2025 Schedule
The Bellingham Folk Festival will be hosting entertaining and educational events during these hours:
Thursday, January 23rd
Friday, January 24th
Saturday, January 25th
Sunday, January 26th
During those times you can expect a combination of these entertaining and educational elements:
Sessions/Jams (tunes and sing-alongs, some with scheduled leaders, listeners welcome, too!)
Workshops (learning stuff from people, mostly tunes, some talk/lecture style offerings, descriptions below)
Concerts (performances, some sitting, some standing, some with festival pass, some free with tips appreciated)
Dances (organized and disorganized dancing to live music)
We are delighted to be collaborating once again with Fire & Story Festival!
A collection of large, unique, and artistically designed sculptural fire pits provides a stage for local storytellers, poets, artists, and folk musicians. Dispersed across the Bellingham Waterfront as lighthouses, attendees will walk between each illuminated story and engage in the rhythm of this event during the darkest days of the Pacific Northwest.
Fire & Story Festival will be featuring multimedia events around the fire which are free, open to the public, and just a ten-minute walk from the BFF events happening in Downtown Bellingham. No BFF wristband is required to attend these events.
Get the App!
This schedule is hard to read and is meant for desktop users. If you have a smartphone, get the free festival app to make your experience much more pleasant!
Go to the app store.
Download ‘Grandstand - Events & Guides’
Open the app and search for ‘Bellingham Folk Festival’
It’s WAY BETTER! :D
the schedule is subject to change at any moment, without warning, for no reason…
Thursday, January 23rd
5pm-7pm - Pan-Celtic Session with Sam Vogt and Liam Weydert (jam)
Ramble Tamble - 1313 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225
free, 21+
6pm-9pm - Pub Sing with the Mighty Bards of Menace (jam)
Menace Brewing - 2529 Meridian St, Bellingham, WA 98225
free, all ages
6pm-7pm - Locals on Locals (concert)
Honey Moon Mead - 1053 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225 (in the alley)
Locals on Locals, hosted by Ted O’Connell, wherein locals play covers of locals, locally, on location. If you would like to perform a song or an instrumental written by a Whatcom or Skagit musician, contact Ted O'Connell for the rules, bylaws, and secret handshakes: capeflatterymusic@gmail.com or Facebook messenger.
free, 21+
7pm-10pm - Open Jam! Ft. an opening set from the Garden St. Boys, Emily Freudenberger (concert/jam)
Blue Room - 202 E Holly St. #301
6pm doors, 7pm show, 8pm jam.
by donation, all ages
7pm-9pm - Old-Time Jam Sesh with Stuart & Friends (jam)
Aslan Depot - 1322 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225
free, 21+
7pm-8pm - Two-Step Workshop with Bex Bee (dance/workshop)
Cof& - 1209 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
$10-$20 suggested donation, all ages
8pm-10pm - Honky Tonk Dance with Steel Reserve (dance)
Cof& - 1209 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
Two-step workshop attendees dance for free!
$10-$20 suggested donation, all 21+
friday, January 24th
4pm-6p - Dream Goats (concert)
Boundary Bay Brewery (in the taproom) - 1107 Railroad Ave.
Dream Goats play American old-time, Celtic, and original fiddle tunes with some country and folk songs thrown in the mix. Celine, Stuart, Rosie and Claire are multi-instrumentalists who combine fiddles, guitars, banjos, cellos, (and sometimes more) in their interpretations of traditional music.
free, 21+
5pm-7pm - Bluegrass Jam with Kian Dye (jam)
Ramble Tamble - 1313 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225
free, 21+
6pm-8pm - Pub Sing (jam)
Honey Moon Mead - 1053 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225 (in the alley)
free, 21+
7pm-9pm - Old Growth Graveyard (concert)
Blue Room - 202 E Holly St. #301
Old Growth Graveyard (Ryan McKasson & Colin Cotter) ft. an opening set from Browyn McKasson, 6pm doors, 7pm show. Longtime partners in crime, Ryan McKasson and Colin Cotter find themselves back in the thick of a creative collaboration spanning many years, bands, gigs, productions, late nights, tours, missed flights, fiddle camps, adventures, time away, and journeys home. A somewhat whimsical diversion for two musicians known best in Celtic and Americana circles for fiddle and acoustic guitar, Old Growth Graveyard features McKasson a lot more on viola and Cotter bringing in the electric guitar and voice. From the moment that they stumbled across the unique combination of the viola’s throaty richness, the electric guitar’s undeniable edge, and the human voice, the two were smitten and immediately took to the mixology of grafting together the electric and acoustic sonorities with a vengeance. This new chapter in their creative journey takes new and familiar music on quite an adventure, giving two musicians – each established in their musical idioms – plenty of room to play around.
