Folk music festival returns
Annual folk music festival returns to Saratoga County Fairgrounds
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. » The GottaGetGon Folk Music Festival is back at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds this Memorial Day weekend, offering folk music to kick off the summer season.
The event will be held Friday through Sunday at the fairgrounds in Ballston Spa, featuring live music, workshops, jam sessions, singing, dancing and camping.
Taking place every year since 1970 and sponsored by the Pick’n’ and Sing’n’ Gather’n’, the Capitol Region’s participatory folk music club, this familyfriendly festival takes its name from the urge to “get gone” from the workday world and welcome the unofficial start of summer.
A lineup of familiar favorites and new faces will grace the stages at the 2018 GottaGetGon Folk Music Festival. This year’s performer lineup features John Roberts, Cindy Kallet and Grey Larson, Mama’s Broke and Roosevelt Dime.
Roberts, a veteran of the area’s traditional music scene, is known for sea chanteys, pub songs, music hall numbers and other singable selections from his native Great Britain. Local folk enthusiasts know him for his work with fellow traditional tunesmith Tony Barrand and the longtime holiday staple “Nowell Sing We Clear.”
Kallet and Larson are returning as a duo after separate ap-
pearances at past GottaGetGons – Grey in 1983 and Cindy in 1984.
Fresh from winning Ensemble of the Year at the 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards, Mama’s Broke - the duo of Amy Keeler and Lisa Bates - combines artful songwriting, lovely harmonies and fluent instrumentals.
The eclectic Brooklyn-based quartet will Roosevelt Dime will show off their influences ranging from Americana, Dixieland and bluegrass with their instruments including electric guitar, banjo, harmonica, upright bass and drums.
Additionally, there will be a New Folks concert Friday evening with up-and-coming local talent Girl Blue (Arielle O’Keefe), Carolyn Shapiro and Angelina Valente.
Pick’n’ and Sing’n’ Gather’n’ has designed the GottaGetGon to appeal to those who enjoy
making music as well as those who prefer to listen. The weekend’s timeline allows for plenty of informal vocal and instrumental jamming and also includes a variety of scheduled events where participation is encouraged, such as a swing jam led by longtime PSG member Dave Crump and his band Swing Shift, a barn dance with live music and simple dances for all ages, a “not for believers only” gospel/hymn/inspirational sing, an open stage where attendees of all ages are encouraged to share songs and recitations, an a cappella sing where all are invited to lead songs and contribute harmonies, and a Sampler Concert showcasing all of the featured performers.
Advance tickets to the GottaGetGon Folk Music Festival are $60 for the weekend or $35 per day for adults; $30 for the weekend and $18 per day for students ages 20 to 23. Children and teens are admitted free with a paying adult. A small service fee applies. Tickets can be ordered online at https:// www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/3352685.
On-site camping is included in the ticket price.
There are a limited number of food concessions onsite, and the fairgrounds is convenient to local restaurants and grocery stores.