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Scenes from the 2017 Philadelphia Folk Festival

    By
  • Jonathan Wilson
    • August 21, 2017
  • Audience members rise to their feet and begin dancing during the Baile An Salsa performance at the Philadelphia Folk Festival at the Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Audience members rise to their feet and begin dancing during the Baile An Salsa performance at the Philadelphia Folk Festival at the Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Evan Abrams of Runnemede, New Jersey, tunes his guitar in the campgrounds at the Philadelphia Folk Festival in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Evan Abrams of Runnemede, New Jersey, tunes his guitar in the campgrounds at the Philadelphia Folk Festival in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • A path winds through the campgrounds at the Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    A path winds through the campgrounds at the Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Guitarist Jerry Krantman and violinist Diane Perry jam during a brief rain shower on Saturday evening. (Jonathan Wilson for Newsworks)

    Guitarist Jerry Krantman and violinist Diane Perry jam during a brief rain shower on Saturday evening. (Jonathan Wilson for Newsworks)

  • A concert-goer wearing a glow stick listens to South Carolina based quintet Ranky Tanky. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    A concert-goer wearing a glow stick listens to South Carolina based quintet Ranky Tanky. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Festival-goers dance to the music of the Irish-Latin fusion band Baile An Salsa. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Festival-goers dance to the music of the Irish-Latin fusion band Baile An Salsa. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Azalea Bernstein swings her daughter Tegan, who was attending her first folk festival. (Jonathan Wilson for Newsworks)

    Azalea Bernstein swings her daughter Tegan, who was attending her first folk festival. (Jonathan Wilson for Newsworks)

  • Philadelphia Folk Festival founder Gene Shay tips his hat to an adoring audience. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Philadelphia Folk Festival founder Gene Shay tips his hat to an adoring audience. (Jonathan Wilson for WHYY)

  • Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams perform during the Saturday evening concert. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams perform during the Saturday evening concert. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Members of the audience stand and applaud Graham Nash during his performance. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Members of the audience stand and applaud Graham Nash during his performance. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Graham Nash performs during the Saturday evening concert. (Jonathan Wilson for Newsworks)

    Graham Nash performs during the Saturday evening concert. (Jonathan Wilson for Newsworks)

  • Global folk musician David Amram performs with friends on the festival's Tank Stage. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Global folk musician David Amram performs with friends on the festival's Tank Stage. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Cassie Haberle, 13, performs on the trapeze in Dulcimer Grove. Haberle is a performer with the Give and Take Little Circus. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Cassie Haberle, 13, performs on the trapeze in Dulcimer Grove. Haberle is a performer with the Give and Take Little Circus. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • In the festival campground, Danny Mulligan (left) and Huey McBanjo play Blue Grass music. The two are members of the South Philadelphia group The White Cheddar Boys. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    In the festival campground, Danny Mulligan (left) and Huey McBanjo play Blue Grass music. The two are members of the South Philadelphia group The White Cheddar Boys. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Susan Werner performs her song ''Herbicides'' in the festival's Culture Tent. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Susan Werner performs her song ''Herbicides'' in the festival's Culture Tent. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Cindy Irvin and her daughter Vera Meredith listen to Susan Werner perform in the Culture Tent. Irvin has attended 20 festivals while her daughter has attended four. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Cindy Irvin and her daughter Vera Meredith listen to Susan Werner perform in the Culture Tent. Irvin has attended 20 festivals while her daughter has attended four. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Janet Bressler, the lead singer of Sylvia Platypus, gives a Sunday afternoon performance on the Camp Stage. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Janet Bressler, the lead singer of Sylvia Platypus, gives a Sunday afternoon performance on the Camp Stage. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Piper Dennis Hangey opens the Sunday evening concert on the Martin Guitar Stage. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Piper Dennis Hangey opens the Sunday evening concert on the Martin Guitar Stage. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • The Great Groove Band were the first performers of the Sunday evening concert on the Martin Guitar Stage. The band features children aged 6 to 17 who sing and play folk instruments. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    The Great Groove Band were the first performers of the Sunday evening concert on the Martin Guitar Stage. The band features children aged 6 to 17 who sing and play folk instruments. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • The Irish-Latin fusion band Baile An Salsa performs during the Sunday evening concert on the Martin Guitar Stage. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    The Irish-Latin fusion band Baile An Salsa performs during the Sunday evening concert on the Martin Guitar Stage. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Festival-goers applaud the Irish-Latin fusion band Baile An Salsa at the conclusion of their performance. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Festival-goers applaud the Irish-Latin fusion band Baile An Salsa at the conclusion of their performance. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

  • Audience members form a conga line as Baile An Salsa performs. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

    Audience members form a conga line as Baile An Salsa performs. (Jonathan Wilson for NewsWorks)

For more than 50 years, the annual Philadelphia Folk Festival has been drawing thousands of visitors to Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, for four days of music and fellowship.

Festival veterans have attended for decades, returning year after year with their children and grandchildren. Lifelong friendships have been made here.

Although many festival devotees have aged with the performers they love, there was no shortage of young talent and young folk music enthusiasts. Artists early in their careers, folk legends, and musicians from throughout the world performed.

This year’s festival featured more 100 performances that spanned the full range of the folk genre. Among the festival headliners were Graham Nash, Old Crow Medicine Show, David Amram, Taj Mo, and local favorite Susan Werner.

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While vinyl records and CDs have given way to music streaming, the festival continues to be a premiere venue for live music, with the tradition passing to each new generation.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

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