The 2023 Lowell Folk Festival in Lowell, Massachusetts, will take place from July 28th to July 30th, 2023. This 36th annual world music event features folk music, traditional crafts, and diverse cuisines from around the world. It offers a free 3-day celebration with world-class musicians performing music from different cultures and traditional craft artists displaying their skills and crafts.
The festival will begin with the Parade of Flags, followed by various performances on different stages presenting the remarkable diversity of arts and cultures. Moderated conversations and demonstrations will allow festival-goers to explore the musical journeys of artists from diverse backgrounds. In addition, there will be a wide variety of foods from different cultures available for purchase, offering a rich culinary experience.
The Lowell Folk Festival receives major support from various organizations and is produced by a collaboration of different entities. The festival is open to the public and will be held at various stages throughout downtown Lowell, MA.
Full List of Performances:
Cheres, celebrated a well known performer of authentic Ukrainian folk music in the United States plays at Saint Anne’s Churchyard on Saturday at 1:15 p.m and Sunday at 5:15 p.m, and at Boarding House Park on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Chuck Mead, a true Rockabilly and Honky-Tonk legend, performs at Boarding House Park Friday at 7:15 p.m, on the Market Street Stage Saturday at 4:30 p.m and at Dance Pavilion Saturday at 7:30 p.m, and Sunday 1:15 p.m.
Fran Grace, who was proclaimed a “Queen of Sacred Steel” by the Sacred Steel Hall of Fame, performs at Market Street Stage on Saturday at 3:30 p.m; on Sunday she’ll be at Boarding House Park at 12:00 p.m and Market Street Stage at 4:05 p.m.
Fred Thomas of the JB’s, one of the most influential bass players alive today, will perform Saturday at Dance Pavilion at 5:20 p.m and Boarding House Park at 9:30 p.m; and at Dance Pavilion Sunday at 5:05 p.m.
Heart Of Afghanistan Feat. Ahmad Fanoos & Sohail Karimi perform songs spanning Afghanistan’s rich and complex musical heritage on Saturday at Saint Anne’s Churchyard at 4:15 p.m, and at Market Street Stage Saturday at 1:15 p.m, and Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
Hot Club of Cowtown celebrating over 20 years together, is widely recognized as one of the finest ensembles in western swing and hot jazz today, and can be seen on Saturday at Boarding House Park at 8:30 p.m and at the Dance Pavilion on Saturday at 12:00 p.m and Sunday at 3:45 p.m.
Jason Samuels Smith, called the next greatest American tap dancer in the tradition of Savion Glover, Gregory Hines, and his own grandfather Benjamin Smith, who trained the legendary Nichols Brothers, performs Saturday at Boarding House Park at 2:05 p.m and on Market Street Stage Saturday at 6:15 p.m and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Lakou Mizik brings music, community, and spiritual connection from their native Haiti to backyards (and festivals) across the globe. They perform on Friday at 8:45 p.m at Dance Pavilion, Saturday at Boarding House Park at 5:20 p.m and at John and Merrimack Street on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Melody Angel has received critical praise as “the Future of the Blues” and will perform at Boarding House Park Friday at 9:15 p.m and Sunday at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday she will be at the Dance Pavilion at 8:45 p.m and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
The Red Trouser Show, featuring Tobin Renwick and David Graham, will perform their “never-before-seen combination of precision acrobatics paired with daring feats,” Saturday at 4:30 p.m and Sunday at 12:30 p.m at John Street and Merrimack Street.
REVMA performs music from a wide spectrum of Greek traditions, ranging from lively island dances to mesmerizing polyphonic ballads. They will be performing on Saturday at Dance Pavilion at 1:15 p.m and Boarding House Park at 3:05 p.m. They also perform Sunday at 3:00 p.m at Saint Anne’s Churchyard.
Sona Jobarteh, a rising world music phenomenon and the first professional female kora virtuoso to come from any West African jali (griot) dynasty, performs at Boarding House Park Friday at 8:15 p.m and Saturday at 4:05 p.m, and at the Market Street Stage Saturday at 7:15 p.m
Springfield Exit, led by Linda Lay, considered one of the best singers in grassroots bluegrass and country music, plays Boarding House Park Saturday at 12:00 p.m and Sunday at 3:15 p.m. On Sunday, they play at Saint Anne’s Churchyard at 12:00 p.m.
T’Monde, Louisiana’s acclaimed Cajun ensemble plays at the Dance Pavilion Friday at 7:15 p.m, Saturday at 3:50 p.m, and Sunday at 12:00 p.m, as well as Boarding House Park on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Trian, thought to be the best trio of Irish musicians in the United States, plays Saturday at Boarding House Park at 1:00 p.m, at Saint Anne’s Churchyard Saturday at 6:15 p.m and Sunday at 1:45 p.m, and the Market Street Stage Sunday at 5:20 p.m
Zuni Olla Maidens, perform traditional Zuni dance and song (current members of the Zuni Olla Maidens are all from the same extended family that has led the group since the 1940s) Saturday at John Street and Merrimack Street at 12:00 p.m, Saint Anne’s Churchyard at 2:20 p.m, and the Market Street Stage at 5:30 p.m. On Sunday, they’ll be in Saint Anne’s Churchyard at 1:00 p.m.
More information and the complete performance schedule can be found at lowellfolkfestival.org.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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