The Bellingham Folk Festival is a homemade weekend of music and people that takes place in the heart of beautiful Bellingham, WA.

During those times you can expect a combination of these entertaining and educational elements:

Sessions/Jams (tunes and sing-alongs, some with scheduled leaders, listeners welcome, too!)

Workshops (learning stuff from people, mostly tunes, some talk/lecture style offerings, descriptions below)

Concerts (performances, some sitting, some standing, some with festival pass, some free with tips appreciated)

Dances (organized and disorganized dancing to live music)

New this year… We are delighted to be collaborating with Fire and Story Festival!
A collection of large, unique, and artistically designed sculptural fire pits provides a stage for local storytellers, poets, artists, and folk musicians. Dispersed across the Bellingham Waterfront as lighthouses, attendees will walk between each illuminated story and engage in the rhythm of this event during the darkest days of the Pacific Northwest.

Fire and Story Festival will be featuring multimedia events around the fire which are free, open to the public, and just a ten-minute walk from the BFF events happening in Downtown Bellingham. No BFF wristband is required to attend these events.

Schedule Of Events:

Thursday, January 18th, 2024

5pm-5:45pm - Cowboy Singalong with Tango Cowboys (sing-along)
Fire and Story at the Waterfront
free to the public, all ages

6pm-6:45pm - The Best Intentions (performance)
Fire and Story at the Waterfront
free to the public, all ages

6pm-7pm - Gypsy Jazz Guitar with Lucas Warford (workshop)
Majestic (downstairs)
wristband, all ages
Have you ever wondered how Django Reinhardt made the greatest music of all time? Come find out! Lucas will show you how some straightforward techniques and tips can add up to one of the world's most unique guitar styles. And far from being gypsy jazz specific, the skills learned about gypsy jazz rhythm will also serve any student well in playing any swing/blues/jug-band music.

7pm-9pm - Bluegrass Jam hosted by Kian Dye (jam)
Honey Moon Meadery
free to the public, 21+

7pm-9pm - Local Songwriters Showcase hosted by Ted O'Connell
Blue Room
free to the public, all ages
Locals play covers of locals, locally, on location! If you would like to perform a song or an instrumental written by a Whatcom or Skagit musician, contact Ted O'Connell for the rules, bylaws, and secret handshakes: [email protected] or Facebook messenger.

7:30pm-9pm - Square Dance with Devin Champlin (dance)
Majestic (upstairs)
wristband, all ages

9pm-close - Old Time Jam (jam)
Honey Moon Meadery
free to the public, 21+

Friday, January 19th, 2024

1:00pm-2:30pm - 3D Flower Embroidery with Stephanie Paulantis (textiles!)
Ragfinery
wristband, all ages
Explore the art of embroidering dimensional flowers. Learn cast-on stitch, woven wheel, French knots, and other embroidery techniques to craft lifelike floral designs on fabric. Leave with a small project and a few embroidery supplies. For individuals with basic hand sewing or embroidery experience, $3 material fee (or bring your own supplies if you prefer).

3pm-3:30pm - Tom Bourne (performance)
Champlin Guitars
free to the public, all ages

3:30pm-4:30pm - Beginning Mountain Dulcimer Workshop with Bev and Annette (workshop)
Majestic (downstairs)
wristband, all ages
In their Beginning Mountain Dulcimer class, Annette Janka and Beverly Hoback will  teach students four easy chords that can be used to accompany many songs, as well  as demonstrating and helping students try out more advanced techniques such as  harmonics, hammering on/pulling off, using a noter, and playing chords and melodies  up and down the fretboard. Students are welcome even if they don't have a dulcimer,  since the teachers will give everyone a chance at some hands-on playing with the  dulcimers the teachers own. You'll leave with a packet of music theory as it applies to  the dulcimer, and several songs to practice at home. In the class we'll focus on  learning the Celtic song “Mary and the Soldier.”

4pm-5:30pm - Klezmer Jam with Tzepl (jam)
Majestic (upstairs)
wristband, all ages
People of all instruments, voices, ages, and experience levels are invited to this jam led by the klezmer trio, Tzepl, whether you have played klezmer before or not.

4pm-8pm - Makers Market! (vendors)
Majestic (upstairs)
wristband, all ages
At the first-ever Bellingham Folk Festival Maker's Market explore handmade creations from local artists including pottery, jewelry, woodworkings and more.

5pm-6pm - Intro to Stepdance Workshop with Jocelyn Pettit (workshop)
Majestic (downstairs)
wristband, all ages
Come tap your toes and move your feet to the fun music of Canada's East Coast, and Québec!  This will be an introduction to (1) Cape Breton stepdance, from Nova Scotia, and (2) the seated "podorythmie" foot rhythms of Québec. Everyone is welcome - whether you are a seasoned dancer or have never danced before.  Hard-soled shoes are recommended.

