Anchorage Folk Festival: thousands gather to share music and stories.

AuthorPounds, Nancy
PositionAlaska: This Month

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A song in the heart is powerful. In fact, the cure to the winter blues could be bluegrass, rock, Irish and big band music found at the Anchorage Folk Festival, held for the 21st year this month.

"We need that in January," said Brett Jokela, Anchorage Folk Festival board president. "The festival encourages all levels and all ages. We want all of Anchorage to be infused with the idea that making and sharing music and stories is a way to enjoy our winter city and appreciate our neighbors and the diverse cultural traditions that exist throughout our community."

Jokela first attended the festival in the mid-1990s, when he participated in a workshop. In 2000 he performed with friends on stage.

"We had a great time," he said.

Jokela plays the mandolin with the Midnight Sun Zombies and guitar with the Irish music group Back Alley Banned. He has been working on the board of directors for the past three years.

The event runs Jan. 21 to Jan. 31 at the University of Alaska Anchorage Wendy Williamson Auditorium. The festival features many free workshops and performances by local musicians. Two special-guest bands will perform each weekend of the festival and participate in workshops.

Brother Mule of Victor, Idaho, will perform Jan. 21 to Jan. 24. The acoustic trio of fiddle, bass and mandolin won the Indie Music Award's Best Americana CD in 2005. Sweet Sunny South of Paonia, Colo., an old-time string band, will participate in the festival Jan. 28 to Jan. 31.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The festival started in 1989. "A handful of local Anchorage fiddlers and folk singers saw a need for an event to share their passion," Jokela said.

One original participant and music teacher, Mary Schallert, encouraged her students to perform in the festival. Now some of those musicians perform with popular area bands such as Bearfoot.

He quoted Schallert to describe the festival's significance to the community: "The Anchorage Folk Festival is one of the only community events in Anchorage where people of all ages are doing something meaningful together."

PERFORMANCES & WORKSHOPS

This year's festival will feature some 600 local performers, from single performers to large ensembles such as the Alaska Button Box Gang with 16 accordions. The 900-seat Wendy Williams Auditorium is typically packed for...

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