Frederick Folk Fest is an intimate pop-up concert series and annual music festival in the heart of downtown Frederick, MD, a unique city tucked below the Mason-Dixon line and nestled in snugly at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Why a concert series and folk festival in Frederick, Maryland?
“The obvious reasons are because I love our city and its inhabitants, this genre of music, and want to
deepen and enrich the sense of community here in Frederick, by investing in its music scene for the benefit of musicians and music lovers alike,” states head organizer Katie Powderly of The Unconditional Lovers and Red-Winged Blackbird Records.
“I founded Frederick Folk Fest because I believe in sustaining a form of music that is a crucial part of the history, present, and future of our geographical region, the Blue Ridge portion of the Appalachian Mountain range.
“Folk music by definition is written and performed by the common folks, so it is a very accessible genre. One doesn’t need formal training or an education to pick it up. Musicians typically play by ear, and learn the tradition from others on front porches, around campfires, or, in days gone by, from the radio. But as a genre nowadays it is underrepresented in mainstream radio, is not taught in schools, and is at risk of going extinct if we do not actively perpetuate its tradition of being passed down from generation to generation. "We can accomplish that objective by creating spaces for its performance and appreciation. The term “folk” implies who the music’s intended listeners are, as well as its makers. It is music for everybody. That inclusivity is exactly what are aiming for. All while having fun! Frederick Folk Fest represents a convergence of a sense of pride in our cultural heritage, our sense of place, an honoring of our musical history, and a hope for our present and future.”
For a town of 65,000 residents, Frederick, MD, boasts a thriving and diverse music scene replete with music makers as well as a community of supporters and fans, making it the perfect location for a concert series and folk festival. Frederick Folk Fest’s focus is twofold: to lift local folk musicians to the forefront, while simultaneously showcasing intimate performances from regional and nationally touring acts for the entertainment of our community, the likes of which are difficult to access outside of larger markets such as D.C. While the genre of music is usually performed on traditional acoustic instruments, Powderly clarifies, “We are not sticklers in the sense that we are open to loose interpretations of the genre. If a genre is going to stay alive it is going to change slightly over time and across geographical space. That’s actually a good sign, because it indicates that people are breathing new life into old tradition. We both respect and honor tradition while encouraging innovation, in particular placing an emphasis on original compositions, as today’s songwriters are tomorrow’s historians.”
Come be a part of Frederick history and join us for the inaugural Frederick Folk Fest event, August 20-22 at Cafe Nola located at 4 East Patrick St. in Downtown Frederick, Maryland. www.frederickfolkfest.com
