Dec 1 Jefferson Barry at The Keswick

Dec 1 Jefferson Barry at The Keswick

Enjoy the Annex bar and Jefferson Berry’s Urban Acoustic music prior to the Keswick Theatre main concert that evening: BEATLES VS. STONES featuring Abbey Road & Satisfaction: Tribute to The Rolling Stones.

Admission to the free PFS Member show does not require tickets.

The Keswick is located at 291 N Keswick Ave, Glenside, PA 19038. Phone (215) 572-7650

Jefferson Berry combines story telling in the Urban Folk tradition with the intricacies of JamBand and Roots instrumentation. Berry’s lyrics are informed by his years in corporate media followed by a dozen years teaching African American History, Economics and Government to inner-city Philadelphia high school students. Playing a variety of guitar styles, Berry’s projects bring a danceable style and contemporary point of view to Philadelphia’s local music scene. With the release of his fourth album in four years, this reputation is spreading nationally. Accompanying Berry will be long -time cohort and master mandolin player, Bud Burroughs.

Nominations for board positions are now open!

Nominations for board positions are now open!

There are three seats up for election, and these are currently filled by Eric Ring, Eric Robbins and Rob Kutzik. These three men were appointed to open seats and have done incredible work to put the society back on a firm footing.

Anyone wishing to serve or to nominate a qualified member should request information from George Ehrgott (gjehrgott@verizon.net), though instructions will be sent to all members in good standing.

Nominating petitions must be received by November 16th, with the slate of candidates to be announced by the end of the month.

Election will be electronic and will take place at least 30 days after the announcement of the slate.

photo of Amanda Shires (2019) by Susan Roston

PFS at the Keswick

PFS at the Keswick

Don’t miss these November shows at The Keswick, where PFS will have a members table:

Sunday, November 5:  Croce plays Croce 
Sunday, November 26:  The THE BAND Band

Visit keswicktheatre.com for tickets and info. Venue is located at 291 N Keswick Ave, Glenside, PA 19038. Phone (215) 572-7650

PFS announces NEW member benefit via Rising Sun Presents!

Discounts on folk music show tickets for PFS members

PFS is pleased to announce a partnership with Rising Sun Presents. A discount on select upcoming shows in and around Philadelphia is available to PFS members through this agreement.

These shows being in November, and we are excited to offer PFS members discounts to attend The Nields on Sunday, November 19, at 118 North, and Chestnut Grove with Hoots & Hellmouth at Ardmore Music Hall on Friday, November 24.

This discount offer is limited to current PFS members.

 

The Nields 11/19

The Nields 11/19

About The Nields

The Nields are one of the most exciting of the new breed of contemporary folk-rockers. A review of a Nields concert described their music as “equal parts Beatles, Cranberries and Joni Mitchell.” Although they began as an acoustic trio in 1991, the Nields have evolved into a high-energy quintet. While Nerissa Nields’ songs, sung by her sister, Katryna, successfully fuse intelligent lyrics with heartfelt sensitivity, arrangements are kept at a feverish pitch by the Pete Townshend- and Adrian Bellow-influenced guitar playing of her husband, David, and the ultra-solid rhythm section of Dave Chalfant on bass and Dave Hower on drums.

Chestnut Grove & Hoots & Hellmouth 11/24

Chestnut Grove & Hoots & Hellmouth 11/24

About Chestnut Grove

Chestnut Grove is a five-piece rock n roll band from the suburbs of Philadelphia. Their mix of hook-filled retro pop and rock n roll jam brings fresh vibes to a classic familiar sound. The band’s full-length studio debut “The Album” offers an eclectic mix of classic American music. Their latest single, “Golden Age,” is the first track to come from their upcoming LP. Songwriter James Daniels wrote the song to reflect the rapid changes he was seeing in both society and his own life, caught in the middle between the nostalgic simplicity of youth and the new era that awaits.

About Hoots & Hellmouth 

With music and lyrics that are both transportive, yet achingly familiar, Hoots and Hellmouth offer a stream of songs that are earthy and ethereal, buoyant and tranquil, fluid and precise.

Glenside Mini-Concert Rained Out

PFS mini concert October 21 during Howl O' Ween Family Fun Day & Pet Parade in Glenside - Cancelled due to rainy weather

Don’t miss the PFS mini concert October 21 during Howl O’ Ween Family Fun Day & Pet Parade! PFS is excited to take part, and we encourage folks to dress your pet up in PFS tie-dyes and join the Pet Parade! This FREE family fun day event will take place in the parking lot of our office space in Glenside. There will be a membership table and performances by the Persistent Resistors, Groupie, and Jefferson Berry and the Urban Acoustic Coalition! Tell your friends and bring the family for a spook-tacular-good times!

