Celebrating Our Cultural Diversity

Mark your calendars now so you don't miss the fall's premier cultural event. The 30th Annual Spokane Fall Folk Festival. Two days of music, dance and crafts celebrating the various folk cultures of our region. Six stages, hundreds of performers, and it's all free. Voted second in the Inlander's Best Art/Cultural Event contest, the festival highlights the talent that makes Spokane special, and the community that supports it.

Schedule

Saturday, November 8
Doors Open at 10:00 am

Lair Auditorium

11:00 - 12:00
Scottish Program - The Angus Scott Pipe Band, Lake City Highland, and Spokane Scottish Country Dancer
(Auditorium doors open at 10:30.)

12:00 - 12:30 BREAK

12:30 - 1:10
Musha Marimba - Zimbabwean music from Bryant School students

1:30 - 2:10
Kultura de Filipino Dance Company - Dances from the Cordillera region

2:30 - 3:10
Stevens County Stompers - Clogging

3:30 - 4:10
Northwest Hula Company - Traditional Hawaiian dance

4:30 - 5:10
Spokane Taiko - Community Japanese drumming group

5:30 - 6:10
Front Porch Rockers - Folk, country, swing

Sasquatch Room

11:00 - 11:40
Hubbardston Nonesuch - Madrigals, 500-year-old pop tunes

12:00 - 12:40
Carl Rey and Truck Mills - Blues, rags, old-time

1:00 - 1:40
Trillium 239 - A rare isotope in Eastern Washington

2:00 - 2:40
Muckle Roe - Music from Scotland and Scandinavia

3:00 - 3:40
2 Bit Jug Band - Love, food, a scintillating musical cocktail

4:00 - 4:40
Brittany Jean - Singer-Songwriter - Sweet songs and stories

5:00 - 5:40
John Wayne Williams - Blues and folk - 4-piece band

6:00 - 6:40
Gabriel Soileau and Creole Country - Louisiana roots music

7:00 - 7:40
Plaid Cat Trio - Jug-band, oldies, and cowboy

Skitch Conference Room

11:30 - 12:30
Spokane Dulcimer Guild - Performance and brief history

12:45 - 1:30
Lucy D. Ford - Original stories for all ages

1:45 - 2:15
LaVona Reeves - Songs from her great-grandmother. Children welcome.

2:30 - 3:15
Spokane River Tellers - Stories for kids of all ages

3:30 - 4:30
Sea Shanties with Hank Cramer - Sing-along

4:45 - 5:45
Workshop - Songwriting Ideas with Larry Lotz

The Underground (Hint: It is downstairs in the Lair.)

11:30 - 12:00
Zeke and Dave - Acoustic folk, country duo

12:15 - 12:45
Ernie Verdugo - Spanish and flamenco guitar

1:00 - 1:30
John and Stuart - Traditional Irish concertina and fiddle

2:30 - 3:00
Steve Schennum - Songs you will never hear on the radio

3:15 - 3:45
Desiree - Storyteller and roots musician

4:00 - 4:30
Two Grey Cats - Americana and classic oldies

4:45 - 5:15
C# and B Natural - Folk, Bluegrass, and Choro

5:30 - 6:00
The Radio Helpers - Teen sister duo - folk and Americana

6:15 - 6:45
Thirsty Boots - Folkabilly and more

Cafeteria Stage

11:00 - 11:30
South Asia Cultural Association - Participatory South Indian dance

11:45 - 12:15
Aloha Hula of Spokane - Sharing "aloha" through hula

12:30 - 1:00
Haywire - Seasoned musicians sharing great tunes

1:15 - 1:45
Silver Spurs Youth Folk Dancers - Dances from around the world

2:00 - 2:45
Family Dance - Easy line, circle, and novelty dances with live music

2:45 - 3:15 BREAK

3:15 - 4:00
FAAIE Bayanihan Rondalla and Silangan Dancers - Philippine culture through folk dance and music

4:15 - 4:45
Spokane Irish Session - Traditional pub session

5:00 - 5:30
Bulgarian Dance Group "Roumiana" - Traditional dances

5:45 - 6:15
Woodside Swing - Vintage swing dance

6:15 - 6:45 BREAK

6:45 - 7:15
Workshop - Contra Dance Introduction with Nora Scott

7:15 - 8:30
Contra Dance with Crooked Kilt and caller Nora Scott - All dances are taught and called