$20 advance/$25 day-of, all ages
7:30pm-9 - Kian Dye and Friends (concert)
Ramble Tamble - 1313 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225
$10-$20 suggested, 21+
8pm-10pm - Square Dance with Dear Crow & Friends, Bex Bee calling (dance)
Orion - 311 E Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Old-time tunes, original and trad songs, sweet double fiddles and lyrical banjo, tight vocal harmonies: a sound that is both nostalgic and bright with possibility. Dear Crow is the musical partnership of Brian Lindsay and Penka Jane Culevski.
$10-$20 suggested donation, 21+
8:30pm-11pm - Pan-Celtic Session (jam)
Honey Moon Mead - 1053 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225 (in the alley)
free, 21+
10pm - Old-Time Jam (jam)
Orion - 311 E Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225
free, 21+
saturday, January 25th
9am-9pm - A Wonder of Songwriters (workshop/concert)
Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship - 1207 Ellsworth St. Bellingham, WA 98225
A one-day gathering for songwriters filled with classes, conversation, and an evening showcase concert. All writers are welcome—from those who have only dreamed of writing a song to those who have written plenty. Classes in the art and craft of songwriting are led by seasoned songwriters who are also experienced songwriting instructors. There are two class periods during the day, three offerings per period. Instructors will workshop participants’ original songs during an afternoon session. The festival includes a communal lunch and dinner. The evening concert is open to friends, family, and the public by donation. Cost for the day is $200. Workshop is limited to 30 participants. A Wonder of Songwriters Festival is the inaugural event of the nonprofit A Wonder of Songwriters, sponsored by Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, a 501(c)(3) arts and education nonprofit organization. A Wonder of Songwriters intends to open the door to vibrant learning, to the opportunity for songwriters to support each other, and to the discovery of what nurtures us and keeps us thriving as songwriters.
register in advance here, all ages
10am-11am - Scottish Fiddle and Accompaniment Workshop with Ryan McKasson & Colin Cotter
Welcome Road Winery - 300 W Champion St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Scottish fiddle and accompaniment with Ryan McKasson (fiddle) and Colin Cotter (guitar). All instruments welcome.
$10-20 sliding scale at door, all ages
11:30am-12:30pm - Sean Connors & Sam Vogt (concert)
Welcome Road Winery - 300 W Champion St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Irish tunes!
by donation, all ages
1pm-2pm - Old-Time Tune Workshop with Dear Crow (workshop)
Welcome Road Winery - 300 W Champion St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Come learn some old-time tunes with Brian and Penka Jane. Fiddle and clawhammer-banjo specifics will be taught, but all instruments welcome. We'll focus on learning fun tunes and playing them together, and embracing the zen of an old-time jam.
$10-20 sliding scale at door, all ages
1pm-2pm - Ted O’Connell (concert)
Ramble Tamble - 1313 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225
free, 21+
2pm-3pm - Shannon Patiño (concert)
Cof& - 1209 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
Shannon Patiño is a Mexican American singer-songwriter from Minooka, IL, and is currently based in Mount Vernon, WA. Shannon began her music journey in 2015 when she wrote her first songs, including Pressure and El Tiempo. Shannon writes about her personal struggles, thoughts, and experiences. She hopes to connect with her listeners through her vulnerability and honest songwriting.
$10-$20 suggested donation, all ages
2pm-3pm - Square Dance Workshop with the Roots Music Group (workshop/dance)
Blue Room - 202 E Holly St. #301, Bellingham, WA 98225
Learn a dance before the big night! 1pm doors, 2pm workshop.
$10 (or $20 for workshop and evening dance together), all ages
2pm-3pm - Misty Flowers (concert)
Ramble Tamble - 1313 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Misty Flowers is a timeless, passionate performer blending jazz, folk, country and blues elements into her own unique style. Her smokey sweet voice and hypnotic guitar style reflects her ability to face life honestly and take only the best from all of her encounters.
free, 21+
2:30pm-3:30pm - Scandi Tunes Workshop with Mira, Elise, & Patrick (workshop)
Welcome Road Winery - 300 W Champion St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Join us and learn some of our favorite Scandi polskas to jam on! We will teach the rhythmic groove, melody, and tune chords by ear. All instruments welcome!
Sliding scale of $5-15, all ages
3pm-4pm - Matney Cook (concert)
Ramble Tamble - 1313 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Matney's passion for music from a love of the connection it brings to a room of strangers, the soothing it brings to an aching heart, and the joy it reinforces in dancing feet! Matney’s vocal style has grown into a charming swinging country tone with songwriting style ranges from soulful achey breaky ballads to uplifting surf rock tales of triumph.
free, 21+
3:30pm-4:30pm - Rio-style Guitar Workshop with Marco de Carvalho (workshop)
Cof& - 1209 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
Samba and Bossa Nova are distinctive styles of music that originated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In this workshop we will explore the foundational elements of playing these beautiful stories on the guitar which includes rhythm, harmony, and melody. First we'll use basic chords to focus on developing the cool rhythms on both the right and left hands. Then we'll play some Brazilian songs and apply the rhythm to the chord progressions, focusing on how to use the strings and frets as harmonic reference points. Finally, we will address the beautiful Brazilian melodies and bring it all together. Join Marco de Carvalho, a native of Rio de Janeiro, for an exploration of these unique styles of music and learn the secrets and differences between them that will make your music flow and groove.
