Woodstock Folk Festival, Woodstock IL

The 41st Annual Woodstock Folk Festival is coming right up! Join us Sunday, July 19, from Noon to 6 p.m. on the historic Square in Woodstock, Illinois, about 50 miles northwest of Chicago.  

The 41st Annual Woodstock Folk Festival is coming right up! Join us Sunday, July 19, from Noon to 6 p.m. on the historic Square in Woodstock, Illinois, about 50 miles northwest of Chicago.  

We strive to build community through music.  Artists from Illinois, Arizona, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, & British Columbia, CA will perform in a variety of styles including Americana, Contemporary & Traditional Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Bluegrass, Blues, Country, Pop, and Latin music, with some songs in both English and Spanish.  

RAIN LOCATION – Woodstock Opera House, 121 West Van Buren Street, on the historic Square, Woodstock, IL 60098

Read all about the upcoming Festival here and in the flyer shared at the end of this post!

The Main Stage, hosted by Folk DJs Marilyn Rea Beyer (WFMT) and Lilli Kuzma (WDCB), will include presentation of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award to Magpie, the duo of Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner, and the presentation of this year’s “Woody” Award to Norm Siegel.  

Other performers (in order of appearance) will include Ashley & Simpson (Jennifer Ashley & Joel Simpson), Friction Farm (Aidan Quinn & Christine Stay), Zachary Stevenson, Patty & Craig (Patty Stevenson & Craig Siemsen) with Marc Edelstein, Fox Crossing Stringband (Cassie Lynn Wright, Despina Pafralides, Roman Niziolek, Micah Vogel, & Caleb Peters), Tish Hinojosa with Special Guest Anny Celsi, and Nathans & Ronstadt.  The day concludes with the All-Sing Finale led by Ashley & Simpson.

The Open Mic Stage, hosted by Mark Lyons and Wattle & Daub (Tim & Susan Mocarski), will start at Noon and will be held in the Community Room at the Woodstock Opera House, since Stage Left Cafe is being renovated.  From 1:30-2 Anny Celsi will be the Featured Performer at this stage and from 2:15-3 p.m. Ellen Shepard and Mitzi Lebensorger will lead an “Old-Time Country Duet Harmony” Workshop.  Sign-ups for the Open Mic begin at Noon.  

The Ella Jenkins Children’s Area, hosted by Tricia Alexander, will run from 1-4 p.m. and will include performances by Tricia Alexander, Mark Lyons & Jean Adaskevich, Tish Hinojosa, & Friction Farm PLUS, weather permitting, activities with Diane Wlezien & her miniature therapy horse Sunny.

What’s New This Year at our 41st Annual Woodstock Folk Festival 2026?

• Recognition of America250
• A tribute to Phil Ochs on the 50th Anniversary of his passing
• Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Fox Valley Folk Music & Storytelling Festival with Cheryl Joyal, Jessi Laffey, and Small Potatoes
• Celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Lake County Folk Club with Marcia Krieger, Scott Engstrom, and other Club members
• A focus on duets (although not exclusively).  

And now here’s the FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS for The 41st Annual Woodstock Folk Festival 2026 in an easy-to-print-and-follow format

MAIN STAGE (outdoors, on the Square; in case of rain at Woodstock Opera House, 121 West Van Buren Street, on Woodstock Square, Woodstock, IL 60098)

• 12:00 Ashley & Simpson (Jennifer Ashley & Joel Simpson)
• 12:30 Friction Farm (Aidan Quinn & Christine Stay)   
• 1:15.  Zachary Stevenson  
• 2:00 Patty & Craig (Patty Stevenson & Craig Siemsen) accompanied by Marc Edelstein
• 2:40 Presentation of “Woody” Award to Norm Siegel and Recognition of The Fox Valley Folk Music & Storytelling Festival’s 50th Anniversary and The Lake County Folk Club’s 35th Anniversary
• 3:00 Fox Crossing String Band (Despina Pafralides & Cassie Lynn Wright joined by Roman Niziolek, Micah Vogel, & Caleb Peters)
• 3:45 Tish Hinojosa with Special Guest Anny Celsi
• 4:30 Nathans & Ronstadt (Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt)
• 5:15 Presentation of Lifetime Achievement to Magpie (Terry Leonino & Greg Artzner) followed by performance
• 6:00 All-Sing Finale – Led by Ashley & Simpson 

OPEN MIC STAGE (at Community Room in Woodstock Opera House)

• 1:30-2 p.m. Featured Performer Anny Celsi accompanied by Ivan Pyzow
• 2:15-3 Old-Time Country Duo Harmony Workshop led by Ellen Shepard & Mitzi Lebensorger

Sign-Up for Open Mic begins promptly at 12:05 p.m. in the Community Room in the Woodstock Opera House

ELLA JENKINS CHILDREN’S AREA (Hosted by Tricia Alexander)

• 1 p.m. – Welcome by Tricia Alexander
• 1:30 Mark Lyons & Jean Adaskevich
• 2:00 Tish Hinojosa
• 2:30 Friction Farm
• 3:00 Diane Wlzien and her miniature horse Sunny with hands-on activities

We’d like to recognize and thank …

MCs AT THE MAIN STAGE 

• Marilyn Rea Beyer (host of “Folkstage” and “The Midnight Special” on WFMT) will co-host the Festival with Lilli Kuzma (host of “The Folk Festival” on WDCB)

MAIN STAGE SOUND 

• Off Square Music 

MCs AT THE OPEN MIC STAGE 

• Mark Lyons and Tim and Susan Mocarski (Wattle & Daub) will co-host the Open Mic Stage

OPEN MIC STAGE SOUND

• Les Urban

Themes and All-Sing Finale for The 41st Woodstock Folk Festival 2026

In particular, please note our Award recipients. Magpie (Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner) will receive our Lifetime Achievement Award.  We also have a “Woody” Award that is given to people who may be performers but whose primary contributions to the music community have been outside the performance area. This year we will give the “Woody” Award to Norm Siegel who has been an integral part of the Chicagoland music scene for many years as a sound person, supporter, and performer.    

The All-Sing Finale will include tributes to some people in the music community who have passed since last year’s Festival.

Other information to make your Festival visit enjoyable

The Festival is accessible via numerous highways and there is free parking.  The UP Northwest Metra stop is just one block north of the Square.  

Bring lawn chairs, blankets, sunscreen, etc.  No pets permitted in the park, only on the periphery.  

Suggested donation: $40/individual; $50/family.  Bring money for CDs and other merchandise.  The Festival prefers cash but also accepts checks, MasterCard, and Visa.  

Festival Previews to entice you …

• WDCB/90.9FM/wdcb.org will present a preview of the Festival, including Ashley & Simpson live in the Studio, on Tuesday evening, July 14 on Lilli Kuzma’s “Folk Festival” program.  Her show airs from 8-11 p.m./CDT and the preview will probably air between 9 and 10 p.m.  Earlier that night she will also feature Mark Dvorak who is doing a Woody Guthrie concert; Mark is a previous recipient of the Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
• WFMT/98.7FM/wfmt.com will preview the Festival with a live performance by Tish Hinojosa and Anny Celsi on “Folkstage” on Saturday night, July 18 from 8-9 p.m./CDT.
• WNUR/89.3/wnur.org will preview the Festival when Folk DJ Ron Lewis interviews Festival President & Producer Carol Obertubbesing on “The Folk Show,” which airs Sunday mornings from 10 a.m. to Noon/CDT; exact date Sunday, July 5.   

