Folk Festival History

The first Ann Arbor Folk Festival took place in 1976, and since then it’s grown in scope and depth. The range of genres and styles is large, the sense of tradition when all the evening’s performers join together in song at the end of the Saturday show even stronger.

1st Annual, 1976 @ Power Center

John Prine
Leon Redbone
Amos Garrett & Johnny Nicholas
Jay Ungar & Lyn Hardy
Diana Marcowitz
Paul Geremia
David Amram, MC
Owen McBride, MC

2nd Annual, 1979

David Bromberg
Norman & Nancy Blake
Mike Seeger & Alice Gerrard
Gamble Rogers
Norman Kennedy
John Roberts & Tony Barrand
Bryan Bowers
Utah Phillips
Ron Sanders, MC

3rd Annual, 1980

David Bromberg
Leon Redbone
John Hammond, Jr
Jim Ringer & Mary McCaslin
Hedy West
Red Clay Ramblers
Owen McBride, MC

4th Annual, 1981

Leon Redbone
Mick Moloney & Eugene O’Donnell
Stan Rogers
Margaret Christl
Henrie Brothers
Michael Cooney
Andy Breckman, MC

5th Annual, 1982 @ Michigan Theater

David Bromberg
Tom Paxton
Billy Novick & Guy Van Duser
Hotmud Family
Joel Mabus
Gemini w/ Percy Danforth
OJ Anderson
Owen McBride, MC

6th Annual, 1983

David Bromberg
John Hartford
John Roberts & Tony Barrand
Dan Crary
Folktellers
Claudia Schmidt
Ann Doyle
Jim Post, MC

7th Annual, 1984

David Bromberg
Richard Thompson
Steve Goodman
Ferron
Rare Air
Eclectricity
Lou & Peter Berryman
Connie Kaldor
Peter Madcat Ruth
Footloose
OJ Anderson, MC

8th Annual, 1985 @ Hill Auditorium

Bonnie Raitt
David Bromberg w/ Arlo Guthrie
Tom Rush
Ramblin Jack Elliott
Tommy Makem
Nanci Griffith
Jim Post
Bim
Lost World String Band
Tony Barrand, MC

9th Annual, 1986

Arlo Guthrie
Doc Watson
Claudia Schmidt
John McCutcheon
Randee of the Redwoods
Rory Block
Greg Brown
Chenille Sisters
Mr. B
Art Thieme, MC

10th Annual, 1987

Donovan
Taj Mahal
Elizabeth Cotten
New Grass Revival
Dave Van Ronk
Uncle Bonsai
Peter Case w/Victoria Williams
Maura O’Connell
Sally Rogers
Dick Siegel
Owen McBride, MC

11th Annual, 1988

Holly Near & Ronnie Gilbert
David Bromberg
Tom Paxton
Jonathan Edwards
Jackie Torrence
Maura O’Connell
Archie Fisher & Garnet Rogers
Christine Lavin
Kitty Donohoe
RFD Boys
Ken Whiteley, MC

12th Annual, 1989

John Prine
David Bromberg
John Hartford
Heather Bishop
Riders In the Sky
Clive Gregson & Christine Collister
James Keelaghan
Mustard’s Retreat
Footloose
Folktellers, MC

13th Annual, 1990

Sweet Honey In the Rock
Michael Hedges
Loudon Wainwright
Alison Krauss
Alain Lamontagne
Free Hot Lunch
Robin & Linda Williams
Josh White, Jr.
Joel Mabus
Owen McBride, MC

14th Annual, 1991

Don McLean
Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens
Jane Siberry
Laurie Lewis
Patty Larkin
The Golden Ring
Pat Donohue
John Gorka
Matt Watroba
Robert Jones
Christine Lavin, MC

15th Annual, 1992

Lyle Lovett
Odetta
The Four Bitchin’ Babes
Livingston Taylor
Len Chandler
John Gorka
Robert Earl Keen
Fred Small
Jan Krist

