Celtic, Bluegrass, Cajun: Folk Is Back

One of the premiere folk festivals in the Northeast returns to our area next weekend for its 23rd annual run. The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival is the brainchild of longtime Sharon resident Howard Randall, its founder, owner, producer and executive director. Since 2003, the festival has been held at Dodds Farm on Route 22 in Hillsdale, NY. It features some of the premiere folk, bluegrass, Celtic and Cajun performers, as well as leading dance bands. Between 4,000 and 8,000 people a day are expected at this year’s three-day festival, if the weather cooperates. Some people come for the music, some for the dancing, others for the camping, and many for all three. The festival began at Catamount Ski Area in 1988 before moving to a farm in Ancramdale and finally to Hillsdale. Randall was a partner in the founding of the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival in 1983 when he decided, a few years later, to start his own folk festival. The full-time Sharon resident is a building contractor who also does estate sales, but, he tells men, he’s no musician. “I gave up the trumpet in fifth grade,” he says. Fortunately for the rest of us, he likes folk music. Anne Saunders, his partner and Falcon Ridge’s artistic director, handles the booking of performers. Randall is “responsible for everything else, from the port-o-johns to paving to water and concessions.” “It takes a lot to run a festival,” Randall says. “We have 45 volunteers working for a week-and-a-half to set it up, and between 700 and 900 volunteers during the festival.” This year brings some outstanding headliners and first-timers to the festival, along with many popular returning acts. Topping the list is the wonderful country/folk singer-songwriter Mary-Chapin Carpenter, making her first Falcon Ridge appearance on Sunday. Her remarkable, multi-platinum career has been sustained by her original music and lyrics, velvety alto voice and spunk. Also making his first appearance, on Friday, is Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson. Saunders describes him as “the last musician of his generation to play with legends such as Muddy Waters and others of the Chicago West Side tradition.” Folk great Greg Brown takes the stage on Saturday, and a leading Cajun/Zydeco performer, C.J. Chenier, and his band will stop in for their first appearance while on tour from their native Louisiana. And one of the hottest Celtic bands anywhere, Solas, will perform on Sunday, as well. The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival takes place from Friday, July 22 through Sunday, July 24 at the Dodds Farm in Hillsdale, NY. For tickets, and forday rates, camping rates, and other information, go to the website www.falconridgefolk.com, or call toll-free 866-327-2744.

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