Come for rthe weekend! The 41st Annual Woodstock Folk Festival 2026

• The Woodstock Opera House will present Corky Siegel in concert on Saturday night. Corky received the Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and performed again at last year’s Festival. Tickets are available at woodstockoperahouse.com or by calling the Box Office at 815-338-5300.  Tickets are selling fast so order NOW!  
• The Emerson & Oliver Speakeasy will feature a Wine Dinner with live music on Thursday night (RSVP necessary; visit emersonoliver.com), Andrew Blenderman on Friday night, and Stephen Schuch on Saturday night. 
• Winestock, the Squire on the Square, and other Woodstock venues may also have live music on the weekend.  
• There will be a Farmers Market on Woodstock Square on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  

For lodging info, see Lodging on this website or visit realwoodstock.com.  

See Performer Bios (below) for information on where other Festival performers are appearing before and after the Festival.  

Suggested Donation for The 41st Annual Woodstock Folk Festival 2026

• $40/individual; $50/family.  Bring money for CDs and other merchandise.  The Festival prefers cash but also accepts checks, MasterCard, and Visa.  

Credits and Thanks from the Woodstock Folk Festival

The Festival is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  It is supported by:

• City of Woodstock for our Hotel/Motel Tax Fund Advertising Grant and other support
• Real Woodstock (realwoodstock.com)
• Sponsors Bill Hinchliff and Steve & Margaret Mikus
• Audience Donations

We are a proud member of the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce & Industry and appreciate their promotional support.

These Radio Partners will feature previews in the weeks leading up to the Festival (see above):

• WDCB/90.9FM/wdcb.org
• WFMT/98.7FM/wfmt.com
• WNUR/89.3FM/wnur.org,

Performer And Awardee Profiles for The 41st Annual Woodstock Folk Festival 2026

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT MAGPIE (TERRY LEONINO & GREG ARTZNER)
For more than 50 years Magpie has traveled the globe, bringing its unique sound and breathtaking versatility to audiences everywhere. From traditional songs to vintage blues, swing, and country to folk classics to contemporary and stirring original compositions, they cover a lot of musical ground. With their powerful voices and harmonies and their excellent instrumental arrangements on guitars, mandolin, harmonica, dulcimer, and concertina, their sound is much bigger than just two people.

Award-winning recording artists, songwriter, musical historians, and social activists, Terry and Greg always offer a presentation that is highly entertaining as well as provocative and deeply moving.

They started out in Kent, Ohio in 1973, then became stalwarts of the folk scene in Washington, D.C. for 34 years. They currently live in Upstate New York. Terry grew up listening to to the music in her family, both the Italian music played by her paternal grandfather and the country and jazz sung by her mother and other family members. Greg grew up listening to folk on record and singing alone. At an early age he took up guitar and learned the music and its roots.

The Festival honors them with its Lifetime Achievement Award for their musicianship, singing, songwriting, teaching, and social activism. Whether they are singing at the Old Songs Festival or a Phil Ochs Song Night, they will touch your heart and your mind.

Get more info at MagpieMusic.com.

“WOODY” AWARD RECIPIENT NORM SIEGEL                                 

Now based in Woodstock, Illinois, Norm Siegel is a veteran of the Great Chicago Folk Scare of the 60s through the 80s.  He has played bass with Fred Holstein, John Prine, Steve Goodman, and Bob Gibson.  He has produced front of house sound for Jim Post, Odetta, Tom Dundee, Doc Watson, and several local folk, blues, and rock bands.  When needed, he would pick up artists at the airport and provide housing and transport to and from shows.  On his own dime, he would stock the green room with goodies.  He has been an active performer, sound guy, and supporter of the greater Chicago folk community for over 6 decades.  

Norm Siegel performs often at Off Square Music Open Mics and co-hosts their Every Saturday Virtual Open Mic.  

Ashley & Simpson (Jennifer Ashley & Joel Simpson)

Based in the Chicago area, Ashley & Simpson have become folk-scene-favorites with their rich vocal harmonies, thoughtful arrangements, and warm sound.  Whether performing timeless ballads, spirited folk standards, or originals spun with honest song craft, Jennifer and Joel bring an intimate, authentic approach and a modern resonance to the enduring sounds of the acoustic tradition.  

Joel is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and educator with more than 25 years of experience in performance and music instruction.  Raised in a musical family, he began exploring guitar, vocals, and songwriting at an early age, laying the foundation for a lifelong career rooted in both performance and education.  In addition to guitar, Joel performs on mandolin, dobro, banjo, and bass. A graduate of Elmhurst University with a degree in music business, Joel has worked in both the creative and business sides of the music industry.  He is also a member of Lee Murdock’s Blue Horizon Band and is a partner of Randomosity Records.                                                                                                              

Jennifer Ashley began studying piano as a young child.  She studied finance and law at Loyola University Chicago and started a family.  In 2016, she partnered with Joel Simpson and his company Randomosity Records and became a full-time musician, splitting her time between private instruction, production, and performing.                                                  

Jennifer and Joel are Co-Directors of the Two Way Street Coffee House in Downers Grove,IL.  

Jennifer and Joel will open the Festival Main Stage and lead the All-Sing Finale; they will be featured in a Festival preview on Lilli Kuzma’s “Folk Festival” radio program on WDCB/90.9FM/wdcb.org on Tuesday night, July 14, probably between 9 and 10 p.m.  They will be performing at Mama’s Coffeehouse in Bloomfield Hills, MI on September 19; for more info, go to ashleyandsimpson.com. 

Fox Crossing Stringband  (Cassie Lynn Wright, Despina Pafralides, Roman Niziolke, Micah Vogel, and Caleb Peters)

The Fox Crossing Stringband is a dynamic women-led bluegrass group that has been making waves in Chicago’s music scene for 8 years.  Founded by Cassie Lynn Wright (banjo/dobro) and Despina Pafralides (guitar), their sound is built on powerful original songwriting and captivating harmonies.  

Joined by Roman Niziolke (upright bass), Micah Vogel (fiddle), and Caleb Peters (mandolin), Fox Crossing pushes bluegrass boundaries.  They seamlessly blend traditional roots with pop, blues, and rock, creating a unique and exhilarating live music experience.  

With two acclaimed albums and hundreds of performances, including festivals such as the prestigious IBMA award-winning Frankfort Bluegrass Festival and the John Hartford Memorial Festival, Fox Crossing has built a devoted following and established themselves as a leading force in the bluegrass scene. The band will perform on the Main Stage.  

Fox Crossing will perform at Naper Settlement in Naperville on Tuesday, July 14 and in McHenry on Saturday, August 8; the duo of Despina and Cassie will perform in Lake Villa on Saturday, July 25 and in Arlington Heights on Thursday, July 30; for more info, go to foxcrossingstringband.com

Friction Farm (Aidan Quinn and Christine Stay)                                    

Based in North Carolina, this modern-folk duo is a husband and wife team of internationally traveling troubadours, Aidan Quinn and Christine Stay.  He’s from Berkeley, CA she’s from Woodstock, NY.  With their roots in places so rich in social activism and history, it was inevitable that these two would meet while studying materials engineering and geology.  For two decades they have traveled the world singing songs filled with storytelling, social commentary, and humor.  Aidan and Christine believe in the uplifting power of song, the power of the people, and the miraculous wonder of everyday life.  

