Maryland Folk Festival returning soon to Salisbury: Everything to know about big event

What better place to celebrate all cultures, ethnicities, races and religions than Salisbury, Maryland?

After serving as the host of the National Folk Festival for five years, Salisbury's very own Maryland Folk Festival is set to return for a second round this fall.

Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming, family-friendly festival, including who is set to perform, when and where it's held, plus more.

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When and where is the Maryland Folk Festival?

The Maryland Folk Festival — a vibrant, large-scale, multi-day outdoor event featuring countless colorful and cultural musicians and performers — is set to take place Friday beginning at 6 p.m. through Sunday, Sept. 20-22, 2024.

Hours will be 6-9:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. On Friday, the Heart & Sole Performing Arts step team will lead the parade from the Plaza on Main Street to the Perdue Dance Stage at 6 p.m.

The event will be held in downtown Salisbury and is also free and geared toward all ages.

The festival is dedicated to creating unique experiences of discovery and learning, cultivating cultural and ethnic diversity, and pursuing all opportunities to inspire and enlighten through music, dance, and food, as stated online.

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Who will perform at the 2024 Maryland Folk Festival?

The Maryland Folk Festival will bring artists from all over the country, plus local favorites, to Salisbury.

The Salisbury University Locals Stage — which will feature musical artists such as the Academy of Music Performance, Blind Wind, the Christine Havrilla Duo, Jonathan Zapuche and Wes Davis — is sponsored by Salisbury University and Salisbury University’s Fulton School of Liberal Arts.

The list of singers and performers for this year's Maryland Folk Festival includes:

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FLOR DE TOLOACHE

Latin Grammy-winning, all-female group Flor de Toloache mixes tradition and innovation, breaking boundaries with its edgy, versatile and fresh take on traditional Latin American music.

NOTHIN' BUT TROUBLE

Nothin’ But Trouble, stemming from Camden, Delaware, electrifies the audience with its musical mix of traditional blues, original tunes and good vibes.

SUCH FOOLS

Salisbury's very own Such Fools are bound together on a quest for a meaningful musical experience on the Delmarva peninsula.

MAX ROSADO

Max Rosado is an award-winning salsa singer born and raised in Puerto Rico and currently based in Washington, D.C.

MELODY ANGEL

Hailing from Chicago, Melody Angel’s electrifying performances fuse the deep roots of the blues with the mind-expanding ethos of Jimi Hendrix’s electric church music.

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REBECCA FRAZIER + HIT & RUN

Nashville-based singer Rebecca Frazier brings a high-energy, female-led bluegrass and beyond show that features award-winning musicianship and songwriting with her band, Hit & Run.

SEÁN HEELY CELTIC BAND

Powerful vocal harmonies exist in the Seán Heely Celtic Band’s song repertoire, which features Scots Gaelic (Gàidhlig) songs, ballads, sea shanties, pub songs and more from the rich Celtic folk tradition.

PINE LEAF BOYS

Louisiana’s finest four-time Grammy-nominated Pine Leaf Boys have made a name for presenting their own inimitable brand of Louisiana music with youthful exuberance, blending the sounds of Cajun, zydeco, swamp-pop, country and soul.

ACADEMY OF MUSIC PERFORMANCE - AMP STUDIO

The young musicians of AMP Studio – the Academy of Music Performance – from Salisbury, Md., are ready to rock.

BLIND WIND

Blind Wind is an award-winning father/son duo from Ocean City, Md., featuring blind harmonica player Cole Moran and his dad, Frankie Moran.

CHRISTINE HAVRILLA DUO

Christine Havrilla, based out of Milton, De., and Salisbury, Md., wins crowds over wherever she goes with her musical innovation, heartfelt lyrics and her guitar a mere extension of herself.

KEN & BRAD KOLODNER

The dynamic father-son team of Ken & Brad Kolodner weaves together a captivating soundscape on hammered dulcimer and clawhammer banjo, blurring the lines of old-time, bluegrass and American roots music. Plus, Ken & Brad will provide music for a special festival square dance on Saturday evening.

