Sisters Folk Festival announces 2015 lineup

For 20 years, the Sisters Folk Festival has been bringing outstanding music to town in September. Now the festival has announced its lineup for the landmark 20th anniversary edition of the event set for September 11-13.

"All the Town's a Stage" in Sisters, with multiple venues across town. Tickets are selling fast, indicating that there will be an early sell-out this summer.

Sisters welcomes festival-goers for three days of world-class performances by artists including: The Subdudes, a New Orleans blues-rock and soul band; the 2014 encore artist Eric Bibb; songwriter Tift Merritt; and last year's crowd favorites Darlingside.

Additionally, festival organizers are proud to bring Boston-based bands Session Americana; Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards; Ryan Montbleau; and the duo Tall Heights.

Other acts on the bill are: Mandolin Orange; The Bills; Shinyribs & the Tijuana Train Wreck Horns; Gretchen Peters; Zydeco master Andre Thierry; Beth Nielsen Chapman; Canadian roots band New Country Rehab; Liz Longley; Australian-songwriter Jordie Lane; Fort Worth, Texas-based Luke Wade and No Civilians; Jonathan Byrd and the Pickup Cowboys; Western swing fiddler Katie Glassman and Snapshot; bluegrass rockers Mountain Heart; Dave McGraw and Mandy Fer; The Weather Machine; Freddy & Francine; Beth Wood; Dennis McGregor; The Ballroom Thieves; Gretchen Peters; Young Dubliners; Tracy Grammer, Chris Rosser; Jefferson Hamer; Buddy Mondlock; Lance Canales & the Flood, Halden Wofford and the Hi Beams; Brad Tisdel, Bob Hemenger, and more.

"For the festival to continue to grow and thrive, we need to bring in new acts that are introduced to our audience and become fan favorites. We also get requests to bring past artists back, so we selectively choose when the right time is for both the festival and the artists," said Creative Director Brad Tisdel.

There will be performances on 10 stages over three days, and this year will include Fir Street Park hosting festival performers to play on a free community stage.

"We get such tremendous support from the community, we want to be sure folks in Sisters get to appreciate and experience some of the music the festival offers, including Fir Street Park and Sunday's free Community Show at the Village Green, hosted by Beth Wood," said Tisdel.

The festival also hosts the 14th annual Americana Song Academy at Caldera, Sept. 8-11, which has become a pilgrimage for songwriters to learn from the pros and build community around music. Teaching artists for 2015 include: Beth Nielsen Chapman; Buddy Mondlock; Gretchen Peters; Ryan Montbleau; Tift Merritt; The Ballroom Thieves; Darlingside; Chris Rosser; Mandolin Orange; Jefferson Hamer; Liz Longley; Jordie Lane; and Jonathan Byrd.

The Academy is already sold out for this year, but registration for the 2016 Academy will open in early November.

For tickets and artist information, visit http://www.sisters

folkfestival.org or call the office at 541-549-4979.

A complete listing of the initial lineup is available at the website.