The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) The NCTA is the nation’s oldest multicultural arts presenting organization. For over eight decades, through festivals, tours, symposia, exhibits, and media productions, the NCTA has showcased the very best of the myriad grassroots folk, tribal and ethnic cultures that comprise our diverse nation.
As we wait for photos from the Richmond Folk Festival’s 10th anniversary to come in, revisit the excitement of the 2013 festival through the work of photographers Skip Rowland and Michael G. Stewart. Enjoy!
The 2013 Richmond Folk Festival as captured by photographer Skip Rowland:
Getting ready
Festival setup begins weeks prior to the event, and activity intensifies as the event approaches. The experienced operations crew and dedicated volunteers take it all in stride.
Festival artists in the schools
Each year, festival artists bring free performances to Richmond area schools, cultural encounters that are both educational and great fun. Photographer Skip Rowland captured some of the action: Tuvan throat-singing ensemble Alash at St. Christophers School, Alex Meixner making new fans for polka at St. Andrews School, and buckdancers Thomas Maupin and Kory Posey with Daniel Rothwell and the Overall String Band performing at Douglas S. Freeman High School.
Friday night kickoff, October 10, 2013
It was a wet weekend, from beginning to end, but that didn’t dampen the high spirits in evidence throughout the festival.
Altria Stage
On the Altria Stage, polka wild man Alex Meixner kicked off the evening, followed by Garifuna musical ambassador Aurelio Martinez, and the Stooges Brass Band from New Orleans.
MWV (MeadWestvaco)Stage
Charismatic maloya singer Christine Salem from the Reunion Islands started off the evening on the MWV Stage, followed by rollicking Québécois music from the Yves Lambert Trio, and Rhythm of Rajasthan with traditional Rajasthani music and dance from northwestern India.
Community Foundation Stage
Reggae legend Don Carlos and the Dub Vision Band delivered roots reggae at its best on the Community Foundation Stage.
Dominion Dance Pavilion
At the Dominion Dance Pavilion, it was an evening of Cajun and blues music. Jesse Lége (accordion) and Joel Savoy (fiddle) led a rocking Cajun band followed by the gritty Chicago sounds of the Lurrie Bell Blues Band.
Saturday, October 11, 2013
Altria Stage
Nathalie Pires’ soulful Portuguese fado, the insouciant sounds of New Orleans brass band The Stooges, Spanish Harlem Orchestra’s sizzling salsa dura, and classic go-go from the Chuck Brown All Star Tribute Band, with special guests Big Tony, Sugar Bear, Buggs and Jas. Funk, were among the diverse musical traditions featured Saturday on the Altria Stage.
On the job
Behind the scenes, staffers work to solve potential problems before they occur.
Around the festival
Saturday sights from around the festival grounds.
Community Foundation Stage
The Prusinowski Trio performing traditional music from Central Poland on the Community Foundation Stage.
Dominion Dance Pavilion
On Saturday night, Spanish Harlem Orchestra and the Chuck Brown All Star Tribute Band rock the house at the Dominion Dance Stage on Brown’s Island.
MWV Stage
Saturday action on the MWV Stage included the Andean danza de las tijeras (Scissors Dance) performed by The Chankas, Tuvan throat-singing ensemble Alash, and a cappella gospel singing by The Brotherhood Singers.
RTD Virginia Folklife Demonstration Area
Split oak basket making, Irish flute making, Mongolian mask making, and a moonshine still were among the featured demonstrations in the RTD Virginia Folklife Demonstration Area, which explored the theme “Virginia Kinfolk: A Celebration of Family Folklife. An impromptu jam by the Dry Hill Draggers family string band from Franklin County added to the mix.
RTD Virginia Folklife Stage
On the RTD Virginia Folklife Stage, family musical traditions were front and center with performances by the Snyder Family Band, the Harris Brothers, Gankhuyag and Zana Natsag (with a little help from Alash), and Cheick Hamala Diabate.
Union First Market/University of Richmond Stage
On the Union First Market/University of Richmond stage, Tennessee buckdancer Thomas Maupin, his banjo-playing grandson Daniel Rothwell and the Overall Creek Stringband get a little help from a tiny dancer. The Vietnamese ensemble Khac Chi demonstrates an array of bamboo instruments, followed by the “Band in a Box: Accordion Traditions” session, and stage setup for the Yves Lambert Trio.
Sunday, October 12, 2103
Around the festival
Sunday sights around the festival grounds
Dominion Dance Pavilion
Aurelio Martinez at the Dominion Dance Stage
Genworth Family Area
Feathered friends, a ukulele lesson, the circus arts of the Red Trousers Show, and more in the Genworth Family Area.
MWV Stage
The “Global Guitar Traditions” session on the MWV Stage featured a stage full of great players representing Garifuna, Québécois, Portuguese, western swing, blues and Appalachian traditions. Rhythm of Rajasthan’s performance offered a glimpse of an intriguing, centuries-old musical world on the eve of inevitable change.
RTD Virginia Folklife Demonstration Area
More images from the Virginia Folklife Demonstration Area, which explored the theme “Virginia Kinfolk: A Celebration of Family Folklife.
RTD Virginia Folklife Stage
The “Mothers, Brothers & Sisters” session on the RTD Virginia Folklife Stage featured Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes, Emily and Martha Spencer, the Harris Brothers and the Knicelys. Next up: the Moore Brothers band from Hickory, North Carolina. Richmond gospel matriarch Maggie Ingram sharing a moment backstage with her daughter Aleta before their performance, and the beloved Whitetop Mountain Band from Southwest Virginia.
Sunday at the 2103 Richmond Folk Festival as captured by photographer Michael G. Stewart.
Around the festival
More sights around the festival grounds.
Community Foundation Stage
The Dardanelles wowed festivalgoers with their vibrant renditions of traditional music from Newfoundland, seen here performing on the Community Foundation Stage.
MWV Stage
Kicking off Sunday on the MWV Stage, the “Masters of Percussion” session featuring percussionists from the Reunion Islands; Rajasthan, India; Honduras (Garifuna traditions); Appalachia, and West Africa turned into a cross-cultural jam. Later in the afternoon, the lean and lanky 75-year old champion Tennessee buckdancer Thomas Maupin and company held forth, followed by the amazing Chankas performing the ancient, acrobatic danza de las tijeras (Scissors Dance) from the southern Andes of Peru.
Union First Market/University of Richmond Stage
The “Gospel Traditions” session with Lurrie Bell and the Brotherhood Singers started off the Sunday program on the Union First Market/University of Richmond Stage. Later in the afternoon, our photographer was obviously captivated by the music of talented young Portuguese American fadista Nathalie Pires.
Closing the show
Performances by soul/R&B master Mighty Sam McClain on the Altria Stage), Malian griot Abdoulaye Diabaté and Super Mande on the Community Foundation Stage, and The Stooges Brass Band on the Dominion Dance Stage usher the 2013 Richmond Folk Festival to a close.