16th Annual, 1993

Nanci Griffith
Richie Havens
The Marcia Ball Band
The Story
Pete Morton
Garnet Rogers
Flor de Cana
Dave Crossland
Lou & Peter Berryman, MC

17th Annual, 1994

Richard Thompson
Michelle Shocked
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Tish Hinojosa
David Broza
The House Band
Second Opinion
Deadbeat Society
Cheryl Wheeler, MC

18th Annual, 1995

Doc Watson
Alison Krauss and Union Station
Leo Kottke
Mark O’Connor
Ani DiFranco
Mike Gordon (Phish)
Victoria Williams
Dixie Power Trio
Catie Curtis
LaRon Williams
BETTY, MC

19th Annual, 1996

Chet Atkins
Michael Hedges
Iris DeMent
Janis Ian
Keb Mo
Dar Williams
Batt Burns
Tim & Mollie O’Brien
Laura Love Band
Trout Fishing in America, MC

20th Annual, 1997

Nanci Griffith
Drop Caps with Mike Gordon (Phish)
Leon Redbone
David Bromberg with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
Dan Bern
Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham
Martin Sexton
Patty Griffin
Susan Werner
Les Barker, MC

21st Annual, 1998

Paula Cole
Doc Watson & David Grisman
Guy Clark
Chris Smither
Dee Carstensen
The Nields
Willy Porter
Karen Pernick
Cheryl Wheeler, MC

22nd Annual, 1999

Emmylou Harris
Altan
Buddy & Julie Miller
Moxy Fruvous
Paperboys
Kelly Joe Phelps
Karen Savoca
Carrie Newcomer
Raisin Pickers
Andy Breckman, MC

23rd Annual, 2000

Shawn Colvin
Arlo Guthrie
Great Big Sea
Beth Nielsen Chapman
Hot Club of Cowtown
Anne Hills
Fred Eaglesmith
David Barrett
Matt Watroba, MC
Robert Jones, MC

24th Annual, 2001

Peter Yarrow
Richard Thompson
David Wilcox
eddie from ohio
David Carter & Tracy Grammer
Todd Snider
Weavermania!
Chris Buhalis
Connie Kaldor, MC
Matt Watroba, MC

25th Annual, 2002

Nanci Griffith
Doc Watson & David Grisman
Greg Brown
Melissa Ferrick
Austin Lounge Lizards
Eric Bibb
Lucy Kaplansky
Sons of the Never Wrong
Annie Gallup
Matt Watroba, MC
Robert Jones, MC

26th Annual, 2003 @ Michigan Theater

Friday
Patty Griffin
Jeffrey Gaines
Waybacks
Billy Jonas
Jeff Lang
Erin McKeown
Josh Ritter
Seth Bernard
Katryna & Nerissa Nields, MCs

Saturday
Taj Mahal
Kate & Anna McGarrigle
California Guitar Trio
Billy Jonas
Jim Lauderdale
Ellis Paul
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
Bob Franke
Rachael Davis
Patty Larkin, MC

27th Annual, 2004 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Ani DiFranco
Martin Sexton
The Bluehouse
Tangerine Trousers
Old Crow Medicine Show
Jackie Greene
Clumsy Lovers
Vance Gilbert, MC

Saturday
Emmylou Harris
Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
Old Crow Medicine Show
Delta 88
Peter Mulvey
Uncle Bonsai
Jo Serrapere and the Willie Dunns
Ruthie Foster
Jeremy Kittel
Laurie McClain
Vance Gilbert, MC

28th Annual, 2005 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Indigo Girls
Blind Boys of Alabama
Glengarry Bhoys
Vienna Teng
Martyn Joseph
Steppin’ In It
Jeremy Kittel
Susan Werner, MC

Saturday
Keb Mo’
Richard Thompson
Richard Shindell
Kruger Brothers
David Jones
Lynn Miles
George Bedard & The Kingpins
King Wilkie
Whit Hill & The Postcards
Susan Werner, MC

