BANGOR — Several local performers from the Lewiston-Auburn area will be included in the 17th annual American Folk Festival on the Waterfront this weekend. The three-day festival features live performances representing genres and cultures from all over the world.
Cindy Larock of Lewiston will kick off the Saturday festivities with a lesson in French-Canadian contra dancing just before Quebecois group Genticorum takes the stage at the festival’s Dance Pavilion. Larock is bringing with her three young Maine Folque Co-Op fiddlers who will be providing music for the dance workshop: Josh White of Auburn, Owen Kennedy of Winthrop and Alden Gilg of Gardiner. Playing rhythmic back-up for the trio will be Don Cunningham of Lewiston.
“We’ve performed at the American Folk Festival before and it truly is an amazing, unique experience,” said Larock. “The festival’s focus on so many styles of music and cultures allows attendees to either taste a little bit of everything, or immerse themselves in a particular genre.”
Larock and the Folque Co-Op fiddlers will hold the dance workshop at the Dance Pavilion, one of four stages, starting at noon Saturday. At 12:30 p.m., Genticorum will take the stage, the first of six performances at the Dance Pavilion on Saturday, with an additional 22 performances scheduled across the festival’s other three stages on Saturday.
In total, the 2018 American Folk Festival will feature 15 acts, performing a range of musical cultures over three days, including Celtic, Texas Blues, Honky Tonk, Bluegrass, New Orleans Jazz, Puerto Rican Salsa, African and Gospel.
American Folk Festival executive director Heather McCarthy says: “Quebecois is certainly one of the more popular styles of music for this festival — and not surprisingly, given our large and enthusiastic Franco-American population here in Maine. We encourage Francos of all ages to come and celebrate their roots with Genticorum, which is one of Quebec’s most dynamic traditional music groups.”
The festival begins at 6 p.m. Friday, with a parade led by New Orleans jazz group Tuba Skinny. The music continues until 9:45 p.m. Saturday hours are from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. The festival is in its 17th year and celebrates the roots, richness and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling and food.
There is no admission fee, although donations of $20 per person or $30 per family are suggested in order to keep the festival open to all. Along with on-site donations, the American Folk Festival relies on sponsorships and donations/fundraisers throughout the year to remain a no-admission event.
To donate in advance or sponsor the festival this year, visit www.AmericanFolkFestival.com.
The complete schedule can be found online at www.americanfolkfestival.com/performers.
For more information about the 2018 American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront, visit www.americanfolkfestival.com or call 207-262-7763.
The French Canadian trio Genticorum is one of the headlining acts at this weekend’s American Folk Festival in Bangor.
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