$10-$20 suggested donation, all ages
4pm-5pm - Sarah Goodin (concert)
Ramble Tamble - 1313 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Local songwriter expressing heartfelt songs of longing and freedom for over 20 years.
free, 21+
4:45pm-5:45pm - "Coreografia" Marco de Carvalho (concert)
Cof& - 1209 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
Marco de Carvalho is a performing artist on guitar, vocals, and music composition. Born in São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he lives in Seattle, Washington where he continues to expand his life's repertoire performing an extensive catalog of original compositions and songs from Rio de Janeiro, recording with fabulous musicians, leading workshops, and teaching lessons on guitar. Award winning artist and Maui, HI native Neal Chin, has been both an ‘ukulele educator and performer over the course of his musical career of 19 years. His clear and direct enthusiasm for music has come to life in countless workshops, concerts, and private instruction. Neal currently lives, teaches, and performs in Seattle, WA.
$10-$20 suggested donation, all ages
5pm-7 - Steve Webb (concert)
Ramble Tamble - 1313 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225
An eclectic mix of original Neo soul/Americana folk with a twist of lemon.
free, 21+
5:30pm-7pm - Mira, Elise, & Patrick (concert)
Honey Moon Mead - 1053 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225 (in the alley)
Based in Seattle, Mira Dickey (fiddle, hardanger fiddle), Elise Snoey (fiddle, hardanger fiddle) and Patrick Gunning (fiddle, guitar) bring vibrant harmonies and driving groove to traditional fiddle tunes from Norway and Sweden.
free, 21+
6pm-6:50pm - Samba no Pé Workshop: Mastering the Art of Rebolado (Hip Circles) with Adriane Rodrigues (dance/workshop)
Cof& - 1209 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
Join us for a vibrant and energetic Samba no Pé workshop, where we’ll dive deep into the essence of Rebolado, the signature hip circle movement that brings Samba to life! This workshop will focus on refining your hip isolations, fluidity, and grace, teaching you how to infuse your style while staying true to Samba's lively rhythm and culture. What to Expect: Technique Breakdown: Learn the mechanics of Rebolado, from small, subtle circles to dynamic, expressive movements. Samba Groove: Connect your Rebolado to the infectious Samba beat, emphasizing musicality and rhythm. Styling Tips: Add flair to your movements with arm and body coordination, creating a complete Samba look. Drills and Choreography: Practice exercises to perfect your Rebolado and integrate it into a short, fun Samba routine. Whether a beginner or a seasoned dancer, this workshop will enhance your Samba skills and boost your confidence on the dance floor. Let's celebrate the joy of movement and the vibrant spirit of Samba together! Wear comfortable clothing, bring your energy, and get ready to dance!
$10-$20 suggested donation, all ages
7pm-9pm - Dear Crow & Louis Ledford (concert)
Ramble Tamble - 1313 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Old-time tunes, original and trad songs, sweet double fiddles and lyrical banjo, tight vocal harmonies: a sound that is both nostalgic and bright with possibility. Dear Crow is the musical partnership of Brian Lindsay and Penka Jane Culevski. Penka Jane began playing fiddle as a child and has been singing since she first heard the radio. Her forthright and emotive fiddle playing pulls the listener along the journey of every tune, and since she began songwriting in earnest in 2018 she’s become known for her timeless and lyrically potent songs. When she started playing with Brian Lindsay, they found kindred spirits in each other. Brian is half of the powerhouse acoustic duo Countercurrent, and is nationally sought after as a contra dance fiddle player, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. In the heartfelt and vulnerable arrangements of Dear Crow, the harmonies ring easily, the songs pluck your heartstrings, and the tunes roll and tumble with the energy that only dance musicians can muster.
$10-$20 suggested, 21+
7pm-10pm - Contra/Country Dance! + Maybe some Yiddish Squares! (dance)
Fairhaven Library - 1117 12th St, Bellingham, WA 98225
$12-$15 suggested, all ages
7pm-7:50pm - Technique and Partnerwork in Rueda de Casino (dance/workshop)
Cof& - 1209 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
This beginner/intermediate level Cuban salsa dance workshop will explore the concept of stepping forward in Casino, contextualizing it through both basic and complex moves to see how these variations can transform the Rueda de casino experience.
