Performers for the 2018 National Folk Festival
rockabilly
Malibu, California
Nicknamed “Mr. Telecaster,” this rockabilly guitar icon is noted for his unique picking technique, melodic sensibilities, and lightning speed.
old-time string band
Marlinton and Huntington, West Virginia
One of the Mountain State’s finest old-time bands ably carries on their Appalachian musical legacy with a rousing, hard-driving style.
Andean scissors dance
Port Chester, New York
Carrying on the legendary danza de las tijeras (scissors dance), an ancient, highly acrobatic indigenous ritual dance from the southern Andes of Peru.
reggae
Seattle, Washington
A core member of the famed Gladiators and living legend of Jamaican roots reggae delivers the message and the groove.
b-boying
Charleston, South Carolina
Gravity-defying head spins, twirling windmills, and rapid-fire footwork are hallmarks of this urban dance style that lies at the core of hip hop culture.
precision jump rope team
Greenbelt, Maryland
A young champion precision jump rope team with dazzling acrobatic moves, agility, speed, style, and a positive message.
Azerbaijani kamancha and percussion
San Francisco and Sacramento, California
Haunting melodies of the Azerbaijani spiked fiddle supported by dazzling percussion—sounds honed over centuries along the famed Silk Road routes of eastern and central Asia.
tap dance
New York, New York
One of the most acclaimed tap dancers of his generation, a bona fide “hoofer” who upholds a great American dance tradition with verve and style.
Irish
Chicago, Illinois
Acclaimed for her virtuosity and creativity, this Chicago-born fiddler is among the most influential and celebrated in the world of traditional Irish music.
gospel brass "shout band"
Charlotte, North Carolina
This gospel trombone choir will raise the roof with its heavenly “shout band” harmonies, a musical tradition unique to the United House of Prayer for All People.
mariachi
Los Angeles, California
Soaring, impassioned vocals, a magnificent violin section, and superb showmanship—one of the finest mariachis in the world.
blues
St. Louis, Missouri
Channeling the power of old-school masters, this prodigiously talented 27-year-old is the future of the blues.
bluegrass
Charlestown, Indiana
Ten-time IBMA Fiddle Performer of the Year leads a powerhouse band, creating dynamic traditional bluegrass that has propelled them to the top of the American bluegrass scene.
klezmer
Brooklyn, New York
With sounds rousing, raucous, and poignant in turn, this all-star band fronted by one of today’s premier klezmer clarinetists is leading the modern renaissance of klezmer.
Romanian cimbalom
Chicago, Illinois
Stunning virtuosity and deep musical passion have made this master of the cimbalom a revered figure in Chicago’s Eastern European communities.
salsa dura
Bronx, New York
These “new kings of salsa dura” are leading a renaissance of driving, socially conscious Latin music that brings the energy of the barrio back to salsa.
Piedmont blues and dance
Takoma Park, Maryland
A harmonica wizard and a master of dance lead an exuberant celebration of Piedmont blues music and dance inspired by the rural house parties of their youth.
Texas fiddling and western swing
Dallas, Texas
Divine three-part-harmony singing and fiddling from the Lone Star State—think Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys meet the Andrews Sisters.
circus arts
Wilton, New Hampshire
This dynamic street circus duo combines precision acrobatics with daring feats and nonstop laughs, and a breathtaking finale that ends high in the air.
Korean music and dance
New York, New York
In exquisite traditional attire, with powerful ritual drumming, lush music, and expressive dances, this accomplished ensemble offers a powerful journey into the heart of Korean culture.
Cajun
Mamou, Louisiana
Both deeply traditional and forward-looking, this band sets the standard for modern Cajun music—sophisticated, soulful, and never failing to move both body and spirit.
New Orleans brass band
New Orleans, Louisiana
From the storied Tremé neighborhood, and firmly rooted in community parade traditions, one of the Crescent City’s most beloved brass bands.
highlife
El Cerrito, California
Acclaimed Nigerian bassist Babá Ken Okulolo and his all-star band deliver the irresistibly danceable sounds of classic highlife.
Québécois
Montreal, Québec
Led by a towering figure in traditional Québécois music, this brilliant trio mines the rich musical heritage of “La belle province” to create a one-of-a-kind musical experience.
Maryland Traditions Folklife Area Stage Performers
Swedish fiddling
Brentwood, Maryland
Maryland Traditions Apprenticeship Award Team
Cambodian homrong music
Gaithersburg and Takoma Park, Maryland
Maryland Traditions Apprenticeship Award Team
African American storytelling
Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland Traditions Apprenticeship Award Team
Persian classical singing
Potomac and Rockville, Maryland
Maryland Traditions Apprenticeship Award Team
Korean samulnori
Kensington and Laurel, Maryland
Maryland Traditions Apprenticeship Award Team
African American devotional music
Anne Arundel and Dorchester counties, Maryland, and Sussex County, Delaware