Every year, the esteemed Philadelphia Folk Festival takes place at Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford, Pennsylvania-- a mere stone's throw away from The City of Brotherly Love. Music fans gather for four beautiful nights and three days to celebrate folk music with an array of talented performers that are sure to impress! And if all this wasn't enough, this festival is produced by the non-profit organization known as the Philadelphia Folksong Society and staffed almost solely by volunteers whose hard work helps make it come together each year.
The Philadelphia Folk Festival curates a selection of modern and traditional performers in a vast range of music genres categorized under 'Folk' such as World/Fusion, Celtic, Singer/Songwriter, Folk Rock, Country, Klezmer, Blues & Bluegrass, plus Hip/Hop Spoken Word Storytelling and Dance.
Gene Shay and Kenneth S. Goldstein, a renowned folklorist, joined forces to create the Philadelphia Folk Festival in collaboration with George Britton, Bob Seigel, David Baskin, and Esther Halpern. Since its inauguration, Shay has been the Master of Ceremonies, while Goldstein served as Program Director for 15 years consecutively.
The renowned Philadelphia Folk Festival captivates over 35,000 guests and 7,000 campers yearly at the Old Pool Farm in Paoli. This incredible event brings together an array of local, regional, and national talent for more than 75 hours on its stages. Moreover, WXPN radio hosts a special Camp Stage show every Thursday night that's part of the nationally syndicated World Cafe with David Dye - making it even more exciting!
For more than 50 years, the Philadelphia Folksong Society has presented the renowned Philadelphia Folk Festival. Current Executive Director Justin Nordell has led this organization since 2007, and previous E.D.s Lauri Barish and Levi Landis. This organization boasts a full-time staff devoted to their work year-round.
Mark your calendars - the 61st edition of the renowned Philadelphia Folk Festival will be held from August 17-20, 2023! Take advantage of this incredible event celebrating music, art, and culture in one of America's most historic cities.
