Twenty-ninth Annual
Sharlot Hall Museum - FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL

October 6 & 7, 2007

Dear Folk Music Friends—

I hope that you are saving the first weekend in October to spend with us at the Sharlot Hall Museum Folk Music Festival. Those of you who have been here before know that this Festival is a kindred gathering of folk and acoustic musicians, singers, storytellers and dancers. It is a great and joyous weekend: we literally fill the historic buildings and beautiful gardens of the Sharlot Hall Museum with music. There are mini-concerts at the Gazebo and the outdoor amphitheater, workshops and tune swaps for songwriters and for fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar and other instruments, group singing, slow jams, old-time dancing, and cowboy lore. Over 150 of Arizona’s finest folk and acoustic musicians will meet here and perform. It is one of the best places in Arizona to meet people who share your musical interests.

This year we are working to upgrade the Festival printed program, and we invite you to send a photo and a 1/2 page description of your musical act with the application. You may send digital photos to me at warren@sharlot.org, but be sure they are high enough resolution for printing: 200 dpi at 4 inches wide is fine; the JPG file should be around 1 MB in size.

The Festival is still free to the public, although a donation will be requested from the public at the gates. All of the performers volunteer their talents. There are no stars and no headliners—just a lot of talented folks meeting enthusiastic and attentive audiences. The Festival runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday and Sunday, October 6 and 7. There will be a musical instrument swap meet on Sunday morning at 9:00 on the Museum grounds.

If you can be here and are interested in performing and/or helping to lead workshops, please fill out the enclosed Festival Registration form and return it to me by August 15. Each year we are close to having to turn away willing talent, so please try to send your response as soon as you can. We may have to hold to the postmark deadline of August 15 if there is more talent than can be accommodated. We will build the Festival schedule from your responses, so let me know if you have ideas for workshop sessions you would particularly like to see included or can help to teach. We will probably include these and other workshop sessions this year: Songwriters’ Circle, Rare and Unusual Songs, sing-alongs, Bluegrass, old-time, Celtic, and slow jams, Gospel singing, storytelling, and instrumental styles on banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer, folk harp, and jaw harp. Let me know if you would like to entertain in the children’s area.

A fun Band Scramble contest is the only quasi-competitive element of the Festival. It will be open to band members and individuals who want to jump into an impromptu string band. The bands will perform Sunday afternoon after having a little time to work up some tunes and/or songs—winners will be awarded silly prizes. If that sounds like fun, plan on signing up at the Festival.

The Instrument Swap Meet is a great chance to do some quality swapping—bring that old fiddle, or the banjo that was fine to learn on (and will be for another beginner) but doesn’t satisfy your critical taste anymore. Pass it on to someone who will cherish it and play it. We will provide table space Sunday morning for individuals wanting to display instruments and paraphernalia to sell or swap. The Museum does not ask for a commission, but donations are always welcome. We can't take any responsibility for instruments—you have to supervise them while they are on display.

I hope you can join us. Your talents are valued here—and I think I can guarantee that you will enjoy the Festival. I would love to hear any ideas you have for enhancing the Festival—write me a note on the back of the Registration form, or call me at Sharlot Hall Museum, 928.445.3122, or email me at barbaracook@sharlot.org.

The Festival will operate a Consignment Sales Area (and charge a 20% fee) for CDs and tapes of performing musicians. If you would like to consign items for sale, please check that box on the Response Form.

If you haven't received an invitation in the mail, please print out your Response Form and return by mail to Barbara Cook, Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 W. Gurley St., Prescott, AZ, 86301. Also, please make any address or phone number corrections on the back of the Response Form.

Hope to see you soon,

Barbara Cook
Festival Coordinator
barbaracook@sharlot.org