They have been Kerrville New Folk Finalists, Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists, and South Florida Folk Festival Songwriter winners.   In addition to folk music venues, they perform for kids as part of a program promoting children’s literacy.  They are sort-after presenters and performers at Climate Justice and Sustainable Living gatherings.  In addition to their performances across the U.S., they also lead folk tours in Scotland.  

Aidan and Christine will perform on the Main Stage and in the Ella Jenkins Children’s Area; for more info, go to frictionfarm.com.

Tish Hinojosa                                                                                  

Tish Hinojosa is a singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas. She also spends time in Arizona.  Tish’s blend of folk, country, Latino, and pop has an undeniable far-reaching appeal, garnering her accolades such as a White House concert at the invitation of President and Mrs. Clinton and teaming up with artists such as Joan Baez, Booker T. Jones, Flaco Jimenez, Pete Seeger, and Dwight Yoakam. 

She has recorded as an independent artist as well as for A&M, Warner Bros, and Rounder Records and has been a featured artist on Austin City Limits, A Prairie Home Companion and other NPR programs. With seventeen CDs to her name, Tish’s distinct sound has gained her much critical acclaim. Tish has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe and continues to draw a loyal and growing audience.

Singer-songwriter Leticia “Tish” Hinojosa was born in San Antonio, Texas to Mexican immigrant parents.  She is the youngest of 13 siblings.  She began performing at an early age in English and Spanish in a variety of musical genres.  She left San Antonio in 1979, moving to northern New Mexico where she honed her songwriting and singing skills and worked as a back-up singer for country artist Michael Martin Murphey.  She has also lived in Nashville and Germany and now splits her time between Arizona and Texas.      

Her interest in cultural diversity is a recurrent theme in both her work and her personal life, and is expressed not only through her award-winning cross-cultural musical productions but also in her volunteer work with several humanitarian organizations and causes.  

Tish will perform on the Main Stage, accompanied by her special guest Anny Celsi, and in the Ella Jenkins Children’s Area; she performs songs in both English and Spanish; she and Nathans & Ronstadt have a co-bill at Cafe Carpe in Fort Atkinson, WI on Thursday night, July 16; she has a house concert in Lincolnwood on Friday, July 17; she will also be featured in a Festival preview on “Folkstage” on WFMT/98.7FM/wfmt.com on Festival Eve, July 18, from 8-9 p.m./CDT; for more info about Tish, go to mundotish.com; for more information about Anny, see below and go to annycelsi.com.  

Nathans & Ronstadt (Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt)               

Aaron Nathans is a guitarist/vocalist from the Philadelphia area and Michael G. Ronstadt is a cellist/vocalist from Cincinnati.   Michael is the son of Michael J. Ronstadt, who performed with the Santa Cruz River Band at a Woodstock Folk Festival concert, and is also the nephew of Linda Ronstadt.  Aaron and Michael perform some songs in Spanish as well as English.  

This cello-guitar songwriting duo never lose their capacity to surprise.  This progressive folk act combines uninhibited musical creativity and mastery with accessible story songs and an oddball sense of humor.  Audiences will see and hear things done with a cello they never thought possible, meandering stories as captivating as the music, and hook-filled story songs that they’ll remember long after they hear them.  Aaron is an award-winning leader in the Philly songwriting community.  Michael is a  bandleader, teacher, touring artist, and much in-demand studio sideman.  In July they will be releasing their fifth album, “Esperanza”;  the title is Spanish for “hope,” which reflects a look toward the future during difficult times. 

Aaron and Michael will perform on the Main Stage.  They will be at Cafe Carpe with Tish Hinojosa for a double-bill on Thursday night, July 16;  they also have a podcast that offers a deep dive into a song and conversations with other artists; for more info, go to nathansandronstadt.com.  

Patty & Craig (Patty Stevenson & Craig Siemsen)                                       

Patty Stevenson and Craig Siemsen, who performed at the Woodstock Folk Festival in 1995, are known for their gorgeous harmonies, impeccable musicianship, playful stage humor, and jewel-like original songs.  Patty says about performing, “I try for magic – nothing less! For the place that opens hearts and will move an audience to tears or smiles.”   For many years, the couple maintained solo careers, even after they married. Eventually, with the prodding of wise friends, they agreed to perform one show as a duo. Today, they continue to create and record original songs as well as their own variations on timeless pieces that often span the ages of creativity in sound.

From coffee houses & house concerts to music festivals, Patty has delighted audiences from the midwest, southwest and beyond with “Songs that shine“  Whether singing about cleaning out your attic or inspiring an audience to sing “One Person can make all the difference”, Patty believes that music has the magic to open hearts and bring us together; to inspire us all to “make this planet a place where dreams really do come true.”  Her music has been described as “The perfect antidote to a tough day”.Patty Stevenson is best known for her masterful piano, inspired songwriting, sweet vocals, and guitar as well as a harp she built for her 1st folk recording, The One About You.   She has 3 solo albums and 2 with husband and music partner Craig Siemsen.  Her very first recording, Clouds on the Mountain, featured piano solos.

Drawn to all music ever since he can remember, Craig plays mostly by ear, teaching himself to play guitar, listening to what moves him in others’  playing. This approach, along with a stubborn resistance to not “play it like the record” has created a very unique flat-picking guitar style. Craig has always enjoyed great vocalists. After taking lessons from the late jazz great Jessie Hauck, Craig learned to use his voice as an instrument to communicate his music.  For almost twenty-five years audiences have been heartened by Craig’s personal blend of original, old time country, and traditional folk music. With a voice made for crooning, Craig uses a playful stage presence to deliver his songs and stories to audiences around the United States. 

Patty and Craig were individually ‘out there’ enjoying their music, when, in the mid – 1980s, they met while performing at a folk music festival. For many years, the couple maintained solo careers, even after they married. Eventually, with the prodding of wise friends, they agreed to perform one show as a duo. The rest, as they say, is history. Today, they continue to create and record original songs as well as their own variations on timeless pieces that often span the ages of creativity in sound.  Patty & Craig tour the Midwest and beyond.  Their most recent album Look to the Moon was #3 on the Folk DJ charts when it was released last September and it was in the top 50 for the entire year even though it was only released in September.  Their work includes four solo and three duo recordings, as well as guest appearances on others’ projects.

Patty and Craig will perform on the Main Stage accompanied by Marc Edelstein.  This summer they will perform at the Black Hawk Folk Festival in Mount Morris, WI on Saturday, July 11 and and at the Shawano Folk Festival in Shawano, WI August 7-9; Patty & Craig will also perform at the Two Way Street Coffee House in Downers Grove on Friday night, July 17; for more info about Patty and Craig, go to pattycraig.com;  see info about Marc Edelstein below.

Zachary Stevenson                                                                                          

Raised on Vancouver Island, Canada, Zachary is an internationally recognized award-winning actor, musician, and writer.  Best known for his performances as Buddy Holly, Zach was coined a “dead ringer for dead singers” by the Victoria Times Colonist for his portrayal of the legendary rock and roll singer as well as Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Phil Ochs.  In 2018 Zachary won the prestigious “Jeff” Award in Chicago for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Musical) for The Buddy Holly Story, a role he’s honed in more than a dozen productions across Canada and the U.S.  

