World and Folk Music Festival Guide

There are literally hundreds of world and folk music festivals worldwide each year and we can only spend so much time scouring the net for them. So if you know of an upcoming festival which isn't listed here, please let us know about the festival and we'll add it to the site. It doesn't matter whether it's a big or small festival, we want to know about it and want our visitors to know about it too!

July 2008

World music family festival : July 19 : Nevada, USA

150 artists from across the world including Moira Smiley, Emeline Michel and more.

Globaltica 2008 : July 25-27 : Gdynia, Poland

This world music festival presents concerts in two stages at Kolibki Park by many artists from different parts of the world including Sinead O'Connor, Seun Kuti, Leningrad, Oi Va Voi, Vinicius Cantuaria and Natasha Atlas.

Link: www.myspace.com/globaltica

WOMAD : July 25-27 : Malmsbury, Wiltshire, England

70 artists from 35 countries performing across 8 stages including Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (Nigeria), Rachid Taha (Algeria), Bedouin Jerry Can Band (Egypt), Bill Cobham & Asere (USA), Eddy Grant & The Frontline Orchestra (Guyana/South Africa), Finley Quaye (UK), Kora (New Zealand), Lee 'Scratch' Perry (Jamaica), Little Axe (USA), Monobloco (Brazil), Roni Size Reprazent (UK), Tashi Lhunpo Monks (Tibet/India).

Link: http://womad.org/

August 2008

Guca Trumpet Festival - madness made in Serbia : August 6 - 10 : Gucha, Belgrade, Serbia

The village of gucha in the Dragacevo district, peaceful and colorful part of western Serbia , has gained world fame owing to its Assembly of Trumpet Players, the largest trumpet event on the planet.

This is probably the most insane music festival on earth. 5 days of trumpets, white spirits and dancing.

2008 artists include Boban Marković, hundreds of other brass players and hopefully Goran Bregovic .

Link: http://www.guca.co.yu/

Folks Festival :August 15-17 : Colorado, USA

The 2008 "Summit of the Song" is aboiut crossing generations, genres, global boundaries, and gold records. Featuring KT Tunstall, Amos Lee, Greg Brown, Nanci Griffith, Jakob Dylan, The Waifs, Todd Snider, Tim O'Brien, Dar Williams, and many more.

Link: http://www.bluegrass.com/folks/

Ganesh Chaturthi Music Festival : 29th August - 2 September : Dehli, India

The Ganesh Mandhir in Mayur Vihar Delh is running a five day classical music festival. Performers include S. Vasudevan, a Carnatic music vocalist, R Saravanan on the violin and K Sreeram on the mridangam.

Email: issaikudumbam@gmail.com

Small World Music Festival : August 15 - 17 : Asterby, England

The line up for the festival includes the South American sounds of Claudio Kron do Brazil, Bangra beats from Achanak and acoustic blues from King Rollo.

Link: www.woldscollective.co.uk

Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival : August 21 - 24 : Grainte Hill, Gettysburg, USA

Since 1979, the Cornett & Winkelmann families, and their dedicated staff, have brought you the festivals, and they are proud to bring to you their 56th festival in 29 years of fantastic bluegrass music at Granite Hill.

2008 artists include Sam Bush Band, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, Randy Waller & The Country Gentlemen, U.S. Navy Bluegrass Band and Kate Lee & No Strings Attached .

Link: http://www.gettysburgbluegrass.com

September 2008

CoastFest : September 5 - 7 : Point Wolstoncroft, NSW, Australia

Blues, Roots, World, Folk and Alternative Beats +Indigenous Space Drum & Fire Circle, Multicultural Dance, Healing and Environment Village. The Festival will feature 3 days of celebration on the shores of beautiful Lake Maquarie, surrounded by water and bush-land with a range of cabin and lodge accommodation on offer, as well as waterfront, and bush camping.

Link : www.coastfest.org.au

City of Chicago World Music Festival : September 19 ‑ 25 : Chicago, USA

Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Chicago Office of Tourism.

Link: http://egov.cityofchicago.org/WorldMusic/

DjangoFest Northwest : September 24-28 : Langley, WA, USA

Now celebrating its eighth year of bringing Gypsy Jazz performers to Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, DjangoFest Northwest has proven to be the premier showcase of gypsy jazz in North America, presenting some of the biggest names in the genre to thousands of enthusiastic fans.

Link : http://www.djangofest.com/nw/

October 2008

Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival : October 2 - 4 : Oklahoma, USA

The mission of the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival, Inc. (OIBF) is to organize an annual world class festival; to support the bluegrass industry in Oklahoma, to edcate the people of Oklahoma and beyond about bluegrass music, its history and dominance in Oklahoma, and to promote the annual festival throughout the state.

Link: http://www.oibf.com/

The Lotus Event Horizon : October 2 - 5 : Indiana, USA

Concerts, educational outreach, the award-winning Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, and more: Every year, Lotus brings the best in world music and arts to stages, streets, and schools in southern Indiana. Performers include Frigg (Norway & Finland), Lo Cor de la Plana (Polyphonic song from Occitan/southern France), Vieux Farka Touré (Desert blues from Mali) and Little Cow (Ska/rock/funk/Gypsy fusion from Hungary).

Link: http://www.lotusfest.org

Whitby Musicport : October 17 - 19 : Bridlington, East Yorkshire, England

Artists include Rolf Harris, Chumbawamba, Toumani Diabaté, London Bulgarian Choir, Mighty Zulu Nation, The Hut People, Martin Simpson and The Warsaw Village Band.

Link: http://www.musicportfestival.com

Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival : 24th - 26 October : Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia

Dorrigo’s Folk and Bluegrass Festival was founded in 2002 when the Sommer’s Family decided to make Dorrigo their home.

Featuring artists such as Black Train, Bluegrass Parkway, Pirate Brides and Heather Mandich and The Southern Alliance amongst others.

Link: http://www.dorrigo.com/festival/

November 2008

Music at the Creek Festival : November 14 - 16 : Majors Creek, NSW, Australia

Music at the Creek is a festival of music, dance and poetry. While its primary focus has been on folk music, we encourage a range of other acoustic genres, especially from young, or new and emerging acts.

Link: http://www.musicatthecreek.com/

Queenscliff Music Festival : November 28 - 30 :Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia

3 day music festival in Victoria, Australia

Link: http://www.qmf.net.au

February 2009

Nannup Music Festival : February 27th - 2nd March : Nannup, Western Australia

Set in the heart of the beautiful South West's jarrah forest, beside the Blackwood River.

Link: http://www.nannupmusicfestival.org

April 2009

Fairbridge Festival : April 17 - 19 : Pinjarra, Western Australia

An annual family-friendly celebration of folk, roots, blues, acoustic, celtic, a capella and world music in a traffic-free, self-contained bushland site at Fairbridge Village, South West Highway, 5 km north of Pinjarra, Western Australia.

Link: http://www.fairbridgefestival.com.au/