Folk festival set to roll into Sisters

For the past 13 years, the Sisters Folk Festival has been bringing the best of American roots music to Sisters in a three-day extravaganza of song.

This year's event kicks off on Friday, September 5, at 6 p.m. with an encore performance by singer-songwriter Jonathan Byrd at the Village Green Main Stage. Byrd is followed by legendary folk and bluegrass performer Tim O'Brien, The Wailin' Jennys and Stonehoney.

Music will continue all weekend at venues across Sisters: from the Village Green to Sisters Art Works, 204 W. Adams Ave .; Angeline's Bakery, 121 W. Main Ave .; and Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill and Saloon at the corner of Cascade Avenue and Fir Street. For a complete schedule and venue map, visit http://www.sistersfolkfestvial.org.

Sisters Coffee Co. and The Depot Deli will host venues that are free and open to the public.

"The festival brings exciting acts to Sisters every year," said festival board chair Jim Cornelius. "But this year is, I think, the strongest lineup we've ever had."

The lineup features a range of music from the Southwestern Mexican-American folklore and music of The Santa Cruz River Band to the Celtic airs of Molly's Revenge.

Two legends of American music will be on hand for the festival. Jesse Winchester is one of the most beloved of America's songwriters. He is perhaps best known for his songs "Biloxi" and "Defying Gravity." His work has been covered by countless artists, including Chris Smither, Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Buffett and Emmylou Harris.

Rosalie Sorrels is a larger-than-life figure in American folk music - a tough, iconoclastic songstress, songcatcher, poet, storyteller and social activist, admired equally for her strength and conviction and her art.

"Having Rosalie Sorrels here is a great honor for the festival," said Cornelius. "She's a model of honesty and integrity, which isn't always easy to find in the 'entertainment' business. She represents the values of the festival really well: real music, real stories, real people. And she's a character; people are really going to enjoy having her here."

Cornelius is also excited about The Waifs.

"Booking The Waifs was a great opportunity for us," he said. "They are one of the most popular and well-received festival bands in the country and they put on an outstanding show."

Susan Werner will return to Sisters after an appearance at Sisters Art Works last winter.

"People who saw that show at Sisters Art Works were knocked out - including me," Cornelius said. "This is a really, really good writer. She's funny and witty, but also can break your heart. I'm happy that it worked out to present Susan Werner to a bigger Sisters audience."

Werner is also an instructor at the three-day Americana Song Academy, held this week at Caldera, along the shores of Blue Lake. The camp brings songwriters of all stages of development together with masters of the craft in an environment that helps them tap into their deepest sources of creativity.

The festival also promotes developing songwriters through the Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Contest. This year's finalists are: Brad Colerick - Hollywood, California; Rita Hosking - Davis, California; Holly O'Reilly - Bainbridge Island, Washington; Rose Polenzani - Somerville, Massachusetts; Sarah Sample - Seattle, Washington.

The songwriting contest finals are held at Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill & Saloon at noon on Saturday, September 6.

"This is always a highlight of the festival," Cornelius said. "The songwriters play to a full house and, even though it's a competition, they put on an outstanding show."

Other festival performers include Keith Greeninger with Dayan Kai, Ray Bonneville, 3 Leg Torso, Johnsmith, Jud Caswell, Joe Craven, Jackstraw, Richard Julian, The Erins and Brent Alan. The Sisters Folk Festival Web site has links to all the musicians, providing fans the opportunity to hear music by all performers.

Recycling is a big part of the festival this year.

Benji Nagel, a former Sisters Americana Project student will be heading up the festival's recycling operations this year. He will have a crew emptying recycling containers that will be placed around the different venues. Composting will also be implemented this year.

"We've always wanted to be more environmentally responsible," said Events Director Katy Yoder. "It takes a lot of planning and investing in the tools needed to successfully start a recycling program. This year we made it happen."

Another major component in the Sisters Folk Festival's recycling program is a partnership with EcoUnit, a company that will facilitate offsetting the carbon footprint of all the musician's travel plans.

"All the pollution caused by plane and car travel will be offset by the planting of trees," said Yoder.

Each year the Sisters Folk Festival will increase its recycling efforts.

The Sisters Folk Festival still has a limited number of individual tickets for Friday, September 5, Saturday, September 6 and Sunday, September 7. Prices are $30 for Saturday or Sunday until 5 p.m .; $45 for Friday or Saturday night ticket, or $60 for a Saturday pass from 10 a.m. to close.

All-Events Badges are available at $85, giving festival-goers three days of music on the six festival stages. After Wednesday, September 3, all tickets will only be on sale at the Village Green Will-Call on Friday beginning at 1 p.m.

To buy tickets visit http://www.sistersfolkfestival.org and order them online. Or call the Sisters Folk Festival office at 549-4979. Remote ticket locations include: Paulina Springs Books in Sisters and Redmond, Footzone of Bend and the Curiosity Shoppe in Bend.