Zachary is also an accomplished songwriter and acts as frontman for several bands including The Oh Boys, a Tribute to Buddy Holly, and The Fortunate Sons.  He has been featured at numerous festivals including the Ottawa Folk Fest, Blue Skies Festival, Summerfolk, and Folk Alliance International.

He has proudly raised over $10,000 for MSF (Doctors Without Borders) through CD sales.  

Zachary will perform on the Main Stage.  He will be doing a tribute to Buddy Holly  in Delavan, WI on Wednesday, July 15 and on July 18, a CCR tribute in Long Grove; for more information about his concerts and plays, go to zacharystevenson.com.  

Anny Celsi 

Based in Oregon, Anny Celsi’s style has been deiced as “beatnik cool,” “pop-noir,” and “slightlydelic pop jangle” and has evoked comparisons to artists such as Aimee Mann, Lucinda Williams, and Jackie DeShannon.  Combining Brill Building hooks with a storyteller’s eye for detail, Anny’s live performances infuse the traditionally introspective singer-songwriter format with wit, soul, and energy.  

Born in Portland, Oregon, Anny spent her teens as a writer/performer with the renowned avante-garde Storefront Theatre.  She then moved to Los Angeles where she co-founded boy/girl rock band The Tearjerkers, honing her musical chops before setting out as a solo artist.  She has toured Europe regularly, often joining forces with musicians in Germany, The Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK.  She has performed at many types of venues and at numerous festivals including SXSW and New Orleans LMNOP Festival.  Her songs have been heard in films by Tyler Perry and on tv in “Once Upon a Time” and “Madam Secretary.”  She has opened for musicians such as Steve Forbert , Freddy Johnston, and Matt the Electrician.  She has performed and recorded with Tish Hinojosa.  

Anny is the Featured Performer at the Open Mic Stage and will be accompanied by her son Ivan Pyzow, a Chicago-based musician, on  vocals and trumpet .  She will also accompany Tish Hinojosa on the Main Stage.  For more info, go to annycelsi.com.

Marc Edelstein                                                                                                   

Marc Edelstein, a bass player based in the Chicago area, is devoted to American roots music, and he has avidly promoted and performed in folk, bluegrass, country, western swing, rockabilly, gypsy jazz, and rock and roll projects.  

Marc was a co-founder of the Special Consensus Bluegrass Band and has written, produced, and performed in the theatrical event Lovesick Blues: Remembering Hank Williams.  Other performances include alternative country Robby Fulks’ band, Million Dollar Quartet, the musical revue Women in My Life with singer-songwriters Bob Gibson and Michael Smith, Tribute to Woody Guthrie, with Josh White, Jr., Odetta, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, and Oscar Brand, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s country and western auxiliary The CSOakies, Sons of the Never Wrong, and Lucky Break.  This spring he has played in the orchestra for Always, Patsy Cline at American Blues Theatre in Chicago.  

Marc has performed numerous times at the Woodstock Folk Festival.  For more info, you can find him at discogs.com and @marc.edelstein.2025 on Facebook.  

Ellen Shepard and Mitzi Lebensorger – Old-Time Country Duet Harmony Workshop

Experience the joy of singing with a partner! It’s the sound of the famed brother and sister duets of early country and bluegrass music, from the Louvin Brothers to the Everly Brothers to the Davis Sisters. No note-reading is necessary, as we’ll learn by ear. If you want to experience the joys of singing in harmony, this workshop is for you!  Come ready to sing, experiment, and listen in a whole new way.

Ellen Shepard has been a folkie since age four, when she first strummed “Cecilia” on ukulele and tuned in to the legendary Midnight Special. Ever since, she’s been hooked on the magic of voices weaving together. Her musical path has taken her across the Midwest with the Mark Dvorak Trio and other close-harmony trios including The Twilight Stealers and Sweet Fern (opening for Barack Obama!). Her genres range from folk and early country to choral music and jazz. Ellen has taught vocal harmony at venues including the Old Town School of Folk Music, Folky Fish Fest, and the Celebrating Tradition retreat. Her sessions are lively and delightfully demystifying. Ellen weaves in music theory in easy-to-grasp ways, giving singers the tools and language to understand what they’re hearing and communicate more confidently with other musicians.  

Mitzi Lebensorger joins Ellen for this Workshop. Making music together can be pure magic! Mitzi loves the joy, connection, and transcendence of group music-making and likes nothing better than sharing that with others—whether singing sweet a cappella harmonies in small groups, facilitating a spirited singing jam at a senior center, or rocking the rafters in a gospel choir. She is grateful to the supportive teachers and musical communities that have influenced her over the past 25 years, especially the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, the Augusta Heritage Center in West Virginia, and Music for People improvisation workshops. She has performed at venues small and large with the harmony-centric bands Sweet Fern and Sweeter Gift Trio and the bluegrass band Wood Street Bloodhounds. Most memorable was sharing the stage with then-Senator Barack Obama at Chicago’s Daley Center Plaza for a peace rally with 30,000 people in attendance. In addition to singing, Mitzi enjoys playing guitar and fiddle, especially with Fiddle Club of the World Orchestra and Organic Tune Sprouters.

Ellen and Mitzi will lead the Old-Time Country Duet Harmony Workshop at the Open Mic Stage.  You can find Ellen Shepard at communityallies.net; Mitzi Lebensorger at singoutloudseniors.org. 

Tricia Alexander                                                                                    

Tricia Alexander is an award-winning Performing & Healing Artist with a 50-year professional career in the arts.  She is also a Reiki Master Teacher, BodyTalk Practitioner, Spiritual Mentor, and Facilitator of Creativity & the Expressive Arts.

Tricia received the Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.  To date, she has released 7 music and spoken word CDs and 5 poetry chapbooks.  Whether she is giving a concert, a workshop, a talk, guiding a meditation for spiritual gatherings or a private healing arts session, Tricia’s mission is the same: to educate, nourish, and inspire.

Tricia will host and perform at the Festival’s Ella Jenkins Children’s Area.  

For more information, go to triciaalexander.com.  

Mark Lyons and Jean Adaskevich

Mark Lyons and Jean Adaskevich deliver a rollicking musical montage with a high-energy performance that’s sure to please both young and old.  With Jean on guitar and Mark on guitar, ukulele, and kazoo, these two will leave you and your children with a song in your heart, laughter in your belly, and a smile on your face!  They have been performing together as Mark & Jean since 2000, entertaining audiences young and old with their eclectic musical mix of folk and novelty tunes sprinkled with their warm, engaging personalities and dry sense of humor.  

Mark & Jean will perform in the Ella Jenkins Children’s Area.  For more info, go to https://www.facebook.com/MarkandJeanMusic.  When he’s not in the Children’s Area, Mark will host the Open Mic Stage at Stage Left Cafe.

Diane Wlezien

Diane Wlezien is a poet, artist, vocalist, lyricist, and has worked as a fine arts instructor and lecturer.  She does volunteer work with hospice organizations, memory care centers, nursing homes, elder care groups, women’s shelters, and seriously challenged and at risk youth.    She lives on her farm, Angel’s Acres, in Woodstock with her husband and their lively menagerie of rescued animals.  At the Festival she will be accompanied by Sunny, a miniature horse whose special comfort visits have brought smiles to all age groups during challenging times.  Sunny resides in Woodstock with her many equine friends that include mammoth donkeys, quarter horses, miniature horses, and her best friend, a miniature donkey named Estes.  

