Ferdinand Folk Festival
Singer-Songwriter Showcase
In the third annual Ferdinand Folk Festival Singer-Songwriting Showcase, eleven regional artists of all ages will feature their talents in the Forest Park Jr.-Sr. High School Auditorium, at 1440 Michigan Street, on Saturday, August 19, at 7:00 pm Eastern. Admission will be $10, and tickets may be purchased directly online at
https://www.itickets.com/events/384067.html and
www.ferdinandfolkfestival.com. The performers are as follows--and look for featured posts about each showcase artist on our Facebook page in the coming days.
1. Tonya Buckler, Louisville, KY
2. Edward Leroy Burch, Dubois, IN
3. Matthew Colson, Evansville, IN
4. Joel Curtis, Louisville, KY
5. Toby Ellis, Evansville, IN
6. Dawn Keller, Bloomfield, IN
7. Hayley Payne, Philpot, KY
8. Clayton Schroeder, Bloomington, IN
9. Steven Wagler, Jasper, IN
10. Art Woodward, Evansville, IN
11. Anna Wrasse, Bloomington, IN
"The spirit of this event is to foster and promote creativity and original music among all ages in our communities, and to provide artists with a venue to share their work with a supportive, listening audience," said Rock Emmert, committee chair. "The contest is a fun incentive for artists to use songwriting to convey the meaning in their everyday lives--and to develop and share their work." The organizers plan to continue the contest into the future to contribute to the growing arts scene in the area.
Unlike the first two years of the contest, this year all showcase participants will be invited to perform on the NextEra Energy Main Stage to open this year's festival on Saturday, September 16. One significant change the committee made this year to is shift the competitive nature of the showcase performance to a more relaxed Saturday-evening spirit of friendly enjoyment and camaraderie for all performers and audience members alike. "We also wanted to give more than just two regional artists public exposure each year at the festival itself--so that additional emerging area artists gain recognition, support, and confidence to develop their talents," stated Emmert.
"I'm thrilled to be a part of this wonderful opportunity," stated Keller. Schroeder added, "I'm so elated and overjoyed to be selected as a performer!"
A screening committee reviewed each song for original lyrics, musicianship, melody, and total effect before making the difficult decision of narrowing down this year's performers. One of the purposes of the Folk Fest and its sister program Project ACORN is to promote the arts and the artisans in the community and region--through music and theatre for children and all ages, drawing, painting, pottery, etc. Since its inception, the singer-songwriter contest has received submissions from Ferdinand and faraway states.
The eighth annual Ferdinand Folk Festival, co-sponsored by Moore Music and Best Home Furnishings, features an exciting and eclectic mix of Americana, folk, and roots blues music from Oregon, Michigan, Tennessee, and the local region. The community's premier family and environmentally festival offers dozens of art and environmental booths, many diverse activities for children, sponsored by MasterBrand, and workshops and Tent Talks for adults, including fun, new features to be announced in the coming weeks. Applications for vendors and exhibits are closing soon and are easily accessible on the fest's website homepage. Visit Facebook and
www.ferdinandfolkfestival.com often for the website's new look, the newly released 2017 poster, and regular updates!
Photo: Bethany Boeglin, winner of the 2016 contest in the over-18 age category, Anna Wrasse won in the under-18 age group
American singer-songwriter, recording artist, and famous lead guitarist Jason Wilber, will perform a benefit concert for the Ferdinand Folk Festival on Sunday, August 6, 2017, from 4:00 - 6:00 pm ET, at St. Benedict's Brew Works at 860 E 10th Street, in Ferdinand, Indiana. Doors will open at 3:00 pm ET. For advance online tickets, visit 