Four local acts join the throngs at Folklife fest
Published 10:47 pm Thursday, May 21, 2009
The numbers say a lot about Northwest Folklife: More than 6,000 performers will appear at the annual festival, which runs from today to Monday.
Naturally, with that many acts, you will hear more than just Bob Dylan covers.
“There is no limit to the amount of music, to the genres, that you can find,” said Molly Haas, marketing manager for the festival.
Haas said the biggest draws each year include the Brazilian Show, from 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday, and the reggae showcase Roots and Revelations, from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday.
Both are held at the Comcast Mural Amphitheatre, one of several sites at the Seattle Center campus, where the festival takes place.
Snohomish County musicians add to the festival’s eclectic appeal. Have your doubts? Check out these four acts, each playing a different day.
Marysville Marimba Ensemble: This after-school group at Totem Middle School plays happy, rhythmic music on marimbas, African-styled xylophones. It opens the festival at 11 a.m. today at the Comcast Mural Amphitheatre.
Fighter X: Chiptune musicians, who use retooled 8-bit video game systems for instruments, get a Folklife showcase. Everett’s Nick Walthew, aka Fighter X, will play some of the giddy electronic music at 7:50 p.m. Saturday at the Vera Project stage.
Seirm: This Seattle-based combo features 18 people from King and Snohomish counties, including an Everett soloist. The group, performing at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Center House Theatre, plays Scottish Gaelic songs, using a choir of voices and instruments such as the Celtic harp.
Nick Vigarino: The Camano Island guitarist has won honors for his mastery of both the slide and acoustic blues guitar. He performs his Delta-inspired songs at 5:30 p.m. Monday on the Fountain Lawn Stage.
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com.