The Ella Jenkins Children’s Area will include hands-on activities with Diane and Sunny.  You can read some of Diane’s poetry in A Little Comfort: Healing Poems About Sunny the Miniature Horse.

The Fox Valley Folk Music & Storytelling Festival

The Festival celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year.  Illinois’ largest folk festival  will be held on the Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend, September 6 and 7 at Wheeler Park in Geneva, IL.  The Festival includes performances on numerous stages, workshops, and storytelling. The Fox Valley Folklore Society produces many other events throughout the year.  

At the Woodstock Folk Festival, FVFS Board members Cheryl Joyal and Jessi Laffey, widow of founder Juel Ulven, will present Small Potatoes (Rich Prezioso & Jacquie Manning) singing “I Will Pass This Way Again.”  For more info about the Fox Valley Festival, go to fvfs.org.  

The Lake County Folk Club                                                           

The Club celebrates its 35th Anniversary.  During the year they present concerts, open stages, and song circles.  Marcia Krieger, a founding member, Scott Engstrom, current President, and other members of the Club will sing a song.  For more information, go to thelakecountyfolkclub.org. 

41st Annual Woodstock Folk Festival Flyer – Share with Friends and Family, then come on out and enjoy a great day

Mark your calendars and don’t miss this day of music and community!

Thanks to everyone who helped make our 40th Annual Woodstock Folk Festival a success.  Mark your calendars now for next year’s Festival on Sunday, July 19, 2026.  Make sure you sign up on our website, woodstockfolkfestival.org, for monthly emails with details about that, our video sampler of this year’s Festival, and our Spring Benefit Concert, a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Route 66.  Enjoy the rest of the summer. ~ from Carol Obertubbesing, President, Woodstock Folk Festival

The 40th Annual Woodstock Folk Festival 2025: All You Need to Know

The 40th Annual Woodstock Folk Festival 2025 comes to town Sunday, July 20, from Noon to 6 p.m. You won’t want to miss a minute of it! We have a great lineup as always, and auxiliary activities to make your day memorable.

The Woodstock Folk Festival builds community through music. Join us as we celebrate 40 years on Sunday, July 20, 2025.

In case of rain, the Festival will move to Unity Spiritual Center of Woodstock, 225 W. Calhoun St., corner of Tryon, 2 blocks southwest of the Square.

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Please share this flyer with all your friends and neighbors

Woodstock Folk Festival 2025 Flyer – You can also use the button toward the top of this page.

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New This Year … Giving Back to Our Community

In the spirit of giving back to our community, we invite you to bring shoes or boots to donate to Warp Corps.  They need slightly worn but still usable pairs of children’s and adult everyday shoes (no flip-flops, sandals, or fancy shoes). For more information on Warp Corps, go to warpcorps.org. Come to the Festival Central table on Festival Day, or listen for announcements, and we will tell you where to put the shoes/boots you are donating, probably across the street at their building.  

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It’s Festival Time! Here’s the Who, What, When, and Where Of It…

The 40th Annual Woodstock Folk Festival 2025 has such a great lineup this year! There are lots of other music events going on in the Woodstock area as well. Please join us on Sunday, July 20, from Noon to 6 p.m. 

We’ll gather on the historic Square in Woodstock, Illinois, about 50 miles northwest of Chicago. Be sure to check below, “A Few Things To Know To Make Your Visit Carefree,” for more detailed directions. In case of rain, the Festival will move to Unity Spiritual Center of Woodstock, 225 W. Calhoun St., corner of Tryon, 2 blocks southwest of the Square.

The 40th Annual Woodstock Folk Festival 2025 continues the tradition of presenting local, national, and international musicians who perform in a variety of styles. This year performers from Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Guatemala will perform Americana, traditional and contemporary folk, singer-songwriter, blues, country, Appalachian, and Latin music at the Main Stage.

Open Mic Stage ... Children’s Area … Awards

The Open Mic Stage offers an opportunity for audience members to share their talent.  It also has a Featured Performer and Workshop.

Featured on the Open Mic Stage are Blind Hills, the duo of Dee Lee and Chuck VanderVennet, and Carla Gover’s Appalachian Flatfooting Workshop. The Open Mic Stage will be hosted by Mark Lyons. Sign-up for the Open Mic begins at 12:05 p.m.

The Ella Jenkins Children’s Area, newly named in honor of “the First Lady of Children’s Music” who died last year at 100, will feature performances by Tricia Alexander, Joan Hammel, and Mark Lyons; a reading from Ella’s storybook by Lynn Orman; and a hands-on activity with Diane Wlezien and her miniature therapy horse Sunny.   

The Festival will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to the legendary performer Tom Rush.  Since beginning his musical career in the early 60s while a Harvard student, this talented singer-songwriter-guitarist has played to audiences around the world and helped launch the careers of other artists.  

The Festival will present its “Woody Award” to Andy Andrick and Leslie Cook, Marilyn Rea Beyer, and Ron Lewis for their contributions to the music community.

The Main Stage

This year’s Festival Main Stage will be co-hosted by WFMT Folk DJ, Marilyn Rea Beyer
and our long-time Festival MC, Chuck VanderVennet.

In addition to the Award recipient Tom Rush, Main Stage performers include previous Lifetime Achievement Award recipients – Anne Hills and Corky Siegel – and performers new to our area – Joy Clark, Mercedes Escobar, Seth Glier, and Carla Gover. Northern Illinois “supergroup,” The LeftOvers, which includes Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Rich Prezioso, and Pete Jonsson, Brian Murphy, Laurel Palma, Joe Pesz, Jim Seidel, and Les Urban, will open the Festival.   Previous Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Tricia Alexander, will lead the All-Sing Finale.

Watch for it!

A one-hour sampler will be available anywhere in the world via the Festival website Gallery Page after the in-person Festival.

Here’s the Festival Schedule

Noon	The LeftOvers (Pete Jonsson, Brian Murphy, Laurel Palma, Joe Pesz, Rich Prezioso, Jim Seidel, and Les Urban)
12:30 p.m.	Carla Gover
1:15 p.m.	Seth Glier
2:00 p.m.	Mercedes Escobar
2:40 p.m.	Presentation of “Woody” Awards to Andy Andrick and Leslie Cook, Marilyn Rea Beyer, and Ron Lewis
2:50 p.m.	Joy Clark
3:35 p.m. 4:20p.m.	Corky Siegel Anne Hills
5:00 p.m.	Presentation of Lifetime Achievement Award to Tom Rush, followed by performance by Tom, accompanied by Seth Glier
5:45 p.m.	All-Sing Finale led by Tricia Alexander

Bios of all performers 

Tom Rush

The legendary Tom Rush will receive the Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award.  For over 60 years this singer-songwriter-guitarist has been performing folk and blues.  Known for his own songs such as “No Regrets,” Tom has also helped launch the careers of other singer-songwriters. His early recordings introduced the world to the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, and James Taylor.  Through his Club 47© concerts he brought artists such as Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences.  Through his weekly Sunday morning online show, “Rockport Sundays,” he continues to offer other performers a platform on which to perform.   His distinctive guitar style, wry humor, and warm expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world.  His shows are filled with rib-aching laughter of terrific storytelling, the sweet melancholy of ballads, and the passion of gritty blues.   

Tom began his musical career in the Boston-Cambridge area while he was a student at Harvard.  He had released two albums by the time he graduated.  Whether he’s performing solo or with a five-piece band, his shows are always memorable.  Beginning in 1982 he brought together established artists and newcomers in an annual holiday show at Symphony Hall in Boston.  He later took these shows on the road and they’ve been broadcast on PBS and NPR stations.  

