Heart of the Alleghenies Folk Music Festival

BRADFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will host the Sixth Annual Heart of the Alleghenies Folk Music Festival from August 7-9, 2009. Festival attendees will have an opportunity to attend instructional workshops, dances, and open jam sessions featuring Old time, Bluegrass, Dulcimer, Autoharp, French-Canadian, Scottish, and World folk music in an informal college setting. Activities will begin on Friday afternoon with a concert featuring workshop instructors, followed by a contra dance. Saturday’s activities will include workshops in the morning and afternoon. Workshops will cover topics like old timey tunes on a mountain dulcimer, over coming stage fright, new techniques on various instruments. These workshops (for all skill levels) will be held in the Frame-Westerberg Commons. An Instrument Exchange will give festival attendees an opportunity to buy, sell, or swap used instruments. This will take place in the Mukiyama University Room all weekend. Organized & spontaneous open jam sessions will be happening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Saturday night will feature a concert headlined by Claudia Schmidt and Celticladda. The concert will be followed by a contra dance. Both events will be open to the public, cost is $10. The University will be providing a unique and relaxing environment for the festival. Camping, Housing & Meals will be available at a very reasonable cost. All workshop, vendor, and dance areas are air conditioned, and hotel-style rooms come with hi-speed Internet access. All activities, lodging, and meals will be in very close proximity to each other. The festival will conclude on Sunday with a gospel jam, a morning workshop session and an open stage and a farewell dance. The cost for an ALL WEEKEND PASS is only $50, which includes all workshops, jams, concerts, etc. (housing and meals not included). Heart of the Alleghenies Folk Music Association ( HOTA-FMA ) is sponsoring the festival. Local businesses are encouraged to help to offset the cost of this event by advertising in the Festival Program. More Information can be found on the Internet: http://www.hotafest.com for more information on activities, workshops, performers and registration, or call Sue Neth 814-825-8971 [email protected] for housing, camping and meal information.