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
| November 15, 2023 is the next PFS/PASA digital open mic and ALL are welcome! Hosted by Mara Levine, Rob Lincoln, and Tom Cooney.Sign up here: https://forms.gle/BTT9J1EtpzozpAML8 If the sign up form doesn’t work for you, and you need the link, email Marablevine@gmail.com |
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.
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.
Board Secretary Wendy Fuhr discussed all things PFS and PFF with Ian Zolitor on WXPN’s Folk Show. Click on the link below to the August 20th show to listen in and hear Wendy along with Jackson Pines. The Folk Show is presented on WXPN 88.5 FM on Sunday nights from 8:00 to 10:00.
Thanks again to Ian for inviting us!
Link to listen: https://xpn.org/program/the-folk-show/
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.