Tom continues to tour and will perform at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Festival Eve.  He released his latest CD Gardens Old, Flowers New in 2024.  For more info, go to tomrush.com.  

“Woody” Award Recipients

Andy Andrick and Leslie Cook

Andy Andrick and Leslie Cook met through the Woodstock music community.  Andy Andrick has served on the Board of the Woodstock Folk Festival and Off Square Music.  He has continued to help the Festival by handling sound at the Festival’s Open Mic Stage and he’s also hosted both in-person and virtual Open Mics for Off Square Music.  He is a singer-songwriter-musician and performs solo and with other performers.  His warm, welcoming personality continues to attract regulars and newcomers to our community events.  Along with Jeremy Simon, he has co-hosted Off Square Music’s Every Saturday Virtual Open Mic for 5 years.  Leslie Cook established Expressly Leslie Cafe on Woodstock Square and for a number of years presented music on Friday nights.  At other events she was known for her delicious soups.  She revamped the Festival’s website in 2020, helped us establish a social media presence, and helped us create our Woodstock Wednesdays series which ran from July 2020 to May 2021.  She has also helped Off Square Music with their website and online activities.  This couple has been invaluable to our community.

Marilyn Rea Beyer

Marilyn Rea Beyer grew up in Lansing, Illinois.  Concerts at Orchestra Hall, the Earl of Old Town, and Navy Pier fueled her passion for folk music.  Meanwhile, her lifelong love of musical theatre grew while she studied performance at Purdue and Northwestern Universities.   After moving to New England, she became an on-air folk radio host and music director at Boston’s WUMB and served on the Board of the legendary Club Passim.   Her varied professions include education, high-tech, and PR. In 2019, she returned to Chicago and became the host of “The Midnight Special” and “Folkstage” on WFMT>. She’s also a poet and storyteller.  We are very grateful to Marilyn for co-hosting the Festival with Chuck VanderVennet since 2023 and being part of our “What’s Your Story?” Spring Benefit Concert last year.  Like her predecessor at WFMT, Rich Warren, she has graciously featured one or more Festival performers in a preview on Festival Eve.  This year she will present Joy Clark and Mercedes Escobar on “Folkstage” on Saturday night, July 19 from 8-9 p.m. Central Time on WFMT/98.7FM/wfmt.com.  We are grateful for the promotional support she offers the Festival and our performers.  

Ron Lewis

Ron has been one of the rotating hosts on WNUR’s Sunday morning “Folk Show” for many years.  He also hosts a Saturday morning show, “Breakfast With Bagels.”  We are very grateful for the promotion Ron has offered to our Festival and performers.  “The Folk Show” also introduces us to artists we may not have heard before.  You can hear Ron on Sunday mornings between 10 a.m. and Noon/Central Time on WNUR/89.3FM/wnur.org.    

Tricia Alexander

Tricia Alexander is an award-winning Performing & Healing Artist with a 50-year professional career in the arts. She is also a Reiki Master Teacher, BodyTalk practitioner, Spiritual Mentor, and Facilitator of Creativity & the Expressive Arts.

In 2013, Tricia received the Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award. To date, she has released seven music and spoken word CDs and 5 poetry chapbooks. Whether she is giving a concert, a workshop, a talk, guiding a meditation for spiritual gatherings or a private healing arts session, Tricia’s mission is the same: to educate, nourish, and inspire.

Tricia will host and perform at the Festival’s Ella Jenkins Children’s Area and will lead the All-Sing Finale for the Festival.  For more information, go to triciaalexander.com.  

Joy Clark

Joy Clark is an acclaimed New Orleans singer-songwriter-guitarist.  She is a proud queer Black woman.  After a childhood steeped in music from the church, Joy left the confines of that experience to find her true community.  After becoming a sought-out side player in New Orleans, her musicianship and tenacity landed her a regular spot playing with Grammy winner Cyril Neville, mesmerizing audiences in the U.S. and abroad.  Her songcraft, sophisticated progressions, and themes of freedom, love, and self-acceptance gained her notice on the national folk and Americana scene.  She was offered a spot in Allison Russell’s backing band The Rainbow Coalition, earning her the chance to jam with stars such as Brandi Carlile and the Indigo Girls.  
She impressed audiences and critics with her debut CD Tell it to the Wind.  She has performed at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the Kennedy Center, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.  For more information, go to joyclarkmusic.com.  Joy Clark will perform at the Main Stage.

Mercedes Escobar

Guatemalan singer Mercedes Escobar has created a unique genre which blends the rawness of old blues and country vocals and guitar with the intensity of magical realism lyrics and the sonic traditions of her home culture.  She does this while staying true to her modern values against prejudice in music, race, and gender.  She calls this “Latin Americana.”

Mercedes has shared the stage with artists such as Gaby Moreno, Ruben Albarran, and Malacates Treble Shop.  She is also featured on the soundtrack of acclaimed independent films Temblores (2019) and Cadejo Blanco (2022; the latter also credits her as music supervisor).  After receiving a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music and graduating in May 2024, Mercedes is working on an upcoming bilingual album, produced by Grammy-winning producer and artist Gaby Moreno. It’s set for release in Fall 2025.  After selling out her first headlining shows in the U.S., including one at Club Passim, she received a nomination as Latin Artist of the Year at the 2024 Boston Music Awards.  Recently, Mercedes became a member of Club Passim’s Folk Collective 2024-2026 cohort.   For more information, go to mercedesescobar.com.  Mercedes will perform on the Main Stage.

Seth Glier

Seth Glier is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, guitarist, and activist.  This Grammy-nomnated artist from Western Massachusetts channels nature’s longing for communion with humanity into song.  His new album Everything is a collection of eight songs inviting listeners to imagine a future in which humans and the planet are re-aligned into mutual restoration.  

Gifted with an innate curiosity and a fierce desire to connect with other people, Seth has worked as a cultural diplomat of the U.S. State Department and collaborated with musicians in Ukraine, Mongolia, China, and Mexico.  He has shared the bill with a diverse list of artists ranging from Ronnie Spector to James Taylor, Ani DiFranco to Glen Campbell.  As a producer, music director, or studio musician, he has collaborated with Tom Rush, Sophie B. Hawkins, Antje Duvekot, Richard Shindell, and Cyndi Lauper. 

A five-time Independent Music Award winner, Seth also received a Grammy nomination for his album The Next Right Thing.  With a commitment to using songwriting as a tool for positive change he has written with the students in Parkland, Florida for the “Parkland Project,” co=written with soldiers at Walter Reednd is an advocate for autism awareness citing his autistic brother Jamie as his greatest non-musical-musical influence.

For more information. Go to sethglier.com.  Seth will perform with Tom Rush and will also have his own set on the Main Stage.  

Carla Gover

Carla Gover is an eighth generation Kentuckian who hails from a small coal town in Eastern Kentucky, and her rural sensibilities permeate the work that she does and the music that she plays.  She has performed and recorded with artists such as Jean Ritchie, Dirk Powell, and Bruce Molsky and her songs have been sung by other artists and used in film and documentary soundtracks.  She was selected as Master Artist in both Traditional Flatfoot Dancing as well as Appalachian Music by the Kentucky Arts Council.  She performs with various group and is the Artistic Director of both Cowan Creek Mountain Music School and the Cornbread & Tortillas Artist Collective.  