Bistro Stage

11:30 - 12:00
Poor Boy's Delight - Traditional Bluegrass and Americana

12:15 - 12:45
Buck 99 Bluegrass - Four-member band

1:00 - 1:30
Homebrew Stringband - Bluegrass with a twist

1:45 - 2:15
Frankie Ghee - Original songs with great lyrics

2:30 - 3:00
Popeye Rose Social Club - Folk, country, and originals

3:15 - 3:45
Larry Lotz - Americana and country-folk duo

4:00 - 4:30
Blue Ribbon Tea Company - Originals and American roots

4:45 - 5:15
High Valley Mountain Boys - Bluegrass inspired

5:30 - 6:00
Marmaladies Jam - Singer-songwriter duo

6:15 - 6:45
Full House Band - High-energy teen folk band

Small Gym (Building 5)

12:00 - 1:00
Spokane Area Square Dancers - Audience participation is encouraged

1:15 - 1:45
Grant Drummers and Dancers - African drum and song

2:00 - 2:45
Spokane Bon Odori - Japanese classical and participatory folk dance

3:00 - 3:30
Nah'Joom Dancers - Belly dance

3:45 - 4:30
Coeurimba - Marimba music from Southern Africa

4:45 - 5:45
Argentine Tango/Milonga - Lesson and participatory dance

Sunday, November 9

Doors Open at 10:00 am

Lair Auditorium

11:00 - 11:40
Haran Irish Dancers - Energetic hard and soft shoe choreography (Auditorium doors open at 10:30.) (No saving of seats, please.)

12:00 - 12:40
Heidi Muller & Bob Webb - Traditional Appalachian and originals

1:00 - 1:40
Ballet Folklorico de Spokane - Traditional dance from Mexico

2:00 - 2:40
Lilac City Voices - A cappella and barbershop style

3:00 - 3:40
Spokane Chinese Association, Indian Youth Club, and Filipino American Northwest Association - Sharing culture through dance

4:00 - 4:40
Free Whiskey - Celtic music with a twist

Sasquatch Room

11:00 - 11:40
String Cosmology - String band time travelers

12:00 - 12:40
Yang Zu - Chinese Zither (Guzheng) music

1:00 - 1:40
Crooked Kilt - Celtic music with a twist

2:00 - 2:40
Hank Cramer - National touring folksinger

3:00 - 3:40
Gefilte Trout - Klezmer tunes and songs

4:00 - 4:40
Chris Baron and Two Secrets - Funky Folk Americana

Skitch Conference Room

12:30 - 1:30
Spokane River Tellers - Stories for kids of all ages

1:45 - 2:30
Jenny Edgren - Songs for kids of all ages

2:30 - 3:00 BREAK

3:00 - 4:30
Workshop - Scottish Bagpipes - History and demonstration. Dummy chanters will be provided for audience participation.

The Underground (Hint: It is downstairs in the Lair.)

11:30 - 12:00
Tasty Material - Esoteric dance tunes

12:15 - 12:45
Damn Near Departed - Originals from Nick and Kikayla Kittilstved

1:00 - 1:30
Heavily Redacted - Storytelling and originals

1:45 - 2:15
Randi Marie Shaw - Originals from mother and daughter duo

2:30 - 3:00
Dennis Glidden - Mostly traditional Irish music

3:15 - 3:45
Harvey Stanley - Folk and Americana

4:00 - 4:30
Cigar Box Slingers - Homemade cigar box and license plate guitars

Cafeteria Stage

11:00 - 11:30
The Mighty PJAMRS Marching Band - Community marching band

11:45 - 12:15
Nordic Dancers - Folk dances, stories, and songs

12:30 - 1:30
English Country Dance with Prestwold Players and caller Mitchell Frey - All dances are taught and called

1:30 - 2:00 BREAK

2:00 - 2:45
Sidetrack - Participatory dance party - rock, country western, and blues

2:45 - 3:15 BREAK

3:15 - 3:45
Workshop - Contra Dance Introduction with Emily Faulkner

3:45 - 5:00
Contra Dance with Reel Friends and caller Emily Faulkner - All dances are taught and called

