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Lowell, MA – The 33rd Lowell Folk Festival continues to provide the finest in traditional music, craft, foodways and more in downtown Lowell. This annual celebration showcases the best in traditional folk music, artisan crafts, and ethnic foods. Returning to downtown Lowell, the festival kicks off with the traditional parade of nations from Lowell’s City Hall Plaza to Boarding House Park. The free festival offers something for everyone, from 8 to 80-year-olds all within the heart of Lowell National Historical Park.
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne – blues and boogie-woogie piano
“This will be the 33rd year of the Lowell Folk Festival,” said Kevin Dwyer, Executive Director of the Lowell Folk Festival. “There will be a number of great new artists performing at the festival this year. For a lot of performers, it will be their first time in Lowell. It’s really exciting to bring new world-class artists to Lowell and give our attendees an opportunity to see them for the first time! This community has embraced a festival that has drawn millions of people over the last 30 years. We’re very excited to present the 33rd festival this July.”
Look for the following performers to make the Lowell Folk Festival the place to be July 26-28, 2019:
Vieux Farke Touré – Saharan blues
Yamini Kalluri & the Carnatic Ensemble – Kuchipudi dance
Grupo Cimarrón – Colombian joropo music
Albert Lee – rockabilly
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver – bluegrass
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne – blues and boogie-woogie piano
More performers will be announced.
The ever popular Folk Craft and Foodways Area returns to Lucy Larcom Park. The theme this year will be Fish and Fowl. Traditional artists from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut will demonstrate their skills and engage with visitors on Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Look for:
Rob Napier – ship model restoration
Tom Lauria – ship models
Alex Bellinger – ship in a bottle
Fred Kretchman – Bamboo flyrods
Scott Biron – fly tying
Bill Mackowski – fish creels
Fr. Paul Linuw – Pysanky (Ukrainian)
Kim Sheehan – needle felted birds
Bob Mosher – decoy carver
William D Sarni – decoy carver
Phyliss & Dale Webb, Magic Fluke – Ukuleles
The Foodways area will also feature Fish and Fowl. Check out cooks who have adapted their traditions and how they found their way to America, and to the Lowell Folk Festival! Make sure you stop by and have a “Taste of Tradition!”
The Lowell Folk Festival is presented by Lowell National Historical Park, Lowell Festival Foundation, the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of Lowell, the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact Phil Lupsiewicz at 978-275-1705 or phil_lupsiewicz@nps.gov.
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