She has won First Place at the Merlefet Chris Austin Songwriting Contest and the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Contest.  She’s performed at many venues from the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago to the Glasgow Royal Hall in Scotland, from the Kennedy Center to the Copenhagen Blues Festival.  Doc Watson said of her, “God, that gal can sing.”

Carla will perform at the Main Stage and will also lead an Appalachian Flatfooting Workshop at Stage Left Cafe.  For more information and photos, go to carlagover.com.

Anne Hills

Anne Hills is a singer, songwriter, actress, writer, musician, and social worker.  Whether she is singing one of her own songs, singing a song set to poetry, or singing a folk classic, her warm, lively, and humorous performances will touch your heart and your soul.  Anne was born in India, raised in Michigan, spent many years in the Chicago area where she co-founded Hogeye Music, and now resides in Pennsylvania.  

Her wide-ranging repertoire has brought accolades and a large fan base.  From children’s song to the poetry of James Whitcomb Riley, from traditional folk to performances with a symphony orchestra, from songs about the Civil War to songs about refugees, Anne’s music has touched many lives.  In addition to her outstanding solo career, she has also performed with Jan Burda, Bob Gibson, Tom Paxton, David Roth, and Michael P. Smith as well as with Priscilla Herdman and Cindy Mangsen.  

She has received many awards including the Kerrville’s Music Foundation’s Outstanding Female Vocalist of the Year Award and the Woodstock Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement Award.  

Anne will perform at the Main Stage.  For more info, go to annehills.com.  

The LeftOvers

Pete Jonsson, Brian Murphy, Laurel Palma, Joe Pesz, Rich Prezioso, Jim Seidel, and Les Urban are all great solo performers but they are even better together as The LeftOvers with their eclectic repertoireThey have been performing together in Woodstock since 2009.  With their mix of rock, pop, country, jazz, and blues, they are the perfect band to open the celebration of the 40th Annual Woodstock Folk Festival.  Band member Rich Prezioso received the Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award with his wife and musical partner Jacquie Manning (known together as Small Potatoes) in 2017.  

The LeftOvers will open the Festival at the Main Stage.  Some members may also accompany other Festival artists. Laurel, Joe, and Rich are also part of Off Square Music and will be assisting with sound at the Festival; Les will be assisting at the Open Mic Stage at Stage Left Cafe.

For more information about The LeftOvers, go to Facebook.com/Stageleftovers or simsam@me.com.  

Corky Siegel

Corky Siegel is known internationally as one of the world’s great blues harmonica players, blues pianist, singer-songwriter, band leader, and pioneering composer of blues-classical forms.  He created Chamber Blues.  Corky’s professional music career began when he founded the now legendary Siegel-Schwall Band in Chicago in 1964 with guitarist Jim Schwall.  The group was a major component of the young generation of white blues artists who learned the historic Chicago Blues style at the feet and hands of such towering figures as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, and Sam Lay.  The group moved to San Francisco where acts such as Janis Joplin, Santana, Steve Miller, and Joni Mitchell opened for them.  

Corky then collaborated with Seiji Ozawa, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and William Russo on blues-classical compositions.  Corky continues to perform with his Chamber Blues group.

He has received the French Government’s Grand Prix du Disque, the Lila Wallace/Reader’s Digest/Meet the Composer National Award for Chamber Music composition, and the Woodstock Folk Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award, among many other honors.  Corky continues to tour and record and released his latest album, Symphonic Blues No. 6, last year.  Last year he started a new project Jingles for Democracy.

Corky will perform on the Main Stage.  For more info, go to corkymusic.com.

Blind Hills

Blind Hills is the duo of Dee Lee and Chuck VanderVennet.  Dee is known for his deft and dynamic guitar work, and great stories, delivered with a warm clear voice.  As a certified arborist, he brings a unique perspective to his music.  He creates songs with keen observations about our natural world.  You can feel it in the deep  chords and melodies he plays on his Taylor guitar, where joy and sadness meet.  His theme song “Folk Festival” is used regularly during the “Folk Festival” radio show on WDCB (A Festival Radio Partner) hosted by Lilli Kuzma every Tuesday night from 7-10 p.m.Central Time. 

Chuck VanderVennet is the long-time host/co-host of the Woodstock Folk Festival.  He is a Past President of the Lake County Folk Club.  Also a performer in his own right, he has performed solo and with Compass in addition to this duo.  Chuck has received the Festival’s “Woody” Award.  Since Chuck moved to South Carolina a couple years ago, this is a rare opportunity to hear this duo.

Blind Hills will be the Featured Performer at the Open Mic Stage.  For more info about Dee Lee, go to deeleetree.com.  

Joan Hammel

Joan Hammel is a singer-songwriter in the Chicago area.  She has been nominated five times for Pop Entertainer of the Year by the Chicago Music Awards.  She was part of the team that won an EMMY for Best Children’s Special for “It’s Fun to be Fit!”  She was chosen for a 9-day USO tour to entertain the troops including New Year’s Eve in Cuba.  She was a headliner during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and has worked around the globe.  She’s received numerous writer’s awards and has served as an Artist in Residence for the National Park Service.  She’s done work in theater, advertising, tv, radio, and film.  She is the mom to athlete Adam Hammel.  

Joan will perform in the Children’s Area.  For more info, go to joanhammel.com.

Mark Lyons and Jean Adaskevich

Mark Lyons and Jean Adaskevich deliver a rollicking musical montage with a high-energy performance that’s sure to please both young and old.  With Jean on guitar and Mark on guitar, ukulele, and kazoo, these two will leave you and your children with a song in your heart, laughter in your belly, and a smile on your face!  They have been performing together as Mark & Jean since 2000, entertaining audiences young and old with their eclectic musical mix of folk and novelty tunes sprinkled with their warm, engaging personalities and dry sense of humor.  

Mark & Jean will perform in the Ella Jenkins Children’s Area.  For more info, go to https://www.facebook.com/MarkandJeanMusic.  When he’s not in the Children’s Area, Mark will host the Open Mic Stage at Stage Left Cafe.

Lynn Orman Weiss

Lynn Orman Weiss is a producer, publicist, writer, photographer, print and broadcast journalist, event organizer, and founder of the Women of the Blues Foundation. based in the Chicago area.  She was a friend of and publicist for Ella Jenkins and was instrumental in the Festival receiving permission to name our Children’s Area in Ella’s honor.  

Lynn will read a story by Ella Jenkins in the Children’s Area.  For more info, go to ormanmusicmedia.com.

Diane Wlezien

Diane Wlezien is a poet, artist, vocalist, lyricist, and has worked as a fine arts instructor and lecturer.  She does volunteer work with hospice organizations, memory care centers, nursing homes, elder care groups, women’s shelters, and seriously challenged and at risk youth.    She lives on her farm, Angel’s Acres, in Woodstock with her husband and their lively menagerie of rescued animals.  At the Festival she will be accompanied by Sunny, a miniature horse whose special comfort visits have brought smiles to all age groups during challenging times.  Sunny resides in Woodstock with her many equine friends that include mammoth donkeys, quarter horses, miniature horses, and her best friend, a miniature donkey named Estes.  

The Children’s Area will include hands-on activities with Diane and Sunny.  You can read some of Diane’s poetry in A Little Comfort: Healing Poems About Sunny the Miniature Horse.

