Folk festival kicks off summer concert series

The Sisters Summer of Festival series kicks off on Friday, June 25 with a co-bill featuring Americana songstress and singer Sierra Ferrell playing as a trio, and the dynamic Freddy & Francine with a full band.

Ferrell has made waves in the acoustic music world with her signature singing style and aesthetic, while Freddy & Francine are celebrating a new record, “I Am Afraid to Die,” recorded pre-pandemic.

The Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) has made a reputation for introducing artists to its audience just as their star is rising. That’s very much the case with Sierra Ferrell.

Crista Munro, the Festival’s executive director, said that a friend who promotes events in Colorado urged her to get Ferrell booked.

“He said, ‘You’ve got to check her out; you’ve got to book her while you still can.’”

Sure enough, Ferrell has caught fire.

“She is the most-booked artist in the Americana-Bluegrass-folk festival scene this summer,” Munro said.

The Festival’s audience is primed to get back to a regular diet of live music.

“Can’t wait,” said long-time Sisters Folk Festival attendee Kay Grady. “I just can’t wait to all be back together again, and see all the people we love and have missed.”

Paul Bertagna is especially excited to see the return of Freddy and Francine. The artists have performed at the Sisters Folk Festival — and also turned in an epic performance when rain forced them to move from Fir Street Park into The Belfry, where they proceeded to share the history of their artistic collaboration in a cycle of song.

“I saw them when they came to the festival — blew the doors off,” Bertagna said. “How can you not like these guys? Unbelievable. I can’t believe they (Sisters Folk Festival) can get them. They’re that good.”

On Saturday evening, June 26, the series will feature songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jenner Fox and award-winning singer, songwriter, and SFF alumna Anna Tivel, both of whom will play as a trio.

Sisters Folk Festival is excited to introduce recent Sisters transplant Jenner Fox to the Central Oregon audience and welcome the artistry of celebrated writer and fiddle player Anna Tivel back to Sisters.

Tickets are still available at www.sistersfolkfestival.org.