$10-$20 suggested donation, all ages
8pm-10pm - Steeplechase (concert)
Honey Moon Mead - 1053 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225 (in the alley)
free, 21+
8pm - All Ages Square Dance featuring the Roots Music Groups (dance)
Blue Room - 202 E Holly St. #301, Bellingham, WA 98225
7pm doors, 8pm dance.
$15 (or $20 for workshop and evening dance together)/all ages
8:30pm-10:30pm - Social Dance with Live Salsa Band (dance)
Cof& - 1209 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
Doors at 8 pm, music 8:30-10:30 pm.
$10 advanced, $15 at the door
9pm - 11:30pm - BFF AFTERPARTY: Sweater Weather Stringband w/ Nathaniel Talbot (dance)
The Shakedown - 1212 N State St., Bellingham, WA 98225
Doors at 8:30 pm, music 9-11:30 pm.
$10 advanced, $15 at the door
10pm-late - Trad Session hosted by Steeplechase (jam)
Honey Moon Mead - 1053 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225 (in the alley)
free, 21+
sunday, January 26th
9:30am-10:20am - Harmony and Ornamentation on Mountain Dulcimer (workshop)
Blue Room - 202 E Holly St. #301, Bellingham, WA 98225
Bring your dulcimer and join Beverly Hoback as she presents a workshop for intermediate mountain dulcimer players who want to make their music more interesting than merely playing chords or melodies. Learn easy techniques for creating harmonies at the same time you play melodies, and learn ornamentations such as hammering on, pulling off, and harmonics. Stick around for the concert immediately after the workshop to see Beverly put those techniques into practice.
free with donations appreciated, all ages
10:30am-11:30am - Grandma Makes You Laugh: family-friendly humor and folk music by Beverly Hoback (concert)
Blue Room - 202 E Holly St. #301, Bellingham, WA 98225
Start your week with a good belly laugh, as Beverly Hoback shares humorous stories, amusing parodies, and folk music on mountain dulcimer and guitar. With originals, parodies, and classic folk music, Beverly shares her joy and love of nature and children. Beverly Hoback joins the Bellingham Folk Festival for her third year, presenting both a workshop for intermediate level mountain dulcimer players and a concert of humor and folk music on guitar and mountain dulcimer. Beverly is a retired public school music teacher with degrees in music education and music composition from Pacific Lutheran University and Cornish College of the Arts. She has performed at the Kindred Gathering Dulcimer Festival every summer for the past 23 years and has presented concerts as a soloist and in the folk group The Arrangement at venues such as Nancy’s Farm, The Firehouse Arts and Events Center, The Western Washington Fair, Roam Coffee House, and Bayview Community Center. This one is for all the early risers and lovers of the mountain dulcimer!
free with donations appreciated, all ages
12:30pm-2pm - Wandering Seas (concert)
Welcome Road Winery - 300 W Champion St, Bellingham, WA 98225
The Wandering Seas is a dynamic folk trio from Bellingham, WA consisting of guitar/whistle (Casey Connor), cello (Clea Johnson), and fiddle (Colleen Freeman). They play mostly original compositions as well as a range of traditional folk styles from Albanian to Brazilian to Irish to Swedish. Pleasant Bay is their debut album, recorded just before the lockdown in February of 2020. The album includes 17 tracks, 12 of which are original compositions. While several of the Wandering Seas’ feet are planted in traditional dance musics, they inflect all their tunes with the same creative spirit that drives their compositions.
by donation, all ages
1pm-3pm - Morris Dance Workshop (workshop/dance)
BAAY - 1059 N State St. Bellingham, WA 98225
free, all ages
3pm-5pm - Femme in Folk, featuring Serafima & the Shakedowns, Schmid & Guest, Ivy Ficarra (concert)
Blue Room - 202 E Holly St. #301, Bellingham, WA 98225
2pm doors, 3pm show, seated show.
$15 advance here, $20 day-of, all ages
3pm-5pm - Finger Style Guitar Show Feat: Devin Champlin, Tom Bourne, S. Itterly (concert)
Welcome Road Winery - 300 W Champion St, Bellingham, WA 98225
$10-$20 suggested at the door, all ages
3pm-4pm - Pub Sing (jam)
Honey Moon Mead - 1053 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225 (in the alley)
free, 21+
4:30-7:30pm - Honeymoon Wrap-Up Pan-Celtic Session hosted by the Goods Guild (jam)
Honey Moon Mead - 1053 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225 (in the alley)
free, 21+
6pm-8pm - Son Jarocho by Primo Lara w/ Steve Jones & Jan Peters - Songs of Central Mexico (concert)
Welcome Road Winery - 300 W Champion St, Bellingham, WA 98225
$10-$20 suggested at the door, all ages