The 35th Annual Woodstock Folk Festival — Reimagined | Premieres Sunday, July 19, 2pm/CDT

Presenting the

35th Annual
Woodstock Folk Festival – Reimagined 

Premieres Sunday, July 19, 2020
2pm/CDT

The 35th Annual Woodstock Folk Festival — Reimagined premieres right here on SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2020 at 2pm/CDT. Bookmark it so you can enjoy the show when it begins on Sunday — and be sure to share this address with friends and family.

~~~

Rather than cancel this year’s Festival, the Board chose to reimagine it, taking advantage of what an online event can offer, while preserving the flavor of a Woodstock event. Long time co-hosts Chuck VanderVennet and Rich Warren will welcome everyone, and viewers will be treated to a virtual tour of the historic Square.

The heart of the event will be two half-hour segments, each featuring music and conversation with performers. One segment will feature Reggie Harris and Greg Greenway, and the other, Christine Lavin and Megon McDonough. While the Festival is known for the high quality and variety of music, it generally cannot present conversations between performers, something it is uniquely positioned to do this year.

Reggie Harris and Greg Greenway, both renowned solo performers, toured the country with their “Deeper Than the Skin” show. Friends for over 30 years, one black, one white, one from the North, one from the South, they come together as musicians, storytellers, students of history and world travelers. Through music and conversation, their separate narratives are forged into one powerful friendship aimed at finding common ground and helping others to do the same.

Early in their careers Christine Lavin and Megon McDonough came together as half of the Four Bitchin’ Babes. Christine has entertained audiences with a mix of humorous and tender songs. She also nurtures and promotes new generations of performers. Megon, who will be next year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, began writing songs as a child. Her vast repertoire has led her from performing in Patsy Cline shows to writing and performing in a solo cabaret show. She has performed on stages such as Carnegie Hall, The Birchmere, and Wolf Trap. She has also served as music director and performed at Unity centers and churches.

Festival founder Amy Beth and award-winning singer-songwriter Crys Matthews will also perform. The Festival will finish with its hallmark All-Sing Finale, featuring past performers.

The Festival has invited all of the originally scheduled 2020 performers to next year’s in-person Festival on Sunday, July 18, 2021.

~~~

Subscribe to Our Weekly Emails

If you’re not already receiving our weekly emails, please sign up via the button at the top of the right column of this website.  You’ll get information about Woodstock Wednesdays, our celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in the U.S. next month (August 18-26), and you’ll be the first to learn about future concerts and festivals.

Also, be sure to check out the Calendar and News sections of the site for the most recent event information for the Festival and Festival Friends.

Donations

Donations are welcome at any time through the Donation Button on the site. The Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, made possible in part by Radio Partners WDCB, WFMT, and WNUR, the City of Woodstock, and Real Woodstock (www.realwoodstock.com).

Be sure to support both the Festival AND the performers. In order to present next year’s Festival on Sunday, July 18, 2021, the Festival needs your support. Although we could not present an in-person Festival this year, we still had expenses in order to bring you today’s show, and throughout the year there are insurance, web, promotion, and other costs; today’s donations will help us pay next year’s performers. DONATE NOW VIA THE BUTTON ON THIS SITE.

A portion of today’s donations will go to the performers, but they are in need of your continued support. Buy their CDs and other merchandise, join their Patreon and other platforms, and donate via their websites. Most have lost all or most gigs through this year, and in some cases even in 2021; if you enjoy their music, show them with your support. Give now to make sure they can continue to entertain, stimulate, and inspire you. Help build community through the power of song!

Please Support Our Performers via Their Websites

PERFORMERS’ WEBSITES

• Amy Beth – www.woodstockfolkmusic.com/amybeth
• Greg Greenway – c9tuning.wordpress.com
• Reggie Harris – reggiehharrismusic.com
• Christine Lavin – christinelavin.com and for PayPal donations, teeny.lavin@gmail.com
• Megon McDonough – www.megonmegon.com
• Crys Matthews – crysmatthews.com
• Red Tail Ring – redtailring.com
• Small Potatoes – www.smallpotatoesmusic.com

ALL-SING FINALE PERFORMER WEBSITES

• The Flyin’ A’s (Hilary Claire Adamson and Stuart Adamson) – theflyinas.com
• Gina Forsyth – ginaforsyth.com
• Tret Fure – tretfure.com
• Joe Jencks – joejencks.com
• Holly Near – hollynear.com
• Corky Siegel – chamberblues.com
• Rich Prezioso – www.smallpotatoesmusic.com
• Matt Watroba – mattwatroba.net

Credits

Thank YOU for joining us today and for supporting the Festival and the performers — and thanks to everyone who helped with this year’s Festival in any way including:

Performers: Amy Beth, Greg Greenway, Reggie Harris, Christine Lavin, Megon McDonough, Crys Matthews (with Heather Mae), Red Tail Ring, Small Potatoes

Co-Hosts: Chuck VanderVennet, Rich Warren

Narration: Carol Obertubbesing

Introduction of Performers: Lilli Kuzma, Ron Lewis

Woodstock Folk Festival Board: Denice Beck, Dorothy Biris, Mike Breen, Betsy Ducote, Caroline Nemoda, Carol Obertubbesing, Julie Roberts, Mary Sherman, Jim Young

Producer: Carol Obertubbesing

Editor and Creative Consultant: Rich Prezioso

Creative Consultant: Joe Pesz

All-Sing Finale: Artistic Director – Joe Jencks, Editor – Rich Prezioso, Performers – The Flyin’ A’s (Hilary Claire Adamson and Stuart Adamson), Gina Forsyth, Tret Fure, Joe Jencks, Holly Near, Corky Siegel, Small Potatoes (Jacquie Manning & Rich Prezioso), Matt Watroba

WFF Website & Social Media Coordinators: Leslie Cook, Julie Roberts, Mary Sherman, Kathy Wentz 

Drone Footage: 400 Feet Over McHenry

Photos: Carol Obertubbesing, Joe Pesz, Rich Prezioso, Sandra South

Radio Partners: WDCB, especially Lilli Kuzma WFMT; especially Rich Warren WNUR; especially Sue Kessell and Ron Lewis

Woodstock Opera House: Daniel Campbell

City of Woodstock: Especially Mayor Brian Sager, City Manager Roscoe Stelford, Terry Willcockson

Real Woodstock

Chairman of the McHenry County Board: Jack D. Franks

Sponsors, Friends & Advertisers: Listed on the Festival website, https://woodstockfolkfestival.org/sponsors/

We hope you enjoy the show!