Bistro Stage

11:30 - 12:00
Brad Keeler - Original music

12:15 - 12:45
Ahmed Al-Fatlawi - Arabic Maqam with Middle Eastern oud

1:00 - 1:30
Love Grubs - Loving duo - Original music

1:45 - 2:15
Patrice Webb - Award-winning original songwriting

2:30 - 3:00
Mountain Dew Boys - Traditional bluegrass

3:15 - 3:45
Lyle Morse - Blues and Americana

4:00 - 4:30
Madrona Hollow - Playful, introspective songwriting

Workshop:

Native American Flute with Peter Ali
Saturday, November 9, 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. in the Skitch Conference Room

Have you ever wanted to learn how to play the Native American flute? Native American flutist Peter Ali, a self-taught flutist, will show you what he knows about playing this beautiful and healing instrument. Prior experience is optional. Participants will receive a handmade cedar flute to use during the workshop. This workshop is for ages 5th grade through adult.

Taiko Drumming
Saturday, November 9, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the Small Gym (Building 5)

Spokane Taiko, a group deeply rooted in the art of Japanese drumming, will demonstrate and teach you how to play a simple Taiko song on the "Big Drums." Founded in 1997, their "Thunderous Entertainment" seeks to build community and create awareness through traditional Japanese music. They embody the spirit of Taiko as an ancient Japanese art form, a cultural treasure, while honoring its vitality as a living artistic expression. The group plays Taiko drums and other traditional percussion instruments, performing both conventional Taiko and original songs.

History and Demonstration of Various Bagpipes with Kathy Kinderman, Aaron Stratton, and Bill Wakefield
Sunday, November 10, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. in the Skitch Conference Room

Performers List for 2025

Note: An * before a performer's name indicates that the performer is new to the festival this year.

2
2 Bit Jug Band - Food, love, and hilarity

A
*Accidental Harmonies (Sandpoint, ID) - Contra dance band
Ahmed Al-Fatlawi - Arabic Maqam with Middle Eastern oud
Aloha Hula of Spokane - Ancient and modern hula
Angus Scott Pipe Band - Scottish bagpipes
Argentine Tango/Milonga - Instruction followed by participatory dance

B
*Ballet Folklorico de Spokane - Traditional dances from Mexico
Blue Ribbon Tea Company - Originals in American Roots traditions
*Buck 99 Bluegrass - Four-member band
Bulgarian Dance Group "Roumiana" - Traditional dances from Bulgaria

C
C# and B Natural - Brazilian choro and bluegrass
Chris Baron and Two Secrets (Portland, OR) - Original funky folk
Cigar Box Slingers - Homemade cigar box and license plate guitars
Coeurimba - Southern African style marimbas
Hank Cramer (Winthrop, WA) - National touring folksinger performing Celtic, cowboy, and maritime music
Crooked Kilt - Family band with a unique twist to Celtic music

D
Damn Near Departed - Originals from Nick and Mikayla Kittilstved
Susan Dankovich - Teaches easy dances from around the world with live music
Desiree - Hammer dulcimer, songs, and stories

E
Jenny Edgren - Songs for kids of all ages

F
FAAIE Silangan Dancers - Traditional Filipino Folk Dance
*FAAIE Bayanihan Rondalla - Filipino folk music on traditional instruments
Emily Faulkner - New England Contra Dance caller
Filipino American Northwest Association - Filipino dances
Lucy D. Ford - Original stories for all ages
Free Whiskey - Celtic chaos, tradition with a twist
Mitchell Frey - English Country Dance caller
*Front Porch Rockers - Best of recent musical history
*Full House - High-energy teen folk band

G
*Gabe Soileau and Creole Country - Louisiana roots music
Gefilte Trout (Moscow, ID) - Klezmer and Eastern European
Frankie Ghee - Original songs with great lyrics
Dennis Glidden - Mostly traditional Irish
Grant Elementary Drummers and Dancers - Traditional African

