The National Folk Festival today announced four additional artists who will be performing in downtown Greensboro from September 8 – 10, 2017. The 77th National Folk Festival in 2017 marks the free event’s third historic year in North Carolina.
The 2016 National Folk Festival attracted more than 138,000 attendees to downtown Greensboro for the FREE, three-day weekend. Based on the success of the National Folk Festival, key stakeholders are exploring the creation of a legacy North Carolina Folk Festival beginning in 2018.
Approximately 300 artists—musicians, dancers, storytellers, and craftspeople—will take part in the National Folk Festival, with more than 30 different musical groups performing across seven outdoor performance venues throughout downtown Greensboro. The four artists announced today include:
· Ann Yao Trio – Chinese string ensemble: Three virtuosic musicians elevate Chinese string music to new heights of skill and beauty with innovative arrangements played on some of China’s oldest-known instruments.
· Ongwehoñwe Singers & Dancers – Haudenosaunee song and dance: This young dance troupe from upstate New York expresses the beauty of Ongwehoñwe culture, strengthening and preserving it for future generations.
· Riley Baugus – Appalachian songs and ballads: Specializing in the Round Peak style, this celebrated banjo player and singer keeps the traditional music of North Carolina’s mountains vital for future generations.
· Sun Ra Arkestra – big band free jazz: For six decades this incomparable ensemble—part visionary, part cosmic myth—has explored American jazz, from planet Earth to Saturn—and beyond.
These outstanding artists join the following performers, who have already been announced:
· Alash - Tuvan throat singing
· Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band - Cajun
· Dale Ann Bradley – bluegrass
· Egyptian Celebration – Egyptian dance and music
· Feedel Band – Ethiojazz
· Innov Gnawa – Moroccan Gnawa
· Kelsey Waldon – classic country
· Los Texmaniacs – conjunto Tejano