Upcoming Events - Northwest Folklife

January 19 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM | Crossroads Bellevue Market Stage

Brazilian Social Dance Band

A Seattle-based multi-ethnic, female-led six-piece formed in 2011, En Canto’s world pop music—a combination of forró, samba, and choro-inspired originals and reimagined covers of classic Brazilian hits. Playing primarily in North America venues, En Canto currently channels its fierce independence into challenging stereotypes while also helping audiences expand their comfort zones.

February 16-22 | 11 AM - 2:30 PM | Seattle Center Armory

Experience the cultures of the world through seeing and doing! Through a unique combination of performance and interactive lessons, you can fully immerse yourself in the variety of folk customs and cultures of the Seattle region. Presented during the week of Seattle Public Schools’ winter break, music, dance, and hands-on activities will be available that celebrate the diversity and traditions of Our Big Neighborhood with a new focus each day.

February 16 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM | Crossroads Bellevue Market Stage

Red-Hot Tacoma Bluegrass

Tacoma-based band Barleywine Revue, formed in January 2010, writes and performs contemporary, relevant bluegrass and Americana music while paying homage to traditional bluegrass. Each member brings a unique blend of backgrounds and influences to writing songs, taking leads, and adding harmonies, keeping the band’s sound fresh and dynamic. In 2016 Barleywine Revue released its third CD, T-Town Hoedown. The members are Forest Beutel on banjo, Kevin Shintaku on bass, Kyle Kubler on mandolin, Julie Campbell on fiddle, and Gen Obata on guitar.

March 16 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM | Crossroads Bellevue Market Stage

Vintage Swing and Blues

Bunny Holiday began assembling her crack team of swing musicians in 2013. All of them veterans of other area dance bands, the band came together with the goal of creating a new experience for dancers while recreating the sound of vintage swing bands. Led by their chanteuse Bunny Holiday, the group combines her silky voice with the warmth of accordion and string instruments to make an irresistible musical blend.

April 6-12 | 11 AM - 2:30 PM | Seattle Center Armory

Experience the cultures of the world through seeing and doing! Through a unique combination of performance and interactive lessons, you can fully immerse yourself in the variety of folk customs and cultures of the Seattle region. Presented during the week of Seattle Public Schools’ spring break, music, dance, and hands-on activities will be available that celebrate the diversity and traditions of Our Big Neighborhood with a new focus each day.

April 20 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM | Crossroads Bellevue Market Stage

Fierce Americana Celtic Roots

Waterbound is the Celtic/Roots duo of Steve Akerman (mostly mandolins) and Mimi Geibel (mostly autoharps). While seemingly Celtic, it’s without fiddles or pipes; a kaleidoscope of shimmering notes from an evening in Lothlórien or Cair Paravel. There’s also Americana; a musical mixture of bluegrass, folk, swing, Swedish, Canadian and fiddle tunes, with a few vocals thrown in. Sometimes their vertical medleys combine them. The combination is a lovely blend of the most appealing melodies you’ll hope to hear. Music binds them together as they met in a Folklife band and married at an autoharp festival!

May 18 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM | Crossroads Bellevue Market Stage

Southeast European Party Music

Balkanarama plays high-energy dance songs from Southeastern Europe: Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania and Greece. Their repertoire includes many songs of the Rom people (no longer called Gypsies) living in those countries. The Seattle-based quintet includes alto sax, clarinet, keyboard, drums and bass, with four vocalists. They have performed since 1997 at concerts, festivals, nightclubs, dance events, weddings and other celebrations in the Pacific Northwest, including many appearances at Northwest Folklife, and have released three CDs.

May 24-27 | Seattle Center

Presenting more than 5,000 performers, the Festival draws from the 100+ cultural communities that Northwest Folklife collaborates with year-round. The festival is more than a celebration of the diversity of the Pacific Northwest, it’s a chance to engage directly with the many communities that make up our region. The Northwest Folklife Festival is our key annual event bringing up to 250,000 people over four days to the Seattle Center.

June 15 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM | Crossroads Bellevue Market Stage

Indian Instrumental Orchestral Music

Anjali Music School was founded in 2007 by Anjali Joshi, who is well known in the Seattle area as a solo Santoor artist and teaches different instruments to adults and children. Anjali has been teaching music since 2002 and has given numerous workshops on music theme; worked as a judge on musical competitions and has published her album series “Instrumental Melodies”. Anjali Joshi is a software engineer by profession, but music will always remain her passion.

July 20 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM | Crossroads Bellevue Market Stage

*2019 CULTURAL FOCUS: YOUTH RISING FEATURE*

An eXperiment in Cello

The Cello eXperiment, aka “Cello X” was founded in 2010 by Peter featuring his highest-level students. Their mission is to push the boundaries of cello playing and are as comfortable performing Metallica and Alice in Chains as they are performing Bach. Most of their music comes from original arrangements of today’s best music. They have recorded an album at Jack Straw Studios and have performed at the Seattle Mariners, Triple Door, the Moore and ACT Theatres and elsewhere. They are delighted to be back at Folklife for their eighth consecutive year.

August 3, 10, & 17 | 2 PM - 5 PM | Seattle Center Artists at Play

The perfect urban summertime activity, Global Playground mixes cultural connectivity with outdoor play. Set in Seattle’s most unique playground, this series celebrates outdoor fun through interactive games, local music, and dance and movement workshops rooted in the vibrant cultures of the Pacific Northwest. Local bands and DJs will provide a musical backdrop to keep you moving, playing, and learning!

August 17 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM | Crossroads Bellevue Market Stage

*2019 CULTURAL FOCUS: YOUTH RISING FEATURE*

School of Rock Bellevue House Band performs Rock ‘n’ Roll Classics!

School of Rock is a performance-based music program. Students receive 30- or 45-minute lessons on the instrument of their choice (drums, bass, guitar, keys, and/or vocals). Students also participate in a weekly 3-hour rehearsal to prepare them for the main event: The Show! We find that the combination of private lessons and peer-group practice is the best way to motivate students to practice hard, overcome stage fright, and become amazing musicians. This show presents our audition-based House Band performing classic rock selections spanning decades.

September 21 - 22 | Seattle Center Armory & Fisher Pavilion

Seattle Children’s Festival is a full weekend for the whole family to play, dance, sing, learn, and try something new! All are invited to this intergenerational celebration of the dynamic arts, cultures, and traditions that thrive here in the greater Pacific Northwest community with five stages of lively performances, three ‘Discovery Zones’ packed with hands-on activities, interactive dance workshops, multicultural arts and crafts, and more!

October 19 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM | Crossroads Bellevue Market Stage

*2019 CULTURAL FOCUS: YOUTH RISING FEATURE*

Soulful. Rock. Folk.

Anika Pearl is a 16-year-old musician and is also the name of the duo that she has with her Dad. She has played on stage since she was 9 years old with several different instruments as a soloist, as a member for the school orchestra and in different band configurations where she also employed her powerful vocals. Anika Pearl is always thrilled to perform at the Northwest Folklife Festival and other events.

December 21 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM | Crossroads Bellevue Market Stage

Southern European Men’s Acappella

Dave and the Dalmatians sings folk songs a cappella from the coast of Croatia and beyond, not least of which are Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Russia, Georgia, Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, and Wales. We started and still enjoy singing the songs of the klapa tradition which originates along the Dalmatian coast and islands in the Adriatic Sea. The group is based in Seattle, WA and has sung together for more than twenty years.

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