Head: Turning Sixty Has Never Been More Festive Sub: Philly Folk Fest Returns For In-person Excitement This August Meta: Michael Franti and Spearhead, Punch Brothers and The War and Treaty headline the 60th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival Aug. 18-21. After two years of virtual campfires the Philadelphia Folk Festival will celebrate its 60th year in person Aug. 18-21 at its longstanding home, the Old Pool Farm, in Upper Salford Township, Pennsylvania. Funky reggae rockers Michael Franti and Spearhead are headlining along with Americana rockers Punch Brothers performing American Acoustic with Watchhouse and Sarah Jarosz, the soulful husband and wife duo The War and Treaty, Atlanta-based hip-hop legends Arrested Development, modern folk rock band Hiss Golden Messenger, Irish singer-songwriter Aoife O’Donovan, Scottish instrumental trio Talisk and the always humorous Christine Lavin are among the standout headliners announced last week. The entire lineup is expected to be released next month. Presented by the Philadelphia Folksong Society, the oldest continuously run outdoor music festival in North America blends traditional and modern folk music along with bluegrass, country, jazz and world music that creates a completely unique and interactive experience for music fans and musicians of all ages. From campfire jams, meet and greets, demonstrations, workshops, culture and crafts, the Philadelphia Folk Festival is a musical oasis run by volunteers for 59 years. “Nearly three years after we last stepped foot on the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township, the Philadelphia Folk Festival will welcome our folk family from near and far back home to the sacred grounds of our festival, where Mari Black and dozens of other artists can finally take the PFF stage and replenish our souls with live music,” said Justin Nordell, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Folksong Society. Members of the PFS Philadelphia Music Co-Op are currently participating in the Martin Stage Melee, a battle of the bands competition to find the best from the Philadelphia region to see who, out of a field of 32 musical acts, will receive a headline spot at this year's festival. In-person and streaming tickets are available for the semifinal and final Martin Stage Melee rounds to support the top eight performers: Andrea Nardello, The Bent Benjamins, Emily Drinker, Erin Fox, Maggie Mae, Paul Saint John and the NightHawks, Rob Lincoln, and Turtle Ridge. Ballots can be cast up to 72 hours following the concert and the winner will be announced in July. Tickets are on sale now and all active tickets from the 59th annual festival will be honored. To get general admission and Friend of the Festival single day, camping and virtual streaming passes for the 60th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival, see folkfest.org/60thtickets. Philadelphia Folk Festival 2022 Lineup Michael Franti and Spearhead American Acoustic: Punch Brothers and Watchhouse featuring Sarah Jarosz The War and Treaty Arrested Development Hiss Golden Messenger Aoife O’Donovan Talisk Dustbowl Revival Bettye LaVette Tom Rush Dom Flemons Livingston Taylor Trousdale Davina and The Vagabonds Jim Kweskin Happy Traum Raye Zaragoza The Lee Boys ADG7 Los Texmaniacs RUNA Crys Matthews Billy Keane Mo Kenney Heather Maloney Twisted Pine Matt Nakoa Abigail Lapell Mari Black Trio Mike McKenna, Jr. Catherine Britt Addison Agen Cat Ridgeway & The Tourists Susan O'Neill Frigg Christine Lavin ### Upper Salford Township, PA (May 17, 2022) – Philadelphia Folk Festival has announced the initial lineup for its 60th anniversary event taking place August 18-21, 2022 at its idyllic home, Old Pool Farm, just north of Philadelphia. The weekend-long celebration will include headlining appearances from hip-hop fusion mavericks Michael Franti & Spearhead, Punch Brothers (reviving their celebrated American Acoustic ensemble featuring Americana heavyweights Watchhouse and Sarah Jarosz), and Americana-soul sensations The War and Treaty. Other standouts covering the gamut of folk, rock, roots, and global music include Arrested Development, Hiss Golden Messenger, Aoife O’Donovan, Talisk, and many more. Longtime friend of the festival, contemporary folk veteran Christine Lavin will return as an emcee and spotlight artist this summer. View the complete lineup below. The oldest continuously run outdoor music festival in North America, the Philadelphia Folk Festival brings together folk pioneers, music appreciators, and the genre’s bright young voices annually for a festival experience unlike any other. The beloved event, presented by the parent non-profit Philadelphia Folksong Society, aims to celebrate the richness of the folk music canon through choice entertainment, workshops, and collaborative opportunities, all amidst the tranquil setting of rural Pennsylvania. Over its impressive tenure, the festival has cultivated a family-like atmosphere in which every attendee, regardless of prior experience, feels at home on the farm. With a legacy that continues to ripen each year, PFF is a model heritage event in the folk space and beyond. Following a brief hiatus of in-person programming to lead two acclaimed fully interactive digital festival experiences in 2020 and 2021, PFF is thrilled to be returning to its full physical form this year while continuing the digital model that made the event more accessible than ever. Justin Nordell, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Folksong Society shares, “When we learned on March 11, 2020 that the COVID-19 virus was not only here, but potentially here to stay, the Philadelphia Folksong Society sprang into action. Quietly postponing their full calendar, the organization became one of the pandemic pioneers of the digital format, presenting its first livestream concert on March 13 with the