Northland College hosts 45th Annual Ashland Folk Festival

May 2, 2012

Folk music from the past and present will collide during the 45th Annual Ashland Folk Festival in May. Folk Fest will be held on the weekend of May 11-13 at Northland College. The event, another offering in the Northland College Community Connections series, is open to the public.

Northland College students John Everatt, Tom Perry, Chuck Perry and Pop Wagner originally organized the annual Ashland Folk Festival in 1968. Since its inception, the Northland College Student Association has sponsored the festival every year, featuring folk musicians from across the region, state and nation.

The 45th Annual Ashland Folk Festival will blend traditional folk music with contemporary indie folk rock and more. This year's festival includes performances by local musicians Bentley Brehm, Frank Montano, Andy Noyes & Stevie Matier, as well as Northland College student ensemble Rose, Tim & Pop Heil. Regional folk musicians and groups, such as Charlie Parr and Two Many Banjos, will also entertain audiences at the festival. In addition, bands from the Midwest, such as Evergreen Grass Band and Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank, will also bring new American folk to the forefront with blends of bluegrass, blues, jazz and more. A full listing of acts may be found online at www.ncsanorthland.org.

The Folk Festival will also be host to an art bazaar where people may sell arts, crafts and other goods. The art bazaar will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, and Sunday, May 13, in the Craig A. Ponzio Campus Center at Northland College.

Advance ticket prices for the festival run $25 for the general public and $15 for seniors for a weekend pass. Day passes cost $10 for the general public and $6 for seniors. Children 10 and under, as well as Northland students, may attend the festival for free. A listing of ticket prices for the day of the event can be found online at www.ncsanorthland.org.

The event is sponsored by the Northland College Student Association and Wisconsin Public Radio.