29th Annual, 2006 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
The Robert Cray Band
Iris DeMent
Catie Curtis
The Greencards
Blanche
Bill Kirchen & Too Much Fun
Ray Bonneville
James Hill
Cheryl Wheeler, MC

Saturday
Lyle Lovett Trio
Jonatha Brooke
The Holmes Brothers
Don White
Adrienne Young & Little Sadie
Caroline Herring
James Hill
Annie & Rod Capps
Cheryl Wheeler, MC

30th Annual, 2007 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Rufus Wainwright
Jackie Greene
Ember Swift
Kiyoshi Nagata Ensemble
Martha Wainwright
Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams
Millish
RFD Boys
Jeff Daniels, MC

Saturday
John Prine
Mountain Heart
Over the Rhine
Terri Hendrix & Lloyd Maines
Bill Staines
Paul Thorn
Daisy May
RFD Boys
Jeff Daniels, MC

31st Annual, 2008 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Ben Folds
Toad The Wet Sprocket
Shemekia Copeland
Natalia Zukerman
Down The Line
Trina Hamlin
Brian Vander Ark
Bichini Bia Congo Dance Theater
Jonathan Edwards, MC

Saturday
Emmylou Harris
Patty Griffin
Shawn Colvin
Buddy Miller
Otis Taylor
Kenny White
Glen Phillips
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
Jill Jack
Mr. B
Jonathan Edwards, MC

32nd Annual, 2009 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Jeff Tweedy
Old Crow Medicine Show
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Ryan Montbleau Band
Katie Herzig
Chelsea Williams
The Ragbirds
Joe Pug
Jim Lauderdale, MC

Saturday
Kris Kristofferson
Pete Seeger
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Girlyman
Luke Doucet & The White Falcon
Claire Lynch Band
Misty Lyn & The Big Beautiful
Joe Pug
Jim Lauderdale, MC

33rd Annual, 2010 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Iron and Wine
Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard
Band of Heathens
Hoots and Hellmouth
Po’ Girl
Jer Coons
Nervous but Excited
Patty Larkin, MC

Saturday
Rosanne Cash
Richie Havens
Raul Malo
Hot Club of Cowtown
Enter the Haggis
Hoots and Hellmouth

34th Annual, 2011 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
The Avett Brothers
Citizen Cope (solo)
Vienna Teng
The Paper Raincoat
The Spring Standards
Anais Mitchell
Theo Katzman
Susan Werner, MC

Saturday
The Swell Season
Judy Collins
Mavis Staples
Red Horse featuring Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky
Eilen Jewell
The Doyle & Debbie Show
NewFound Road
Susan Werner, MC

35th Annual, 2012 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Ryan Adams
DeVotchKa
Dawes
Carbon Leaf
Elephant Revival
Sunny War
David Wax Museum
Heywood Banks, MC

Saturday
Emmylou Harris
Glen Campbell
Nanci Griffith
Joe Henry
Sarah Jarosz
Caravan of Thieves
Seth Glier
Heywood Banks, MC

36th Annual, 2013 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
City and Colour
Rodriguez
Trampled by Turtles
Delta Rae
Carl Broemel
Frontier Ruckus
Brown Bird
Colin Hay, MC

Saturday
The Head and The Heart
Lucinda Williams
Dar Williams
Frank Fairfield
The Steel Wheels
Brother Joscephus and the Love Revolution
Drew Nelson
Colin Hay, MC

37th Annual, 2014 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Iron and Wine
Neko Case
Justin Townes Earle
Willie Nile
Pearl and The Beard
Thao and The Get Down Stay Down
The Appleseed Collective
Seth Walker, MC

Saturday
Patty Griffin
Ingrid Michaelson
Jeff Daniels
Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys
Johnnyswim
PigPen Theatre Co.
The Crane Wives
Seth Walker, MC

38th Annual, 2015 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Brandi Carlile
Jason Isbell
Yonder Mountain String Band
Baskery
Bahamas
Mandolin Orange
Billy Strings & Don Julin
Steve Poltz, MC

