These events are all FREE!
Friday, October 19 – Sousa Archives and Center for American Music (Sponsored by the Sousa Center: 1103 South Sixth Street, Champaign)
12:00pm – 1:30pm – Beautiful Music Around Us: Exploring America’s Rich Banjo Heritage, with Stephen Wade
America’s early banjo heritage is firmly rooted in the rich music traditions of the people who were brought forcefully to this country from West Africa during the eighteenth century. However, this fact and the evolution of banjo performance practice in late nineteenth century America becomes lost among the countless images of minstrel banjoists crudely portraying slap-stick characters using stylized dialects while wearing oversize shoes and exaggerated clothing. Over the past century the grinning black-faced banjo player has been embedded deeply into America’s consciousness, and this racially charged imagery and its associated music continues to reflect the social and cultural tensions that exist in America today. Stephen Wade – one of country’s finest banjo performers, recording artist, and a leading scholar of American folklife and culture – will provide a special performance lecture on America’s rich banjo heritage to reveal the evolution of its diverse artistic traditions and performance practices over time.
Friday, October 19, Sipyard (inclement weather: Cohen Building)
7:00pm – 8:30pm – Chantey Singalong with Chris Maden
Sing chanteys (sailors’ work songs) and forebitters (recreational songs), songs of the oceans and inland waterways, songs of fishing, of the docks, of the taverns, and of home, songs both traditional and modern. Lead a song, sing along, or just listen.
8:30pm – 10:00pm – All the Folk Favorites Singalong with Hilary Valentine and Rebecca Grosser
Saturday, October 20, Urbana Free Library MacFarlane-Hood Reading Room
10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Archives Bazaar: Discover the History of Champaign County!
Discover photographs, documents, films, maps, and artifacts held in the incredible archival and museum collections right here in Champaign County! Enjoy learning about these fascinating resources in a fun, interactive atmosphere. The Bazaar is FREE and features booths where you can chat it up with your local archivists and curators. Ask professionals how to best preserve your memories, start researching your family history, record an oral history, or ask about the history of Champaign-Urbana and Champaign County. Come see all the diverse resources and history Champaign County has to offer. Featuring: the Champaign County Historical Archives, Champaign County Genealogical Society, Champaign County History Museum, Museum of the Grand Prairie, and UIUC Student Life & Culture Archives.
Saturday, October 20, First United Methodist Church, lower level
11:00am – 12:15pm – Folkin’ Yoga, with Maggie Taylor
Saturday, October 20, Sipyard (inclement weather: Cohen Building)
12:00pm – 2:00pm – Bluegrass Jam, with Grassroots Revival
Jams are open to musicians of all skill levels and experience, and each jam will be facilitated by jam-seasoned musicians. Spectators welcome.
2:00pm – 4:00pm – Old-Time Jam, with Fiddlin’ Banjo Billy
Jams are open to musicians of all skill levels and experience, and each jam will be facilitated by jam-seasoned musicians. Spectators welcome.
Saturday, October 20, Iron Post
1:30pm – 3:00pm – Jug Band Jam, with Ever-Lovin’ Jug Band
Jams are open to musicians of all skill levels and experience, and each jam will be facilitated by jam-seasoned musicians. Spectators welcome.
3:00pm – 5:00pm – Irish Session, with Goodfoot
Jams are open to musicians of all skill levels and experience, and each jam will be facilitated by jam-seasoned musicians. Spectators welcome.
Midnight – ??? – Closing Hootenanny, with Sam Payne and Dustin Norder
The weekly Urbana Hootenanny comes to the festival! Sam and Dusty will host an open stage to close out the festival. All acoustic instruments and styles welcome.
Saturday, October 20, Rose Bowl
2:30pm – 4:30pm – Electric Blues Jam, with Joe Asselin and the Moonlight Ramblers
Jams are open to musicians of all skill levels and experience, and each jam will be facilitated by jam-seasoned musicians. Spectators welcome.