UPDATE !! Hey y’all, this just in –> We have the PFS mini concert in Glenside coming up this Saturday. Forecast is for rain, clearing in the afternoon and we need your help! We need two or three large pop-up canopies to protect the musicians and equipment, and the membership table. They can be dropped off the day if the show, around 12:30 am. Will need to be picked up at 4:30 pm. Folks can contact Miles Thompson at mthompson@pfs.org to make the arrangements.

 

Lucinda Williams/Meghan Cary Concert

Join us Sunday, October 22nd, at 6 p.m. for a PFS Pre-concert Gathering at the Keswick Annex in Glenside. Meghan Cary (with Peter Farrell and Bob Beach) will perform a set at the Annex before Lucinda Williams takes the stage at 7 p.m. in the main Keswick Theater.

All Lucinda Williams concert ticket holders, as well as PFS members (and potential members!) are welcome. Tickets are still available for the 7 p.m. Lucinda Williams concert, but selling fast. Grab yours today, here, before it sells out!

About the Artists: 

Meghan Cary is “a beacon of light in the world of female folk music” (Inside World Music). Billboard Magazine awarded her their “Critics Choice” award. Her latest album, SING LOUDER, debuted in the top 10 on the US/International Folk DJ Chart, and the title track has become an anthem for the music-loving community. With masterful storytelling and dynamic stage presence, Cary creates a live music experience that has been called healing, inspiring and outrageously joyful.

“I’m singing my ass off,” Lucinda Williams told Vanity Fair in February, following her first European tour since 2019. The love emanating from audiences and her musical family onstage and in the studio exemplify the healing power of music, says Williams. To wit, her stunning 16th studio album, Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart, brims over with some of the best work of her career.

PFS Seeking Director for 2024 Festival

PFS Seeking Director for 2024 Festival

The Philadelphia Folksong Society is seeking a Festival Director for 2024 Philadelphia Folk Festival

The Festival Director for the Philadelphia Folk Festival is responsible for planning and executing the PFF event. The director oversees all aspects of the festival, including; booking performers, coordinating vendors, managing staff, creating and managing the festival budget, developing marketing strategies to promote the event, establishing partnerships with sponsors and other organizations, and ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all attendees.

The director position maintains a flexible schedule during the year with substantially increased hours committed leading up to and during the annual Philadelphia Folk Festival. The position reports to the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Folksong Society.

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR JOB DESCRIPTION

1. *Strategic Planning*: Develop a comprehensive festival plan, including conceptualization, budgeting, scheduling, artist lineup selection, and defining the festival’s unique selling points.

2. *Team Leadership*: Assemble and manage a proficient team of contractors, volunteers and board members, across various disciplines, including production, marketing and publicity, logistics, vendors, operations, and artist relations/hospitality, ensuring effective collaboration and optimal performance.

3. *Artistic Direction*: Curate an eclectic and appealing artist lineup that resonates with PFFs target audience while maintaining a diverse and inclusive program.

4. *Logistics and Operations*: Implement a seamless logistics and operations plan to guarantee smooth festival execution, including stage setup, sound and lighting, security, ticketing, and crowd management.

5. *Sponsorship and Partnerships*: Secure strategic partnerships and sponsorships to enhance the festival’s visibility, generate revenue, and offer added value to attendees.

6. *Audience Engagement*: Develop engaging pre-event and on-site experiences, workshops, and interactive zones to enhance attendee engagement and create lasting memories.

7. *Safety and Compliance*: Collaborate with Upper Salford Township to ensure all permits, security, and safety and legal requirements are met, prioritizing the well-being of attendees, staff, and artists.

8. *Post-Event Evaluation*: Conduct a comprehensive post-event analysis to assess the festival’s success, identifying areas for improvement and refining strategies for future editions.

The 61st Philadelphia Folk Festival is scheduled to occur the week of August 12 through August 19, 2024, with public performances occurring on August 16, 17, 18. The Festival is the largest program of the Philadelphia Folksong Society, a nonprofit membership organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1957, the Philadelphia Folksong Society is “dedicated to preserving the past, promoting the present, and securing the future of folk music and related forms of expression through education, presentation and participation”.

In 2023, the Festival ”took a pause” and was not produced, allowing the Board of Directors of the Society to restructure the operations of the Society, reduce their financial debt, and re-imagine the Festival as a sustainable program. The 2024 Festival will re-emerge as a smaller overall event than in the past, serving nearly 5,000 patrons daily with several music stages, educational workshops, crafts, and on-site camping.

The Festival Director will be responsible for managing a team of Committee Chairs who are responsible for their own crew of volunteers. The Director will produce the Festival in adherence to the approved budget, and will reconcile the finances (with assistance from the Finance Committee) after the event. The Festival Director answers to the Board of Directors of the Society, and the Board will assist the Festival Director in the production of the Festival.

This is a paid position, which is commensurate with experience.

Please submit your curriculum vitae or resume by Friday, September 29, 2023, to directors@pfs.org.