6pm-8pm - Old-Time Jam with the Faux Paws (jam)
Majestic (upstairs)
wristband, all ages

6pm-8pm - Neighborhood Songwriters (performance)
Stones Throw Brewing in Fairhaven, 1009 Larrabee Ave.
free to the public, all ages
Neighborhood Songwriters is a monthly event at Stones Throw Brewery that features four local songwriters, each sharing a short set of original music. Enjoy handcrafted tunes and a selection of local beer, wine, cider, and ginger ale while supporting a rotating roster of local artists and non-profits (January's non-profit will be none other than the Bellingham Folk Festival). Apply to perform at neighborhoodsongwriters.com for a chance to be featured at an upcoming Neighborhood Songwriters showcase.

6:30pm-7:30pm - The FUN-damentals To Play The Ukulele with Simme Bobrosky (workshop)
Majestic (downstairs)
wristband, all ages
Beginners of any age can learn to play the ukulele. In this workshop you will learn how to hold, tune and play a couple of songs on your uke. Loaner ukes available to get you started. Resource material will be provided.

7pm-9pm - Feature Concert: Cantrip with Tzepl (concert)
Blue Room
click here for concert tickets, all ages

7:30pm-9:30pm - Pub Sing (sing-along)
Honey Moon Meadery
free to the public, 21+
Join hosts Peter and Claire for a participatory pub singing session. As a group, we'll entertain each other thru the sharing of songs. We'll cover all aspects of life – the land, the sea, the trades, lost loves, the celebration of beer (or mead), and many other themes. Bring along something to share! We'll have a handful of song leaders present, other leaders can join in, and there will be plenty of opportunities to participate in the choruses.

8pm - Kian Dye with Miles Harris and Aaron Guest (performance)
Shakedown
wristband or $10, 21+

9:30pm-close - Pan-Celtic Jam with Cantrip (session)
Honey Moon
free to the public, 21+

Saturday, January 20th, 2024

10am-11am - Workshops with Cantrip
Majestic (upstairs and downstairs)
wristband, all ages

10:00am-11:30am - Mending with Stephanie Paulantis (textiles!)
Ragfinery
wristband, all ages
Learn to mend your own clothes, especially knitwear! This workshop will provide a bit of hands-on guidance for your own repairs. Bring your well-loved clothing items in need of repair and we'll learn common techniques to make them better-than-new again. Tools and yarns will be provided.

11am-3pm - Mending by Ragfinery (textiles!)
Ragfinery
free to the public, all ages
Ragfinery is providing free, drop-in mending services. Ragfinery is a nonprofit retail store dedicated to educating our community about textile waste, creative reuse, and mending. As part of this free service, offered in partnership with BFF, they are able to complete minor mends on garments, excluding zippers. If items are not completed on that day, they can be picked up from Ragfinery later that week.

11:30am-12:30pm - Songwriting Workshop with Nathaniel Talbot (workshop)
Majestic (downstairs)
wristband, all ages

11:30am-12:30pm - Klezmer Tune Deep Dive Workshop with Jimmy Austin (workshop)
Majestic (upstairs)
wristband, all ages
Klezmer is the modern word for the traditional instrumental music of the Yiddish-speaking, Ashkenazi-Jewish diaspora, but what exactly is it, and what makes this music uniquely Yiddish? In this workshop, we will explore these questions by taking a deep dive into one klezmer tune. We'll explore its cultural and historical context, the dance it's played for, the mode it's built with, and how to play accompaniment parts. While learning by ear is encouraged, sheet music will be available too. Some knowledge of scales is recommended but not required. Bring any musical instrument, including your voice!

12pm-2pm - Feature Concert: Jocelyn Pettit and Ellen Gira AND Coty Hogue Trio (performance)
Blue Room
click here for tickets, all ages

12:15pm-2:00pm - Old-Time Jam with Golden Shoals (jam)
Brandywine
wristband, all ages

1:00pm-2:00pm - Creating Harmonies with West of Roan (workshop)
Presence Studio
wristband, all ages
Creating Harmonies: Come explore ideas of what intuitive harmony singing can be, and learn some basic techniques to two part
singing. We have a “no rules” approach and we love finding the powerful capacities of two unaccompanied voices.
Most of all, we believe that we can all use our true voices to sing, and our bodies to listen. We may also explore collaborative improvisation and small group work. No experience necessary.

1:00pm-2:00pm - Creative Confidence Workshop with Grace Honeywell (workshop)
Majestic (downstairs)
wristband, all ages
Do you create things? Have you ever put your heart into a project and then wanted to run away screaming at the thought of SHARING it with the world? How do we find courage in the discomfort of vulnerability and what does it mean to build creative confidence? Grace Honeywell warmly invites you to a guided exploration into building creative confidence, how to identify keys for unlocking creative blocks and what it can feel like to lean into hope and self belief. You may be thinking, wow that sounds like a tall task for an hour long workshop. To which Grace says “come along and give it a go - you're guaranteed to at the very least leave feeling a little less alone in the journey”. Open to all but geared toward creatives (of any sort!). Please bring along something special you're workin on for an opportunity to share a project in progress.

