Folk Fest Bets

There are lots of reasons to go back to Schwenksville this weekend.

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Published: Aug 12, 2009

Angelika Rinnhofer

Folk Fest Bets

It's not just Joe Pug. There are lots of reasons to go back to Schwenksville this weekend:

New Orleans' Rebirth Brass Band and its anthem "Feel Like Funkin' It Up" are a good excuse to polish your second-line stepping to a fine sheen. Friday, 2 p.m.

Dante Bucci — performing during the Philadelphia Songwriter's Project Showcase — is a master of a rare modern percussion instrument called the Hang. It looks like a battle shield from the Middle Ages and is played like an inside-out steel drum, but bare-handed. Confused yet? Let your curiosity be rewarded. Friday, 4 p.m.

You owe it to yourself to get in early on Saturday. That's when the Musician's Workshop and Jam kicks off, with a stunning array of talent smushed together. Keep an ear out for Tony Trischka (pictured), the amazing banjo pioneer who laid bluegrass licks over everything from funk to the Wizard of Oz soundtrack. Saturday, noon. (Trischka also performs Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

Caravan of Thieves sing interesting stories then nod to the fiddler to insert some hot swing solos. Friday afternoon concert, 2:30 p.m.; Musician's Jam, Saturday, noon; Saturday showcase, 2 p.m.

Who knew the Lewis Brothers were reunited? You have two opportunities to hear these legends of the local bluegrass scene: Saturday at noon as part of the Musician's Workshop and at their immediately following 2:30 p.m. showcase concert.

Hard to imagine West Philadelphia Orchestra's set can be contained in a mere hour on Sunday, but that seems to be the plan. Doesn't matter if you know the official steps to the Balkan dances this blazing hot band specializes in, the beats are too hot to not move something. Sunday, 3:30 p.m.

Philadelphia Folk Festival, Thu.-Sun., Aug. 13-16, Old Pool Farm, Upper Salford, Pa., 800-556-FOLK, folkfest.org.

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