Sisters Folk Festival set to roll into Sisters

With some 50 bands and individual artists playing at 11 venues through town, the Sisters Folk Festival returns to bring a wide array of roots-based music to the community this weekend.

The festival is marking a comeback year, after being forced to cancel due to hazardous smoke conditions associated with the Milli Fire last summer. That was a blow to the whole community, but the festival is ready to put that experience in the rearview mirror.

"There were many impacts including missing a great celebration of community and music, the economic impact for the town, impact on guest artists not being able to perform and the challenges of facing a cancellation and doing everything we can to be in integrity in our response to ticket-buyers, artists, sponsors and vendors," said SFF Creative Director Brad Tisdel.

"From the bookings and curating the festival standpoint, we've invited everyone back from (the 2017 lineup) and approximately 70 percent are returning. So the talent committee and I needed to find the balance of the returning artists with the energy and musical diversity we strive for to make it a dynamic experience. I think we struck that balance well and patrons will love the acts..."

The Sisters Folk Festival is more than two decades old now, and operates in a musical landscape that has changed considerably in Central Oregon. From being a pioneering music event in the 1990s, the festival has now become a fixture of a much broader and deeper regional music scene.

The festival strives to refine its offerings and its work as a cultural institution.

"I think the integration of all programming keeps us relevant - from youth programming with Americana Project, Americana Luthier program and Studio to School initiative, to the vitality of the year-round concerts such as the winter and (free) summer concert series, the diversity of offerings including visual arts in the schools and music education, as well as our two cornerstone events, My Own Two Hands and Sisters Folk Festival," Tisdel said. "These help us deliver on our mission with a broad array of community impact and a sustainable model with our partnership with the Sisters School District."

Tisdel and the festival's talent committee work throughout the year to craft the line-up for each festival, with an eye to offering a broad palette while honoring the deep traditions of American music.

"I think the diversity of the musical experience will be seen, from Ron Artis II & the Truth, to Gangstagrass, to Banda Magda, Battle of Santiago, Jerron 'Blind Boy' Paxton, Kaia Kater, Talisk, Tremoloco and more," Tisdel said. "These are all artists we have become aware of by being on the scene nationally, and being introduced to great artists. There is something for everyone, and part of the fun is seeking out that which you love. That said, it is always a pleasant surprise to discover your next new artist you will track and watch their career develop and become fans of their music."

There will be a limited number of weekend passes available for purchase at the festival beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 7.

The festival offers a number of free events including the music at Fir Street Park's Songbird Stage on Saturday and Sunday, music on the Sisters Coffee Co. stage Saturday and Sunday, and the festival's Community Celebration Sunday morning at 10 a.m. at the Village Green.

For more information and to download a schedule, visit www.sistersfolkfestival.org.