2:30pm-4:30pm - Contra Dance with Laura Me and Soundspel (dance)
Majestic
wristband, all ages

2:30pm-3:30pm - Harmonica Workshop with Jan Peters (workshop)
Majestic
wristband, all ages
Bring whatever harmonicas you have! I will help you determine some things you may try playing on them, give some basic exercises and show various possibilities.  We'll all try something together involving simple rhythm and melody. I will be demonstrating some of the Celtic, Americana, and blues approaches I've been developing for the last 12 years on harmonica. I'll have a large collection of harps to show and tell about as they all serve quite different purposes.

2:30pm-3:30pm - Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Style with by Colleen Freeman (workshop)
Presence Studio
wristband, all ages
Sliabh Luachra is an area in Ireland along the Cork/Kerry border known for its music and literature. It is also the place my ancestors come from. In this workshop, we'll learn a tune or two from the Sliabh Luachra repertoire and familiarize ourselves with the personality and key players of the genre -- and the draíocht that has kept it thriving through generations. Open to all melody instruments, taught on fiddle.

2:30pm-4:00pm - Crafternoon with Amy Connolly (textiles!)
Ragfinery
free to the public, all ages
Bring your own craft (BYOC) projects to the Ragfinery community classroom for crafting in good company. Anything from knit and crochet to sewing is welcome - surprise us with what you're working on! Tools and some additional supplies will be available compliments of Ragfinery. Capacity is limited to 10 people. Free to the public. There have been rumors of cookies.

4pm-5pm - Chords, Rhythms, and Grooves Workshop with Ellen Gira (workshop)
Majestic
wristband, all ages
l delve into some common chord, rhythm, and groove patterns, using a fun Scottish tune as a guide.  All ages, levels, and instruments welcome.

4pm-5pm - Harmony Singing Repertoire with West of Roan (workshop)
Presence Studio
wristband, all ages
Harmony Singing Repertoire (acapella): Join us in learning a beautiful song in two part harmony. We will sing everything acapella, and learn each part note for note by ear. Our songs and sounds come from and are inspired by traditional music from the British Isles and Eastern Europe and lend themselves well to moments of transition (seasons, ceremony, birth, death, illness, celebration).

4:30pm-6:30pm - Irish Session hosted by the Devillies (jam)
Majestic (upstairs)
wristband, all ages

5pm-7pm - Feature Concert: The Faux Paws AND Golden Shoals (performance)
Blue Room
click here for tickets, all ages

5pm-5:45pm - Nathaniel Talbot Duo (performance)
Fire and Story at the Waterfront
free to the public, all ages

5:30pm-6:30pm - Grace Honeywell (concert)
Honey Moon Meadery
free to the public, 21+

7pm-8pm - Kat Bula (concert)
Honey Moon Meadery
free to the public, 21+

7pm-9pm - Square Dance with Kelsey Nelsen, Golden Shoals and Reeb and Caleb (dance)
Majestic
wristband, all ages

8pm - Sweater Weather and Nathaniel Talbot Duo (performance)
Shakedown
wristband or $10, 21+

9pm-11pm - Pan-Celtic Jam with Jocelyn and Ellen (jam)
Honey Moon Meadery
free to the public, 21+

Sunday, January 21st

11am-12pm - West of Roan (performance)

Mindport

free to the public, all ages

12pm-1pm - Whoops, All Feedback! Live Sound For Performers Demystified Workshop with Michael Thomas Connolly (workshop)

Blue Room

wristband, all ages

Should I use a DI or a microphone? Are Ear Trumpet mics really that good? How do I ask for what I need in the monitors? What's a 'directional mic?' And why - WHY is there so much feedback? Performing in a live setting with a PA means learning a new set of skills, from selecting and maintaining the right gear, 'working the mic,' and asking for what you need from live sound engineers. It can be a lot, and most of us only get to practice it in the heat of the moment during a gig.  Longtime performer and sound nerd Michael Thomas Connolly will take you on a guided tour through the considerations and tradeoffs inherent in performing with live sound reinforcement. By the end of this workshop, you should have a better idea of what to expect in a live sound situation, how to fix common problems that come up, and how to speak the same language as your sound engineer!

3pm-5pm - Folk Club Launch! (performance)
Blue Room
$10 suggested donation, all ages

Date: January 18-21, 2024

Time:
January 18, 2024 - 4:00pm to 10:00pm
January 19, 2024 - 3:00pm to 11:00pm
January 20, 2024 - 10:00am to 11:00pm
January 21, 2024 - 10:00am to 8:00pm

Location: Downtown Bellingham, Bellingham, WA

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