Sisters Folk Festival rolling into town

Roots music fans from all over the West will roll into Sisters this week to take in the sixth annual Sisters Folk Festival, set for Friday-Sunday, September 7-9.

The festival carries on the traditions of American music, from blues to bluegrass.

Saturday night's concert featuring legendary cowboy singer and songwriter Ian Tyson sold out well in advance.

"Ian Tyson has an enormous following in this part of the country," said festival board member Jim Cornelius. "As soon as the word got out that he was coming to Sisters, the phone lines started burning up with people calling for tickets."

There's still plenty of good music to hear, however.

Contemporary folk standout Patty Larkin is featured on Friday night, September 7.

Larkin is a superlative singer, an accomplished songwriter and an extraordinary guitarist. Over the years, with her High Street/Windham Hill albums "Strangers World," "Angels Running" and "Tango," she has honed a reputation as a "musician's musician" working with the brightest talents in contemporary American music.

Also featured on Friday night is Austin songwriter Slaid Cleaves. His music has made a big impression in the Americana and "alt-country" scene, with songs that build on traditions handed down from Woody Guthrie and Hank Williams.

Main performances will be held in a tent on Sisters' Village Green. Musicians will also entertain in shops and other venues throughout town and food and craft vendors will be on hand to peddle their wares in an open-air market setting.

The festival features a songwriting contest starting at noon on Saturday on the Bronco Billy's Stage at Hotel Sisters. The contest will showcase five finalists out of approximately 130 entries that came in from all over the U.S.

"The songwriting contest is a critical part of the festival," Cornelius said. "Roots music survives because people pass it on and put their own stamp on the traditions. Giving a boost to up-and-coming artists is one way to keep the music going."

The festival's first contest in 1995 turned up a Portland songwriter of exceptional talent named Dave Carter. Since forming a partnership with singer and instrumentalist Tracy Grammer, Carter has become one of the most prominent artists in American folk music.

The duo will open for Tyson on Saturday night and close out the festival with a performance on Sunday afternoon at the Village Green.

Misty River, an audience favorite from last year, and Sam Hill, one of the region's premier bluegrass bands, will also perform along with acoustic blues prodigy David Jacobs-Strain.

Visitors can participate in a variety of workshops covering every aspect of roots music, from writing to picking techniques and introductions to new instruments.

Tickets are still available for Friday night and for both Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon performances. A special ticket package providing access to all performances except the sold-out Saturday night concert is available for $25.

Tickets may be purchased at Paulina Springs Book Company in Sisters. For more information call 549-4979 or visit the website at www.sistersfolkfestival.com.