H
Haran Irish Dancers - Award-winning Irish dance
Haywire - Seasoned musicians sharing great tunes
Heavily Redacted - Storytelling and originals
Heidi Muller and Bob Webb (Joseph, OR) - Traditional Appalachian and originals
High Valley Mountain Boys - Bluegrass, country, and swing
Homebrew String Band - Eclectic mix of bluegrass and more
Hubbardston Nonesuch - Madrigals, 500-year-old pop tunes

I
Indian Youth Club of Spokane - Bollywood dance

J
Brittany Jean (Brewster, WA) - Nashville recording artist, songwriter, and storyteller
John and Stuart - Traditional Irish concertina and fiddle

K
Brad Keeler - Original songs and music
Kathy Kinderman - Bagpipe Workshop presentation
*Kultura de Filipino Dance Company - Traditions from the Cordillera region

L
Lake City Highland Dancers - Scottish jigs and reels
Lilac City Voices - A cappella, barbershop
Larry Lotz (Troutdale, OR) - Americana, country-folk
*The Love Grubs (Snohomish, WA) - Originals from Elise Dahlberg and Brian Hassler

M
*Madrona Hollow - Playful, introspective songwriting
*Marmaladies Jam - Singer-Songwriter duo, Maggie Wicken and Veronika Jones
The Mighty PJAMRS Marching Band - Community marching band
Lyle Morse - Acoustic blues with guitar and harmonica
Mountain Dew Boys - Bluegrass with tight harmonies
Muckle Roe - Music from Scotland and Scandinavia
Musha Marimba - High school group playing Zimbabwean-style marimba

N
Nah'Joom - Belly dance
Sree Nandagopal - Teaches dances from India
*Nordic Dancers - Members of Daughters of Norway share their traditions
Northwest Hula Company - Traditional Hawaiian dance

P
Plaid Cat Trio - Jug band, oldies, cowboy
Poor Boy's Delight - Traditional Bluegrass and Americana
*Popeye Rose Social Club - Folk, country, and originals
Prestwold Players - English dance music from the 17th and 18th centuries

R
The Radio Helpers - Sister duo playing folk songs and Americana
LaVona Reeves - Songs from her great-grandmother. Children are welcome.

S
Steve Schennum - Songs you'll never hear on the radio
Nora Scott - New England Contra Dance caller
*Randi Marie Shaw - Originals from mother and daughter duo
Sidetrack - Participatory dance party to western, country, rock, and blues
Silver Spurs Youth Folk Dancers - Dances from around the world
South Asia Cultural Association - East Indian songs and participatory dance
Spokane Area Square Dancers - A demonstration and audience participatory dance
Spokane Bon Odori - Participatory Japanese folk dance
Spokane Chinese Dance Group - Mongolian, Tibetan, and Han dance
Spokane Dulcimer Guild - Performance and brief history of the dulcimer
Spokane Irish Sessions - Traditional Irish music
Spokane Raging Grannies - Singing for peace and justice
Spokane River Tellers - Stories for young and old
Spokane Scottish Country Dancers - Traditional Scottish dance
Spokane Taiko - Traditional and original Japanese drumming
Harvey Stanley - Folk Americana
Stevens County Stompers (Colville, WA) - Clogging for all ages
Aaron Stratton - Bagpipe Workshop presentation
String Cosmology (Yakima, WA) - String band time travelers

T
*Tasty Material - Eclectic dance tunes
Thirsty Bootz - Folkabilly and more
Trillium 239 (Richland, WA) - A rare isotope in Eastern Washington
Truck Mills and Carl Rey (Ponderay, ID) - Harmony, vocals, and multi-instrumentalists
Two Grey Cats - Guitar, bass, and vocals

V
Zeke Vasquez - Acoustic guitar and songs
Ernie Verdugo - Spanish and Flamenco guitar

W
Bill Wakefield - Bagpipe Workshop presentation
Patrice Webb (Ponderay, ID) - Award-winning original songwriting
*John Wayne Williams - 4-piece folk band
Woodside Swing - Vintage swing dance

Z
Yang Zu - Music on the Guzheng (Chinese Zither)

Date: November 8 and 9, 2025

Time:
Doors Open at 10:00 am
November 8, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
November 9, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Venue:
Spokane Community College, Lair Student Center
1810 N. Greene Street
Spokane, WA 99217

Free Admission

For more info https://www.spokanefolkfestival.org/