PHOTO: John Francis singin' in the rain

Scattered thunderstorms and a flood watch wasn't slowing down anybody at the Folk Festival on Sunday as folk fans donned ponchos and performers tried their best to keep their instruments dry.

Photo by Andy Stettler

John Francis
Mid-way through his performance, Pennsylvania folk musician John Francis told the crowd he was going to join them on the grass for his favorite protest song, "Born in the U.S.A."

In the photo above, the audience sings along while others hold umbrellas over the artist.

Fun for the kids at Philly Folk Festival

UPPER SALFORD — No matter your age, Dulcimer Grove at the Philadelphia Folk Festival allows everyone to act like a kid.

Hidden away in a canopy of trees on Old Pool Farm, hours of entertainment are provided in this shady hideaway, making the Folk Festival a family-friendly experience.

“When I first came to this festival I thought to myself ‘Why would anyone bring kids to this?’” said crafts volunteer Caitlin Ryan, 21, of Blue Bell. “But I quickly learned many of these parents are exposing their children to other kids, good culture and things they would not typically learn in school.”
Read full story: Fun for kids..

Road closures announced for Philly Folk Festival

There will be detours this weekend for the festival. Traffic restrictions are in place from 3 a.m. Aug. 18 until 5 a.m. Aug. 22.
View Folk Festival traffic guide in a larger map

Camp fires are a go after township lifts burn ban

FILE PHOTO - The Giving Tree Band performs on the Camp Stage during the 49th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival on Saturday afternoon August 21 2010. Photo by Mark C Psoras

The hand-painted, white signs with the orange borders started appearing in Upper Salford last week.

It’s Philadelphia Folk Festival time, and Friday through Sunday, the Philadelphia Folksong Society will mark the festival’s 50th anniversary with headliners like Dan Bern, Tom Paxton, Levon Helm, Arlo Guthrie and Jorma Kaukonen.

Philadelphia Folksong Society president Levi Landis predicted attendance would be around 14,000 per day.

Read full story at The Reporter

Get ready for the 50th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival

For a half century, the Philadelphia Folk Festival has taken over the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford for a weekend of worlds best folk artists.

Now in its 50th year, the folk festival will return this weekend (Aug. 18-21) for another year of great music and more.

Arlo Guthrie, David Bromberg Big Band, Jorma Kaukonen,
The Campbell Brothers, The Kennedys, Angel Band,
Joel Plaskett Emergency, The Wood Brothers, Tom Paxton, Tom Rush, Dala, Tempest,
Madison Violet, Give & Take Jugglers,
The Great Groove Band, Dan Bern, Justin Townes Earle,
John Hartford String Band, David Amram, The Battlefield Band,
John Flynn, Elizabeth Butters, Alexis P. Suter Band,
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, RUNA, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Wilderness of Manitoba, Kim & Reggie Harris, Roy Book Binder, Footworks, Caitlin Rose, Brad Hinton,
Burning Bridget Cleary, The Berrys.

We will be live blogging the festival beginning Thursday through Sunday. Follow @ReporterGo for the latest news and events and tweet #JRCFolkFest to send us your photos, videos and more.