Big Folk Fest weekend, but we start on Thursday night with reunited Richmond band, Kepone, at Balliceaux. Show starts at 9:30 and it's $5 to get in.
Of course the big event this weekend is the Richmond Folk Fest, taking place Friday through Sunday in the Brown's Island area. It's absolutely FREE (though please give some $ to the bucket brigades!). Walking through this great event is liking walking around the world, soaking in all the great music the "folks" of the earth have to offer. Style Weekly posted their guide to the fest HERE and in their current issue. The big acts this year are Roseanne Cash (Saturday, 1 PM on the Altria stage), bluegrass great Ralph Stanley (Sunday, 4 PM on the Virginia Folklife Stage and then 5:30 on the Community Foundation Stage), and Fred Wesley, who helped create James Brown's great tracks in the 60s and 70s (Friday, 7:30 PM on the Community Foundation Stage and then three times on Saturday so check the schedule).
If you want a nice sampler pack, check out some of the workshops on the MWV Stage, Community Foundation Stage and Union First Market Stage on Saturday and Sunday. The workshops bring together three or four artists or groups who discuss and explore similarities in their music. They'll each perform a song or two and you may see some interesting collaborations, too.
And if you want to stop by and see me, I'll be volunteer "working" backstage at the Dominion Dance Pavilion from 11:30 AM to 3 PM on Sunday.
If you are not at the Folk Fest this weekend, but are at home near your computer, you can check out the Austin City Limits webcast on YouTube HERE. It'll be on Friday through Sunday starting at 2:15 PM each day. You can catch acts like The Black Keys, Jack White, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Roots, Iggy & The Stooges (read their awesome and hilarious tour rider HERE), and more.
Dave Alvin of The Blasters and solo work will be at Ashland Coffee & Tea on Friday night. Tix are $25 in advance, $30 day of show. Show starts at 8 with opener Christy McWilson. They'll be playing the great roots rock that Dave is known for. Here's Dave doing "Johnny Ace Is Dead" from his latest album, "Eleven Eleven (Expanded Edition)":
Also, Friday night at The National, it's reggae/pop/ska with Iration, The Expendables and Cisco Adler. Tix are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. Here's Iration doing "Porcupine":
Saturday night at The National, Swedish singer/songwriter (he does not sing in Swedish) Jens Lekman will perform. Be sure to get in early to check out indie electronic pop artist Taken By Trees (aka Victoria Bergsman). Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. Here's Jens on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon the other night doing the title track from his latest album, "I Know What Love Isn't":
Also, Saturday night, if you are looking for some post-Folk Fest Grateful Dead music, see Dead cover band King Solomon's Marbles at Emilio's Tapas Bar in the Fan. Show will start at 9:30. Don't know if there is a cover, but if there is, it won't be much.
Tuesday night at Ashland Coffee & Tea, folk legend Ramblin' Jack Elliott who influenced people from Bob Dylan to Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Beck, Bruce Springsteen, The Grateful Dead and Rolling Stones, will play for you. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 day of show and the show starts at 8. Here's Jack at this year's Whispering Beard Folk Fest doing a couple Woody Guthrie tunes and this dude knew Woody:
Have a great weekend! See you at the Folk Fest!
Tony Jordan
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