2010 Anchorage Folk Festival

The 2010 Anchorage Folk Festival takes place from January 21st through 31st this year.  Every January, over 120 musicians and other artists from Alaska and around the world come to Anchorage and Eagle River to share their knowledge, experience and talent for free to the public.  Singers, storytellers, musicians and dancers perform both traditional and original material that includes bluegrass, Celtic, jazz, folk music and more.  Just some of the artists expected to perform include Sweet Sunny South (a bluegrass band), Brother Mule, Little Fiddler and Friends, Oldenweiser, Acoustic Banana, The Lost Riders and many, many more.  Square dances and a Marti Gras dance will take place at Romig Jr. High, UAA and the Snow Goose.  Every Friday night, the Spenard Roadhouse (1049 W Northern Lights Blvd) will be hosting a late night jam with Brother Mule and Sweet Sunny South.  All musicians are invited to bring their instruments and themselves down to the Roadhouse to join in on the fun.

In addition to the talented artists performing, there will be free workshops available to the public that include:

• Alaska City Folk Arts
• Teen Jam Session
• Rhythm Guitar, Bass and Mandolin
• Lead Instruments: Fiddle, Mandolin and Guitar
• Brother Mule Ensemble
• Slow Jamming
• Band Workshop with the Sweet Sunny South Band
• Harp Improvisation
• Guitar Maintenance and Care
• Exploring the Acoustic Baritone Guitar
• Fiddle Tunes for Kids
• Native American Flute
• Introduction to Bag Pipes and Drums
• Beginning Banjo
• Cajun Dancing
• Waltz Workshop
• Clogging
• Songwriting Exercises
• Singing

There's even a Banjo Contest to be held on January 23rd.  These are just a few of the fun workshops available throughout the festival.  To find out more about the 2010 Anchorage Folk Festival, please visit their website at http://www.anchoragefolkdfestival.org.  It sounds like a good time for everybody in Anchorage.

Pauline Hofseth, your Anchorage real estate expert