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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Elaine Schramm
520-822-5259
24th Annual Tucson Folk Festival Kicks off May 2
Free Community Event Features Over 400 Local, Regional and National Artists
TUCSON, Ariz. (April 17, 2009) -- In its 24th year, the Tucson Kitchen Musicians' Association (TKMA) presents the family-friendly 2009 Tucson Folk Festival, one of the largest free festivals in the United States. Over 400 local, regional and national musicians will perform on Saturday and Sunday, May 2 - 3, offering continuous live music featuring folk, blues, Celtic, bluegrass, folk-rock, world, gospel, country and Cajun rhythms. Each year, more than 10,000 music fans gather downtown to enjoy the wide variety of music performed on four stages.
The downtown venues are within easy walking distance from the corner of Church and Alameda, allowing for many musical choices. The Plaza Stage is at El Presidio Park; the Courtyard Stage is on the lawn of the Pima County Courthouse. The Museum Stage is at the Tucson Museum of Art (TMA); the Old Town Artisans (OTA) stage is located in the courtyard of the Old Town Artisans complex at 201 North Court Avenue, adjacent to TMA.
The 2009 Folk Festival kicks off with a pre-festival fundraising party at the Old Town Artisans complex, 201 North Court Avenue on Friday, May 1, 7:00 - 11:30 p.m. Musicians from all over the US are scheduled to offer a showcase of short sets for a festival preview. Admission is $3.00 at the door; a full bar is offered. A Mexican food buffet will be available for $6.00 at this all ages show. Please visit www.tucsonfolkfest.org for a full schedule of artists and details about the Friday Night Kick-off.
Saturday, May 2, the free fun begins at noon with a full day of music on four stages; workshops, the Interactive Ballad Tree Song Circle and the annual Songwriters Competition. The day culminates at El Presidio Park on the Plaza Stage with two headliners: first at 8:00 p.m., acoustic duo Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer perform their superb harmonies accompanied by a variety of acoustic strings and percussion. Billboard Magazine described their music "as close to flawless folk/bluegrass as it gets." At 9:00 p.m. Todd Snider delivers his unique blend of wry wordsmithing and poignant songs. Todd has been called "his generation's Will Rogers, an amiable, plainspoken, wise-cracking story teller and champion of the common man - just add a guitar and a pickup truck."
Sunday's fun begins at 11:00 a.m. with another full day of music on four stages, including an interactive Children's Show featuring Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer at 3:30 p.m. at the Courtyard Stage. The New Artists Showcase features talented young musicians under the age of 18 on the Courtyard Stage from 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Workshops in 4 locations run from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; the Gospel Singalong begins at 11:00 a.m. and the Instrument Swap is under the trees near the Courtyard Stage from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The final performance of the festival is on the Plaza Stage, Sunday at 8:00 p.m. With a career spanning more than 40 years, 25 albums and numerous world tours, singer-songwriter Eric Andersen performs with the emotional depth and unmistakable honesty that has made him a legend. He will be collaborating with famed local musician Harvey Brooks. Eric Andersen's songs have been recorded by artists all over the world, including Judy Collins, Fairport Convention, Peter Paul and Mary, Rick Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, The Grateful Dead and Francoise Hardy.
TKMA is partnering once again with community radio, KXCI 91.3 FM to broadcast from the Plaza Stage with a one-hour tape delay. As they have for years, popular local on-air celebrities Carol Anderson and Mike Landwehr will co-host.
TKMA President Susan Liechti remarks: "We are very excited to bring these artists to Tucson. We think it's a great mix: Eric Andersen is one of the American masters of folk music; Todd Snider reflects a more recent movement in Americana with a unique, humorous twist. And we are thrilled to bring Grammy Winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, they have a great mix of traditional and contemporary bluegrass-folk, plus swing and old-time country...and they yodel! This will be another fantastic Tucson Folk Festival, free and for the whole family. You bring the kids and the sunscreen, we'll provide the entertainment!"
Highlights of this year's Tucson Folk Festival features interactive events for all ages including:
• Annual Friday Night Festival Kick-off Party, Friday, May 1, Old Town Artisans.
• Sunday children's shows at the Courtyard stage from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.featuring Sarah Burchas, Sid Hausman and headliners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer.
• New this year: Acoustic Showcase in the lobby of the Tucson Museum of Art
• A smorgasbord of quality food and craft vendors at El Presidio Park.
• Sunday, 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., the New Artists Showcase on the Courtyard Stage features emerging local artists under the age of 18.
• Songwriting Competition: Saturday, 12:00 -2:00 p.m. on the Courtyard Stage, with 10 entrants playing 2 songs each. Winner announced at 4:00 p.m.
• Workshops offered on Saturday and Sunday on the festival grounds in a variety of instrumental, songwriting, and singing techniques. (Headliners Workshop Details: Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer offer a banjo workshop at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday on the festival grounds. Hotel Arizona is the site for the Todd Snider workshop on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.: 'Everything You Need to Know About the Music Business'. Eric Andersen's workshop 'Art of the Singer-Songwriter' is on Sunday at 2:00 p.m., also at Hotel Arizona.
• Sunday Gospel Singalong begins at 11:00 a.m.
• Interactive Ballad Tree Song Circle, Saturday 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
• Tape-delayed broadcast from the Plaza Stage on community radio, KXCI 91.3 FM, with Carol Anderson and Mike Landwehr co-hosting all weekend.
Past years' headliners have included: Richie Havens, Rory Block, Tish Hinojosa, Jimmy LaFave, Odetta, Guy Clark, Al Stewart, Tim O'Brien, Chris Smither, Karla Bonoff, David Wilcox, Laura Love, Hans Olson, Rosie Flores, John Cowan Band, Austin Lounge Lizards, Aztec Two Step, Bill Miller, Terri Hendrix, Joyce Andersen and Harvey Reid and Ruthie Foster.
The 2009 Tucson Folk Festival also offers a smorgasbord of delicious food and creative craft vendors at El Presidio Park; also a buffet will be available at Old Town Artisans.
The schedule for all events will be available in the program at the festival and can be printed from www.TKMA.org. Call 520-792-6481 for the latest 24th Annual Tucson Folk Festival updates.
For high-resolution photos and information on 2009 Headliners and Bios:
www.ericandersen.com
www.toddsnider.net
www.cathymarcy.com
For additional information about the Tucson Folk Festival and the Tucson Kitchen Musicians' Association, please visit www.TKMA.org. This website is currently being updated with new information on the schedule, artist bios and events.
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