Festival announces early bookings

Grammy-nominated John Fullbright from Okemah, Oklahoma, will return to Sisters as the Sisters Folk Festival's "encore artist" for the September 6-8 event. Fullbright will be returning to perform as a duo with guitarist Terry Ware throughout the weekend. He will once again present his wry humor and intense insight and lyrics to the Sisters audience.

The festival will also feature Lake Street Dive, with a fresh take on jazz-influenced tunes, led by the vocals of Rachael Price. Lake Street Dive has a growing buzz throughout the country and is performing at major festivals this summer.

Also, hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, the Ryan Montbleau Band will perform their soulful R&B music inspired by Ryan's recent time spent in New Orleans.

The California Honeydrops will treat audiences to their horn-infused dance music after wild appreciation at the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival last year. Also on the bill is Amber Rubarth, winner of NPR's prestigious Mountain Stage New Song Contest; and Amy Speace, a veteran Nashville songwriter, of whom the Washington Post says, "Her velvety, achy voice recalls an early Lucinda Williams. Sounding grounded but wounded... Speace exudes the vulnerability of someone who's loved and lost."

"The Sisters Folk Festival is known for introducing a Central Oregon audience to new and fresh voices, and we are confident all of these bookings will do just that," said festival Executive Director Brad Tisdel.

Ryan Montbleau, Amber Rubarth and Amy Speace will also be teaching at the Americana Song & Arts Academy, September 3-6, held at Caldera.

The Sisters Folk Festival All-Event passes are $115. For more information on the 2013 Sisters Folk Festival or to purchase tickets visit www.sistersfolkfestival.org or call the festival office at 541-549-4979.