes, mostly.

1:30pm    
Constant Structure
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Briana Glasinov, Brigid Donahue,, JD Sterling, Alex Bukovich, Heidi Herbert-Lovern, Clint McBride
Get ready to experience the electrifying sounds of Constant Structure, an Alaskan jazz band known for their innovative improvisations and soulful melodies.

1:45pm    
Hank Alrich
Greenville, CA Featuring: Hank Alrich, Shaidri Alrich
An experienced composer, performer, producer, offering a short set of engaging original songs.

2:00pm    
Emily Kane
Juneau, AK
Three two-song medleys. Emily sings and plays uke.

2:15pm
Dead Calm
Lansing, MI Featuring: Andrew Cortese, Ned Gaines, Jon Oestreich, Josh Paul, Dave Parks, Melanie Berger
Hot boot-stomping, hip-shaking, bluesy folk rock.

2:30pm    
Jonny Newman
Girdwood, AK Featuring: Jonny Newman, Guest Instrumentalist
Folk originals and covers on the piano.

2:45pm    
Kristin & Friends
Portland, OR Featuring: Kristin Melling, Jesse Appelman, Eli West
Twin mandolins and sweet harms.

3:00pm    
Lina & Ryan
Whitehorse, YT Featuring: Ryan McNally, Lina Halimi
Lina Halimi (touring from France) and Ryan McNally (from Whitehorse, YT) are an old time duo playing trad fiddle tunes, honky tonk songs & folk.

3:15pm    
Shanks Mare
Juneau, AK Featuring: Greg Higdon, Matilda Higdon, Ben Higdon
Guess the tree don’t grow too far from the apple.

6:30pm    
Fireweed Fiddlers
Juneau, AK Featuring: Maya Breedlove, Cerys Hudson, Eliza Albrecht, Riley Soboleff, Eleanor Davis, Kiana Twitchell, Lua Mangacat, Clayton Marks, Ysabel Wilson, Jacquelyn Davis
A group of advanced string players(middle and high schoolers) perform lively fiddle tunes.

6:45pm    
Sarah Hamilton
Whitehorse, YT
Original swingin' country music from Yukon fiddler, singer, and songwriter Sarah Hamilton.

7:00pm    
The Empty Oil Barrel Band
Douglas, AK Featuring: Ed Schoenfeld, Riley Woodford, Maggie Schoenfeld, Jayne Andreen
We perform political satire and parodies and have been at it since the early 1980s. But this year is different. So many targets, so little time!

7:15pm    
Must Wear Pants
Seattle, WA Featuring: Michael Gray, Bob Banghart, Forest Gibson
Swing from Seattle, Bellingham and Juneau

7:30pm    
Them Wyo boys
Laramie, WY Featuring: Nick Park, Jackson Clarendon
Original Americana and blues.

7:45pm    
Stewart Ely
Pelican, AK
Original Songs By Other People. Gluten Free

8:00pm    
Fiery Gypsies
Juneau, AK Featuring: Dale Wygant, John Staub, Karen Pallenberg, Steve Tada
Red hot embers from the Gypsy campfire. We play both kinds of music- Country...& Eastern!!

8:15pm    
The Improbabillies
Homer, AK Featuring: Grany Dermody, Forrest Gibson, Scotty Meyer, Forrest Marowitz
An unlikely combination of country blues and old time music.

8:30pm    
Big Chimney Barn Dance
Juneau, AK Featuring: Carter Bancroft, Danny Consenstein, Jay Marvin, Rachel Overby, Nate Williamson, Peter Hamre
Raucous and driving Old Time string band music. BCBD is a touring Alaskan act who has played extensively in Ireland and the UK, as well as the Lower 48.

8:45pm    
Sloughgrass
Anchorage, AK Featuring: Robbie Collins, Rion Schmidt, Jason Norris, Zach Sharpe, Michael Carroll
Bluegrass traditional original unit. Very good times. From Cordova to San Francisco and everywhere in between. Sleu Gracias.

9:00pm    
Rhiannon Giddens with Dirk Powell
Guest Artist

Date:
April 7-13, 2025

Location:
Centennial Hall,
101 Egan Drive,
Juneau, AK 99801.

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