Saturday
Amos Lee
Ani DiFranco
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Holly Williams
The Dustbowl Revival
Noah Gundersen
Laith Al-Saadi
Cheryl Wheeler, MC

39th Annual, 2016 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
City and Colour
Richard Thompson
Yo La Tengo
The Oh Hellos
Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line
Penny and Sparrow
Ben Daniels Band
David Mayfield, MC

Saturday
Joan Baez
Cooder-White-Skaggs
Joshua Davis
Alan Doyle & The Beautiful Gypsies
Darlingside
Rose Cousins
The Accidentals
David Mayfield, MC

40th Annual, 2017 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Kacey Musgraves
Jenny Lewis
Nahko and Medicine for the People
Valerie June
Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Zach Heckendorf
Susan Werner, MC

Saturday
Indigo Girls
Margo Price
Kiefer Sutherland
Over The Rhine
We Banjo 3
Davina & The Vagabonds
Corn Potato String Band
Susan Werner, MC

41st Annual, 2018 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
JJ Grey & Mofro
Lori McKenna
Stephen Kellogg
Dead Horses
Chastity Brown
Joe Pug, MC

Saturday
John Prine
Aimee Mann
Mountain Heart
Birds of Chicago
The Cactus Blossoms
The War and Treaty
Joe Pug, MC

42nd Annual, 2019 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Brandi Carlile
Gregory Alan Isakov
Haley Heynderickx
Sam Lewis
Parsonsfield
Michigan Rattlers
Peter Mulvey, MC

Saturday
Rufus Wainwright
I’m With Her
Joan Osborne’s DYLANOLOGY featuring Jackie Greene
Pokey LaFarge
AHI
The RFD Boys
Peter Mulvey, MC

43rd Annual, 2020 @ Hill Auditorium

Friday
Calexico and Iron & Wine
Ingrid Michaelson
The Lone Bellow
Cedric Burnside
Rainbow Girls
Elliott BROOD
Willy Porter, MC

Saturday
Nathaniel Rateliff (solo)
Mandolin Orange
Bettye LaVette
Molly Tuttle
John Moreland
Cold Tone Harvest
Willy Porter, MC

44th Annual, 2021 @ Home (Virtual)

Friday
Raul Malo
Colin Hay
Alan Doyle
The War and Treaty
Kiefer Sutherland
Joe Pug
Glen Phillips
Amythyst Kiah
Gina Chavez
Willie Watson
Ron Pope
with Jeff Daniels, MC
and The Accidentals with special guest Kim Richey direct from The Ark’s stage!

Saturday
Bruce Cockburn
Dar Williams
David Bromberg
Todd Snider
George Winston
Vance Gilbert
Dom Flemons
Matt Andersen
Crys Matthews
Sierra Ferrell
Andrea von Kampen
with Jeff Daniels, MC
and The RFD Boys direct from The Ark’s stage!

45th Annual, 2022 (Cancelled)

Friday
Glen Hansard
Punch Brothers
Madison Cunningham
The Ghost of Paul Revere
Gina Chavez
Kyshona
Sara Watkins, MC

Saturday
Emmylou Harris
Patty Griffin
Oshima Brothers
The Sweet Water Warblers
Brittney Spencer
Jared Deck
Sara Watkins, MC

46th Annual, 2023

Friday @ The Ark
BanjoFest featuring
Valerie June
Thao
Rachael Davis
Yasmin Williams

Saturday @ Hill Auditorium
Ani DiFranco
Patty Griffin
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Gina Chavez
Jared Deck Band
Oshima Brothers
Kyshona
Special Guest Appearance by Parker Millsap
Peter Mulvey with Sistastrings, MC

47th Annual, 2024 @ Hill Auditorium 

Friday
Old Crow Medicine Show
Devon Gilfillian
Bailen
Darren Kiely
Sons of Mystro
Jeff Daniels, MC

Saturday
Emmylou Harris
Michigan Rattlers
Steve Poltz
Lizzie No
The Sea The Sea
Jeff Daniels, MC