More Festival-Related Events On the Square

• Blind Hills (Dee Lee and Chuck VanderVennet) perform from 1:30-2 at the Open Mic Stage at Stage Left Cafe. 
• Carla Gover will present an Appalachian Flatfooting Workshop from 2:15-3 at the Open Mic Stage. 
• Sign-up for the Open Mic Stage, hosted by Mark Lyons. It begins at 12:05 p.m. at Stage Left Cafe.

Share Your Talent on the Open Mic Stage! 

If you’ve participated in virtual open mics or haven’t performed in Woodstock before, you can share your talent at the Open Mic Stage. Again, The Open Mic Stage will be hosted by Mark Lyons. Sign-up for the Open Mic, which begins at 12:05 p.m.

We would love to meet you in person, and you will also meet our friends at Off Square Music, who handle sound at the Festival. We’re so grateful for their continued assistance and for all they do for our music community! 

Donations

The suggested donation for the Festival is $40/individual and $50/family. Cash and check are preferred for donations and CD purchases, but we do take VISA and MasterCard. The Festival is supported in part by the City of Woodstock, Real Woodstock, and Sponsors Steve and Margaret Mikus, but your donations are our main source of revenue.

We look forward to seeing you at the 40th Annual Woodstock Folk Festival on Sunday, July 20, but if you’d like to become a Friend of the Festival ($100-499 donation) or a Sponsor ($500 or more), please let us know now so we can thank you in our program and on our website. We are grateful for donations of any amount.

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Come for the Weekend! A Warm Welcome To All Our Guests, Past Attendees and New Folks …

We welcome back everyone who has come to the Festival in the past and we hope some of you who live farther away will make a road trip so you can attend this year. 

Maybe some of you music lovers will come to Woodstock for the entire weekend! There will be plenty of live music on and near the Woodstock Square over the weekend, so plan an overnight stay!

• On Friday night, July 18, Stage Left Cafe features Jazz Night from 8-10 p.m. and the Emerson & Oliver Speakeasy at Ethereal Confections presents Stephen Schuch beginning at 7:00 p.m.
• On Saturday morning, July 19, the award-winning Woodstock Farmers Market on the Square has live music. 
• Saturday evening, July 19, the Woodstock Opera House presents the Laurel Canyon Band from 7:30-9:30 p.m. For more info and tickets:

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• Saturday evening, July 19, Winestock presents The Been Reals; and The Village Squire often features music on the weekend too.
• Gavers Community Cancer Foundation’s Annual Barndance will take place on Saturday night, July 19, from 5 p.m. to Midnight in Emricson Park, 1313 Kishwaukee Valley Rd., Woodstock. For more information go to gavers.org.
• More information about Stage Left performances is at woodstockoperahouse.com, info about events at Ethereal is at eventsatethereal.com; and events at Winestock are posted on Facebook. 

Read more under “More Music This Summer” below and for lodging, check here: https://woodstockfolkfestival.org/the-festival/lodging/ or here: realwoodstock.com.

A Few Things To Know To Make Your Visit Carefree

Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair or blanket, and please remember pets are not allowed in the park, only on the periphery. Handicapped accessible facilities are available. Food is available on and near the Square. 

In case of rain, we will move to Unity Spiritual Center, 225 W. Calhoun Street, corner of Tryon, 2 blocks southwest of the Square. 

There’s free parking on and near the Square. Woodstock is easily accessible by car (I-90, Routes 120, 14, and 176) and by the Union Pacific Northwest Metra train from Ogilvie station in Chicago, with numerous stops in many northwest suburbs. The train stops just a block from the Square.

Lodging information is at https://woodstockfolkfestival.org/the-festival/lodging/and realwoodstock.com.

A few more helpful bits of information: 

• Handicapped accessible facilities are available. 
• Pets are not allowed in the Park, only on the streets on the periphery. Please do not leave pets in hot cars. 
• Festivalgoers should bring a chair or blanket to sit on.
• Festival merchandise and performer CDs, books, and other merchandise can be purchased at the Festival. MasterCard and Visa are accepted but cash or check is preferred.

Lead-Up Events Featuring Woodstock Folk Festival Performers

Our Radio Partners WDCB/90.9FM/wdcb.org, WFMT/98.7FM/wfmt.com, and WNUR/89.3FM/wnur.org will feature our performers in the weeks leading up to the Festival, including a few special events. 

• Preview during Lilli Kuzma’s “Folk Festival” show on Tuesday night, July 15;  8 – 11 p.m./CDT on WDCB/90.9FM/ wdcb.org. 
• Marilyn Rea Beyer will feature Joy Clark and Mercedes Escobar on “Folkstage” on Festival Eve, Saturday night, July 19 from 8-9 p.m./CDT, WFMT/98.7FM/wfmt.com. 
• WNUR – preview and interview with Festival President Carol Obertubbesing on “The Folk Show” on Sunday morning, July 13, 10 a.m.-Noon/CDT, most likely between 11 and 11:30 a.m.
• Two Way Street Coffee House presents Carla Gover on Friday night, July 18, 8 p.m. More info at twowaystreet.org. and on Saturday night, July 19, 8 p.m. the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago will present Tom Rush

More Music This Summer

• Off Square Music’s Sundays on the Square begins with Special Consensus on June 29 5:00 – 7:00 pm CDT, Woodstock Square and it’s FREE. More info at offsquaremusic.org.
• Off Square Music’s Every Saturday Virtual Open Mics continue at 7 p.m. on Saturday nights. For more info, go to offsquaremusic.org.
• Off Square Music’s Stage Left Cafe Open Mic Friday, July 11 and Friday, July 25
• For information about Lake County Folk Club events, go to thelakecountyfolkclub.org.
• Our friends at Acoustic Renaissance, Maple Street Concerts, and St. Tim’s Coffeehouse take a break over the summer but will return with more great music in the fall.

Other Summer Festivals Include…

• Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago (all summer), 
• Millennium Park Music Series in Chicago (June 26-August 7), 
• Lollapalooza (July 31-August 3), and 
• the Fox Valley Folk Festival in Geneva, IL (Sunday, August 31 and Monday, September 1 of Labor Day Weekend; for information, including volunteer opportunities, go to fvfs.org). 

These are just a few of the places where you can find live music this summer.

We look forward to seeing you at The 40th Annual Woodstock Folk Festival 2025 coming up Sunday, July 20, from Noon to 6 p.m. on the historic Square in Woodstock, Illinois. 

“Be there, on the Square!”

See Also…

• Our first post of the season for the Woodstock Folk Festival 2025
• Our videos from the Woodstock Folk Festival in past years.
• Don’t forget to check out the video sampler from last year’s Woodstock Folk Festival in the Video Gallery on our website.
• After this year’s 2025 Festival, watch for a video followup.

And last but not at all least…

The Festival is a 501(c)(3) Illinois non-profit organization, made possible in part by Radio Partners WDCB, WFMT, and WNUR, the City of Woodstock, and Real Woodstock (realwoodstock.com), but the Festival’s main support comes from individual donors.

The purpose of the Festival is to bring quality folk music – local, national, and international – to Northern Illinois. We build community through music. The Woodstock Folk Festival began as a one-time event in 1986 and quickly became an annual event held on the third Sunday of July on Woodstock Square. 

For more information about future Woodstock Folk Festival events, visit us here on our website, woodstockfolkfestival.org. For more information about Woodstock and events throughout the year, go to realwoodstock.com.