Folk Festivals in the New York City Area

Clearwater, Falcon Ridge, and Newport in 2009

Jun 9, 2009

Summertime means folk festivals, and within a few hours of New York City are some of the best, sure to make any folkie flip his bandana.

While not quite as big as Bonnaroo, Telluride, or SXSW, within three hours of New York City are three of the top Folk festivals in America: the Clearwater Festival, the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and the Newport Folk Festival.

The Clearwater Festival: June 20 & 21 2009

Also known as the Great Hudson River Revival, this celebration of traditional music and environmental awareness takes place every year at Croton Point Park, in Croton-on Hudson, NY (15 minutes North of NYC).

Conceived by music legend Pete Seeger- who will be celebrating his 90th birthday this year- as a fund raiser for his environmental group Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, the Clearwater Festival has been going on for over forty years.

In addition to celebrating Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday, this year Clearwater will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Sloop Clearwater’s launching, and the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson discovering the river that now bears his name.

The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival: July 23-26 2009

The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival is a four day event that takes place in Hillsdale, NY, about two hours North of New York City. Falcon Ridge is a relative newcomer to the folk festival scene, only beginning in 1988. Despite its newbie status, Falcon Ridge often gets major players on the folk circuit, such as Ani Difranco, Dar Williams, Greg Brown, and Arlo Guthrie.

The Newport Folk Festival: August 1-2 2009

The most famous folk festival of them all, the Newport Folk Festival, turns 50 this year. Founded by George Wein and Pete Seeger, the Newport Folk Festival is most famous for the first major performance of Joan Baez, and the site where Bob Dylan changed music forever in 1965 by with his first electrified performance.

This year the Newport Folk Festival has an amazing lineup, anchored by co-founder Pete Seeger. Some of the major performers this year will be:

All three festivals-- Clearwater, Falcon Ridge, and Newport-- are extraordinary festivals all within a few hours from New York City. NYC was once the hub of the folk scene, and is still very important to folk music. These three festivals should not be missed by the dedicated New York folkie, or anyone, for that matter.

The copyright of the article Folk Festivals in the New York City Area in Folk Music is owned by Craig Sanders. Permission to republish Folk Festivals in the New York City Area in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.