DUPONT BRASS

DuPont Brass is a one-of-a-kind, brass-driven supergroup from the D.C. metropolitan area that mixes varied genres of music, including jazz, hip-hop, and R&B they’ve coined “Eclectic Soul.”

JONATHAN ZAPUCHE

Jonathan Zapuche began violin lessons when he was 4 years old, and in the last nine years, he has won numerous competitions in the United States and Europe. In 2022, at the age of 13, Jonathan performed at Carnegie Hall. Currently, he is the youngest violinist in the Peabody Youth Orchestra.

MARLEE

Marlee is a contemporary R&B/pop recording artist from Salisbury, Md., who is quickly capturing the hearts of fans around the world.

WES DAVIS

Wes Davis and his band connect with listeners through songs that hit the heart, bring back memories and make the feet move.

Those interested in learning more about these artists and their stories may visit mdfolkfest.com/performers. More performers will be announced as they are confirmed.

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Storytellers and poets to perform on the brand-new Narrative Stage

Also new to the Maryland Folk Festival is the Toyota Narrative Stage, which will feature a diverse selection of storytellers, poets and panel discussions.

The list of this year's storytellers, poets and more includes:

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COME HERE/FROM HERE

“Come Here” Ladd G. Colston will share his perspective of a fresh-eyed newcomer to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and “From Here” Lexine Lowe will share her experiences growing up on the Eastern Shore and how it has radically changed since.

YOUNG ROCKSTAR POETS OFFER FRESH PERSPECTIVES ON POETRY AND PO-BIZ

Acclaimed young poets Sarah Brockhaus and Lisa Compo will share poems and discuss with inaugural poet laureate of the City of Salisbury NancyMitchell how radically the landscape of writing and publishing poetry has changed in the technological age, particularly since the rise of social media.

CITIZEN POET: THE ROLE OF THE POET LAUREATE IN COMMUNITY

Widely and wildly acclaimed, Maryland Poet Laureate Grace Cavalieri and Mitchell will discuss how their service as poets laureate has enriched their lives and fostered connections in their diverse communities.

HAROLD "STONEY" WHITELOCK

Following in the footsteps of his father, who became a skipjack captain at 16 years old, Stoney Whitelock worked on the boats as a young man. He loved this way of life that connected him to his family and the community. Whitelock is a lifelong resident of the Eastern Shore and a fourth-generation skipjack captain. He’ll share generations of stories and experiences on the water.

STOOP STORIES

Stoop Stories returns to the Maryland Folk Festival with Jessica Henkin and others. “The Stoop Storytelling Series” is a Baltimore-based live show and podcast that features everyday people sharing the extraordinary true tales of their lives.

TAHIRA

TAHIRA's storytelling performances weave together captivating tales and melodies from various regions of Africa, bringing to life the rich heritage and vibrant traditions of the continent. This performance was facilitated by the Governor's Commission on African Affairs in honor of Gov. Wes Moore's proclamation inaugurating September as African Immigrant Heritage Month in Maryland.

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Family area to host more fun: Dancers, and world-renowned juggler

At the festival’s Richard A. Henson Family Area, the Great American Indian Dancers will treat festivalgoers to a pop-up performance Saturday, and Cascading Carlos – The Juggler will perform Sunday.

GREAT AMERICAN INDIAN DANCERS

The Great American Indian Dancers will feature live music, dancing and storytelling from diverse tribes throughout the United States.

CASCADING CARLOS – THE JUGGLER

Two-time Guinness World Record title holder Carlos Mir, also known as Cascading Carlos - The Juggler, loves to mesmerize audiences with his high-energy interactive juggling skills.

What is the weather forecast?

The weather will be updated as the Maryland Folk Festival draws near.

If you go

WHAT: Maryland Folk Festival

WHEN: Sept. 20-22, 2024

WHERE: Downtown Salisbury

INFO: mdfolkfest.com

Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Salisbury to host second annual Maryland Folk Festival: All to know