Zeiterion Performing Arts Center Celebrates the 25th New Bedford Folk Festival

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is pleased to present the 25th New Bedford Folk Festival with a special line-up in honor of its silver anniversary on Saturday July 9 and Sunday July 10, 2022. After a two-year delay due to the pandemic, the festival returns with the best in contemporary, Americana, traditional, blues and Celtic folk music. To celebrate this musical milestone the festival has invited folk music legend Tom Rush, folk, jazz, and pop songstress Susan Werner, cutting edge Celtic band RUNA, Grammy nominated old time and American roots fiddler Bruce Molsky and legendary fiddler Tony Trischka called”the father of modern bluegrass by the New York Times, Native Americana blues master Cary Morin, the award winning French-Canadian group Musique à bouches, singer-songwriters Cheryl Wheeler, Garnet Rogers, Catie Curtis and John Gorka described by Rolling Stone as “the preeminent male singer-songwriter of the New Folk Movement” and many more.

The New Bedford Folk Festival presents music on 7 stages that range from the 1200 seat Zeiterion Performing Arts Center to the intimacy of the “Meet the Performer” stage in the historic Seaman’s Bethel. Performers are presented in concerts and in the popular festival “workshops” which feature 3 or 4 performers or groups on stage at the same time in one-time, unique shows.

The festival also features six blocks of craft vendors and a gourmet Food Court and Beer Garden which is open to the community.The festival takes place at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center and throughout the 11 blocks of historic downtown New Bedford and the Whaling National Historical Park.

The lineup of performers for the 25th festival includes: Alisa Amador, Roy Book Binder, Bourque Emissaires, J.P. Cormier, Catie Curtis, Dansmall, É.T.É., Beppe Gambetta, Abbie Gardner, Vance Gilbert, Seth Glier, John Gorka, Rev. Robert B. Jones, Pete and Maura Kennedy, Chris Matthews, McLane, Cummings and Van Norstrand, Bruce Molsky and Tony Trischka, Cary Morin, Grace Morrison, Peter Mulvey, Musique à bouches, Mustard’s Retreat, Chris Pahud, Emerald Rae, John Roberts, Garnet Rogers, Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen, Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, RUNA, Tom Rush, Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan, Art Tebbetts, The Vox Hunters, Susan Werner, Cheryl Wheeler All performers are subject to change.

Ticket prices are $40 for a single day, $50 for the weekend, $85 for a Weekend Plus Pass (two days of performances plus access to the Premium Lounge), and $150 for a Premium Pass (two days of performances, a Premium Pass lanyard, 2022 Folk Festival T-shirt, access to the Premium Pass Lounge, guaranteed seating at all Zeiterion performances and priority seating at Whaling Museum performances, free parking in Zeiterion and Elm Street garages, discounts at several food vendors in the Food Court & Beer Garden outside the Zeiterion Theatre, and more). . Children under 12 are free. Tickets are available by calling 508-994-2900, online at http://www.newbedfordfolkfestival.com/ or at the Zeiterion Box Office at 684 Purchase Street in New Bedford.

The New Bedford Folk Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Cultural Councils of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and Westport, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Community partners include The City of New Bedford, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum