No need to buy expensive plane tickets or book hotels to experience music from around the world.
This year’s Richmond Folk Festival brings musicians from West Africa, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, India and Pakistan, as well as homegrown music from Louisiana, Appalachia and the DMV to multiple stages at Brown’s Island, Oct. 10-12.
This is the 21st year of the festival, which began in 2005 as part of the National Folk Festival put on by The National Council for Traditional Arts (NCTA).
The national festival changes cities every three years and works with former host cities to carry on their own festivals moving forward.
This is exactly what happened in Richmond. The NCTA continues to partner with Venture Richmond, which produces and promotes the capital city’s festival.
“They’ve got a great pipeline and a team that’s dedicated to finding these amazing acts,” said Stephen Lecky, director of events at Venture Richmond.
The NCTA presents to Venture Richmond’s programming committee, which then watches videos of prospective acts and votes on which ones to invite.
IF YOU GO
Richmond Folk Festival, October 10-12, Brown’s Island, Richmond. Admission is free.
NCTA programming manager Victor Hernandez-Sang is responsible for scouting out acts from around the world to present at the festival.
“My work as a programmer is, I do the research,” Hernandez-Sang said. “I’m the one who finds all these artists. I find artists I want to showcase each year from various traditions and parts of the world.”
The festival has become known as an adventure of discovery. Unlike most commercial music festivals, you likely haven’t heard of many of the artists performing. But that is the idea — an idea that attracts huge crowds each year who return to discover something new.
“It’s hard to tell people, ‘Just trust us; come and follow your ears, follow your nose,’” Lecky said. “If you’re looking for a headliner festival, this isn’t it. If you’re looking for quality and amazing music that you’ve never heard of and we know you’ll enjoy, this is for you.”
Raiatea Helm performs traditional Hawaiian music.
One performer who’s already catching attention is Hawaiian falsetto singer Raiatea Helm, who performs the traditional leo ki‘eki‘e style of music.
“She is huge in Hawaii,” Lecky said. “Bringing someone like that to Richmond is going to be a big deal for folks who know Hawaiian music or are familiar with that style. She’s a bit of a superstar over there.”
Some performances are interactive, such as one from an after-school program called the Beat Ya Feet Academy.
“It’s a group that teaches Beat Ya Feet dance, which is the dance from DC that got its start over 20 years ago of young people dancing to go-go,” Hernandez-Sang said.”Queen P and Crazy Legs lead this after-school program with kids of all ages…elementary to high school and young adults.”
Beat Ya Feet Academy.
One of the more unique acts this year is the Saami Brothers featuring Ustad Naseeruddin Saami.
“It’s a musical family whose father is coming here,” Hernandez-Sang said. “He’s in his late 80s. He’s one of the last singers of this very regional 49-note microtonal vocal scale from Pakistan. They’re one of the last generations carrying on that tradition of this really rare style. They perform two styles, Qawwali and Khayal.”
The Richmond Folk Festival has always included bands from across the Commonwealth. Hear from two Richmond-based groups, the No BS Brass Band and The Legendary Ingramettes; check out bluegrass from The Lonesome River Band from Meadows of Dan and Amanda Cook from Fancy Gap; and soul music by Rodney Stith from Petersburg, among many others.
The festival highlights folk arts at the Virginia Folk Life Area & Stage, including Stafford County’s Brad Hatch, a member of the Patawomeck Tribe, who recreates traditional eel pots. There is also a dedicated family area with crafts and activities for children and a stage for performances.
The festival opens Friday at 6:30 p.m. A full schedule is available here; and it’s a good idea to plan to see the groups that pique your interest since the music goes non-stop at multiple stages throughout the day. Most of the artists play at least twice.
Or, just follow your ears around the venue and catch what could be your next favorite band or musical genre.
