31st Annual Takoma Park Folk Festival is Sunday, September 14, 2008

31st Annual Takoma Park Folk Festival is Sunday, September 14, 2008

Fun for All Ages! Performance and Participatory Music & Dance, Juried Craft Show, Children's Activities, Fabulous Food!

Admission, Performances, Dancing are Free!

TAKOMA PARK, Md., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Folks of all ages who love traditional music and dance from the U.S. and around the world should enjoy the 31st Takoma Park Folk Festival, Sunday, Sept. 14 at Takoma Park Middle School, 7611 Piney Branch Road, Takoma Park, MD. The free event will run from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Music and dance is the heart of the festival, and the performances range from traditional American folk styles to songwriters who comment on current events. The Festival features "roots" music from Ruthie & the Wranglers, Radio Caroline, The U-Liners, The New Misty Crystals, and others. It includes the annual Showcase, with 11 newcomers who will each do two songs before a panel of judges, who will select one winner who will get a full 50-minute time slot in 2009. Other stages at the Festival will include a Bob Dylan Tribute and a two-hour segment of political songs.

"With seven stages of music and dance continuously, there's truly something for everyone," said Kevin Adler, chairman. "We're really proud of the diversity and quality of music that the Washington area has produced, and we are grateful to the performers who come to our festival." Singing along on the chorus and other audience participation is encouraged by many performers, Adler noted, adding that the festival offers "a uniquely energizing experience."

Many artists have a global flair -- from the Samovar Russian Folk Music Ensemble to Nrityanjali's dance styles from India to Capoeira Sul da Bahia, a combination of dance and martial arts from Brazil. Local Takoma Park favorites Chopteeth will close one of the stages with their high-energy Afropop.

Adler added that none of the performers are paid. "They are giving back to the community, and their generosity makes the event possible," he said.

In addition to music and dance performances, the Festival includes:

-- Day-long participatory dance-beginners & kids welcome, most segments include teaching

-- Juried craft fair (45 artisans) with items designed and made by the artisans

-- More than 100 community tables from local organizations
-- Games for young children
-- Twenty vendors offering fabulous food -- from healthy to decadent

This year also marks the debut of several young performers on the Grassy Nook Stage. Most of the young performers hail from Takoma Park, and some come from nearby Maryland and Virginia communities. Several of the children have nationally-known performer parents, such as Steve Hickman and Bill Wellington. The Twinbrook Tellers, storytellers ages 7-17 from the Twinbrook Library in Rockville, also will be performing.

Grove Stage performers will inaugurate a brand-new platform. Work was recently completed on the Folk Festival's Grove Stage -- the larger, stronger surface will enable the Festival to welcome larger bands to the very popular venue. The Festival extends its appreciation to Concreto Plus (construction), Landis Construction (design), the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County (funding), and the City of Takoma Park.

To see the complete program, or find directions for the shuttle or walking, please visit http://www.tpff.org/.

Festival Goes Green: The festival is increasing its effort to "go green" by using soy-based inks for printing t-shirts, recycling vendors' leftover cooking oil into biodiesel, ending its purchase of bottled water, and encouraging recycling of bottles and cans.

Transportation Options: Free shuttle buses will run from the Takoma Metro station and the Montgomery College parking garage. Walking directions from each of those sites are on the Festival Website, and the walking routes will also be marked. Onsite parking is unavailable, and handicapped parking is extremely limited.

The Takoma Park Folk Festival is supported in part by funding from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Maryland State Arts Council.

For more information: www.tpff.org; http://www.myspace.com/tpfolkfest; (301) 589-0202

Source: Takoma Park Folk Festival

CONTACT: Nancy Nickell of the Takoma Park Folk Festival,
+1-240-602-9618, media@tpff.org

Web Site: http://www.myspace.com/tpfolkfest
http://www.tpff.org/

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