The Newport Folk Festival is this weekend. Of course, it sold out months ago. But you know what else is this weekend and isn’t sold out (because it’s free!)? The Lowell Folk Festival.
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the 37th edition of the free fest presents about two dozen artists with music and dance from across the world — really and truly, with acts coming from the South, California, Ireland, Brazil, Korea, and more. We’ve put together an itinerary we love, but go to lowellfolkfestival.org to design your own schedule (many artists play multiple sets).
Bluegrass, yes. Gospel, also yes. This old timey string quartet from Tennessee mines the classic sound of acts such as the Stanley Brothers and Louvin Brothers. That means loads of twang, pickin’, hootin’, vocal harmonies, and music that feels right at a Saturday night barn dance or a Sunday morning church picnic.
Sancocho is a Caribbean stew made from, well, anything you can stuff into it. When the New York-based Afro Dominicano labels its style “sancocho” music, the group knows exactly what it’s doing. This is merengue típico smothered in flavors from a dozen islands and cultures plus a bit of rock, funk, and blues. You can’t say it’s any one genre. You can say it’s perfect dance music.
The tradition of Kathak dance is one of the chief classical dance traditions of the Indian subcontinent. But Farah Yasmeen Shaikh carries her art beyond borders. Her dance skills are meant to build bridges between cultures in ways, as she says, “that both challenges and enlightens us alongside our audiences.”
Joe Hall plays all three kinds of music: Creole, Cajun, and zydeco. Naturally, being a Louisiana native, Hall and his Cane Cutters do the three in a gumbo style where one flavor crashes into the next. Maybe, let’s not worry about labeling it and just hoot, holler, stomp, and swing along to it as best as we can.
A big band from a few little islands, the Swanky Kitchen crew is set on reviving the traditional music of the Caymans. At the intersection of European and African musical styles, this gentle and often totally danceable fiddle music has persisted on the islands thanks in great part to this 10-piece ensemble.
Annie and her daughters — Anora, Anjessica, and Deborah — have been electrifying religious and secular crowds for 30 plus years with gospel music touched by r&b, funk, and blues. Whatever your faith, consider starting your day with these mighty voices.
At just 14-years-old, Verónica Robles began singing mariachi in Mexico City’s Plaza Garibaldi. Over the last few decades, Robles has become a champion of the music globally and in her adopted home of Boston with the region’s first all-female mariachi ensemble.
This ensemble covers a wide and creative blend of modern and traditional Native American dance styles found at contemporary powwows. A member of the Meskwaki Nation, group founder and director Larry Yazzie is a legend who often takes top honors at powwows.
Get your New Orleans funk and r&b directly from the source. As a member of the both the Meters and Neville Brothers, Cyril is straight up Crescent City royalty!
