Each year, the NJ Folk Fest highlights a different ethnic community, and this year the festival will be highlighting German-American heritage and traditions. There will be music, food, crafts and hopefully – sunny skies. This is also a free event!

In celebrating the German-American experience, the festival will feature the Goschenhoppen Strolling Fiddlers, demonstrating Pennsylvania-German folk culture. Also scheduled are the Bayern Verein Newark Dance Group, and Bernie’s Orchestra from Piscataway – formed in 1967 by three musicians to share German-American dance music.

In addition to German-American music, there is an eclectic array of music at the festival including performances from Spook Handy, Saul Brody, Ong’s Hat String Band, the Dukes of Destiny andothers.

A highlight of the event is the annual Singer/Songwriter Showcase. This event is a juried contest that features eight contest winners chosen from a pool of over 225 applicants. Each will perform a 20 minute set of their original songs. This years winners are Pat Cisarano, Annie Crane, Christine DeLeon, Thomas Earl, Dan Gonzalez, Alex Kim, Michael Patrick Phelan, and Dave Tutin.

Each year since 1982, the festival selects an individual to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition to their contribution to the folk music community. This year, bluegrass singer-songwriter Jim Murphy will be honored. Jim, who was a guest on my show several years ago, is the front-man of Jim Murphy & the Pine Barons, a group that has been together for 40 years. Jim will receive the award in honor of his contributions to the local and national music scene. Along with his band, Jim is a fixture at the legendary Albert Music Hall in Waretown, N.J.

I will be one of the emcee/facilitators this year – working the Pinelands Stage along with Kathy DeAngelo and Jim Albertson. There are some great workshops scheduled for this stage:

11:00 to 11:30 Next Generation of Irish Music
11:30 to 12:00 The Music of Pete Seeger: Ingrid Heldt, Rik Palieri, Roger Deitz, & Spook Handy
12:00 to 12:30 The Pipes are Calling: Frank Watson, Rik Palieri, Philip Mylod & Bill Selden
12:30 to 1:00 Roots of Gospel Music in the African American Experience:Gwendolyn Briley-Strand & Willye Mae Lee
1:00 to 1:30 Political Songs in an Election Year: Roger Deitz & Spook Handy
1:30 to 2:00 Country Music Legends: Jim Murphy & Saul Broudy
2:00 to 2:30 Who are the Pennsylvania Germans? Dr. William Donner
2:30 to 3:00 The Music of James Frill: Carl Baron, Goschenhoppen
3:00 to 3:30 The Pennsylvania German Story: Dr. Simon Bronner
3:30 to 4:15 A Hard Day at Work: Saul Broudy, Jim Albertson, Spook Handy
4:30 to 5:00 Post World War II German Refugees in New Jersey:Presented by The Fellowship Deaconry
5:00 to 6:00 Good Old Songs Sing-along with Spook Handy, Jim Albertson, Saul Broudy, Rik Palieri, Ingrid Heldt & Roger Deitz

There are three stages at the festival. In addition to the Pinelands Satge there is also the Skylands Stage which will host some wonderful showcase performances from all the headliners. The Shore Stage will feature some outstanding jam sessions andthe Singer-songwriter showcase.

It promises to be a spectacular event, and the price is right!!!! For more information, visit their website at http://njfolkfest.rutgers.edu/index.htm