Mari Black Trio (a Philly Folk first-timer for 2020) and raising over $1000 for the group whose tour was among the trove of casualties induced by the pandemic. In the years following, PFS would go on to raise over $200,000 directly for artists through our digital concert venue and the digital 59th and 59 ½ Philadelphia Folk Festivals, all while doing what we do best: supporting and building our community. Nearly three years after we last stepped foot on the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township, PA, PFF will welcome our folk family from near and far back home to the sacred grounds of our festival, where Mari Black and dozens of other artists can finally take the PFF stage and replenish our souls with live music.” Following the wide acclaim of their first two digital festivals that engaged tens of thousands of attendees across 86 countries, PFF will be fully hybrid for its 60th. In addition to its physical form, the 2022 installment will include three digital stages broadcasting live during the event, alongside real-time footage of each physical stage. Streaming tickets and streaming access add-ons are a must-have for the festival goer who dreams of being everywhere all at once. This year, the festival will continue its tradition of presenting the very best of local and regional talent onstage, but with a twist! Members of the PFS Philadelphia Music Co-Op are currently participating in the Martin Stage Melee, an old-school battle of the bands tournament set to showcase the bounty of homegrown talent in the Philadelphia region. Out of 32 acts, one fan-chosen winner will receive a coveted headlining slot at the 2022 festival. In-person and streaming tickets are available for the semifinal and final Martin Stage Melee rounds to support the top 8 performers: Andrea Nardello, The Bent Benjamins, Emily Drinker, Erin Fox, Maggie Mae, Paul Saint John & the NightHawks, Rob Lincoln, and Turtle Ridge. Voters may cast their ballot in support of their favorite act up to 72 hours following the concert. The winner will be announced in July and join the lineup on the legendary Martin Guitar Stage. For more information, visit folkfest.org. General Admission and “Friend of the Festival” (VIP) weekend passes are on sale now. Single Day passes, Camping (RV and Tent), and Virtual Streaming tickets are also available via the festival’s website. For more information on pricing, family rates, and PFS membership discounts, visit folkfest.org/60thtickets. All active 59th Festival tickets will be honored. WHAT: Philadelphia Folk Festival 60th Anniversary WHEN: Thursday, August 18 - Sunday, August 21, 2022 WHERE: Old Pool Farm (1323 Salford Station Rd., Upper Salford Township, PA) TICKET PURCHASE LINK: folkfest.org/60thtickets FESTIVAL WEBSITE: folkfest.org SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: https://spoti.fi/3yGeNb9 MEDIA APPLICATION FORM: https://forms.gle/uhtSTLyDS3xvB2w87 For media inquiries, contact Victory Lap Media: Danielle Dror (danielle@teamvictorylap.com) or Milly Parker (milly@teamvictorylap.com) Philadelphia Folk Festival 2022 Lineup Michael Franti & Spearhead American Acoustic: Punch Brothers and Watchhouse featuring Sarah Jarosz The War and Treaty Arrested Development Hiss Golden Messenger Aoife O’Donovan Talisk Dustbowl Revival Bettye LaVette Tom Rush Dom Flemons Livingston Taylor Trousdale Davina & The Vagabonds Jim Kweskin Happy Traum Raye Zaragoza The Lee Boys ADG7 Los Texmaniacs RUNA Crys Matthews Billy Keane Mo Kenney Heather Maloney Twisted Pine Matt Nakoa Abigail Lapell Mari Black Trio Mike McKenna, Jr. Catherine Britt Addison Agen Cat Ridgeway & The Tourists Susan O'Neill Frigg Christine Lavin And Many More to Come! About Philadelphia Folk Festival Presented by the Philadelphia Folksong Society, the Philadelphia Folk Festival is the longest continuously run outdoor music festival in North America. Founded in 1962, the 60th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival occurs August 18-21, 2022 at the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township, PA. For more information, follow PFF on Facebook and Instagram @PhiladelphiaFolkFestival and on twitter @folkPhilly, or visit folkfest.org. About the Philadelphia Folksong Society Founded in 1957, the non-profit Philadelphia Folksong Society offers programs of presentation, participation, and education throughout Greater Philadelphia and the nation year round and contributes to the preservation of a vast variety of musical styles and historical perspectives. PFS has acquired international recognition and local acclaim through popular programs such as the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Follow PFS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @folksongsociety. ### Not sure if you heard, but Philadelphia Folk Festival will be celebrating a milestone 60th ANNIVERSARY on the hallowed grounds of Old Pool Farm this August 18-21. PFF is the oldest continuously run outdoor music festival in North America, so it’s a huge privilege to get to work with them on this tremendous event honoring the rich legacy of the folk music canon. The initial lineup was just announced this morning, with some serious heavyweights including Michael Franti & Spearhead, Punch Brothers (reviving their American Acoustic ensemble alongside Watchhouse and Sarah Jarosz), recent AMA-nominees The War & Treaty, plus Aoife O’Donovan, Hiss Golden Messenger, Arrested Development, (with more to come!). Would love to chat more about the festival — let me know if you’re interested in covering in some way. Here’s a link to the full press release that ran this morning: https://bit.ly/PFFAnnounce Here’s the festival website for more information: https://folkfest.org/ Our attending media application can be found here: https://forms.gle/K7JhTABZNLmTX5ct6 Media Kit w/ all associated assets is here: https://bit.ly/PhillyMedia