Zeiterion Performing Arts Center celebrates 25 years of New Bedford Folk Festival

NEW BEDFORD — Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is pleased to present the 25th Annual New Bedford Folk Festival with a special line-up in honor of its silver anniversary on Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10.

After a two-year delay due to the pandemic, the festival returns with the best in contemporary, Americana, traditional, blues and Celtic folk music featuring performers most requested over the past 25 years. While the food and craft areas are free open to the public, passes are required to access the stages and can be purchased online at newbedfordfolkfestival.com, by calling the box office at 508-994-2900, or visiting 684 Purchase Street Tuesdays through Saturdays.

To celebrate this musical milestone, the festival has invited folk music legend Tom Rush, folk, jazz, and pop songstress Susan Werner, cutting edge Celtic band RUNA, Grammy nominated old time and American roots fiddlers Bruce Molsky and Tony Trischka, Native Americana blues master Cary Morin, singer-songwriters Cheryl Wheeler, “smooth, dark baritone” (Washington Post) Garnet Rogers, “folk rock goddess” (The New Yorker) Catie Curtis, iconic folk singer-songwriter John Gorka, French-Canadian quintet Musique à bouches, and many more.

The New Bedford Folk Festival features more than 90 performances on seven stages over two days, along with non-ticketed areas open to the public, including six blocks of craft vendors, a gourmet Food Court & Beer Garden, and the local-performer Southcoast Stage. The festival takes place at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center and throughout the 11 blocks of historic downtown New Bedford and the Whaling National Historical Park. The festival originated as “Summerfest” in 1996 and has been presented by The Z since 2016 with Helene and Alan Korolenko remaining as Artistic Directors.

The 25th Annual New Bedford Folk Festival line-up includes: Abbie Gardner, Alisa Amador, Art Tebbetts, Beppe Gambetta, Bourque Émissaires, Bruce Molsky and Tony Trischka, Cary Morin, Catie Curtis, Cheryl Wheeler, Chris Pahud, Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan, Crys Matthews, Dansmall, Garnet Rogers, Grace Morrison, J.P. Cormier, John Gorka, John Roberts, McLane, Cummings and VanNorstrand, Musique à bouches, Mustard’s Retreat, Peter Mulvey, RUNA, Rev. Robert B. Jones Sr, Roy Book Binder, Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen, Seth Glier, Simon Care and Gareth Turner, Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, Susan Werner, The Kennedys, The Vox Hunters, Tom Rush, Vance Gilbert, and É.T.É.

The Southcoast Stage, the only stage open to the public, features these local musicians: Back Porch, Joanne Doherty, Red Fish, Fourteen Strings, The Harper and The Minstrel, Jethros, Eric Kilburn, Butch McCarthy, Putnam Murdock, Dori Rubbicco, MaryBeth Soares and Dave Perreira, Chuck Williams, New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus, and Jeff Angeley and the Pebbles of Rain. The New Bedford Folk Festival schedule is subject to change.

The workshops are the musical heart of the New Bedford Folk Festival, with each featuring three or four performers or groups on stage at the same time in a one-time, unique show. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, special workshops will feature the music of favorite festival performers over the past quarter century. This year’s workshops include “A Change is Gonna Come: Topical Songs Then and Now,” “The Great American Songbook: What's In It, What Should Be In It,” and “Now I Long For Yesterday: Songs I Wish I had Written.”

The New Bedford Folk Festival draws thousands to downtown New Bedford each year, and it has been recognized as a “Critic’s Pick” and one of “New England’s Greatest Celebrations” by the Boston Globe. Yankee Magazine has selected the festival as an “Editor’s Choice.” Community partners include The City of New Bedford, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The New Bedford Folk Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Cultural Councils of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and Westport, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Early bird prices are $30 for a single day, $40 for the weekend, $75 for a Weekend Plus Pass (two days of performances plus access to the Premium Lounge), and $135 for a Premium Pass (two days of performances, a Premium Pass lanyard, 2022 Folk Festival T-shirt, access to the Premium Pass Lounge, guaranteed seating at all Zeiterion performances and priority seating at Whaling Museum performances, free parking in Zeiterion and Elm Street garages, discounts at several food vendors in the Food Court & Beer Garden outside the Zeiterion Theatre, and more). After May 31, prices are $40 for a single day, $50 for the weekend, $80 for a Weekend Plus Pass, and $150 for a Premium Pass.

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to provide New Bedford and the region with performing arts programming that inspires, educates, engages, and entertains. Tickets are available for purchase at www.zeiterion.org, by calling 508-994-2900, or in person at the box office at 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford, Mass.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Zeiterion celebrates 25 years of New Bedford Folk Festival