Fall Folk Festival goes global

Every year at this time, the banjos, the bodhrans and the blues guitars ring out at the Fall Folk Festival.

The Spokane Folklore Society’s annual version of an international hootenanny takes place this weekend at Spokane Community College’s Lair Auditorium.

Once again, it will include not just American roots music, but music and dance from West Africa, the Caribbean, the Andes, Ireland, the Scottish highlands, the Middle East and Japan.

At times, music will be ringing out from eight separate stages at once. Because of this, you might say the Fall Folk Festival would be a bargain at eight times the price.

That’s because eight times the price would still be zero. The festival is free, entirely underwritten by donors.

This time around, one of the special events will focus on the original American roots genre: Native American music and storytelling.

Native American flutist Paul Wagner, also known as Che oke’ten, and Tulalip storyteller Johnny Moses will make a joint appearance Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Lair Auditorium. Wagner will do another program Sunday at noon in the Game Room, followed by Moses at 12:45 p.m.

Wagner also will be one of the performers featured in a live radio broadcast on KPBX-FM (Spokane Public Radio, 91.1) on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. in the Sasquatch Room.

Carlos Alden will host a variety of festival participants, including Carl Allen singing Woody Guthrie’s kid songs; Jenny Edgren, children’s music; Molly and Tenbrooks, bluegrass; Danny Smith, yodeler; Panhandle Polecats, bluegrass; Jani Gilbert, “neo-menopausal folk”; and Gefilte Trout, klezmer and Gypsy music.

Two contra dances will be held, one Saturday night from about 7 to 10:30 p.m., and another Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. There will be introductory workshops at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

If all that dancing gives you an appetite, the festival will have food for sale at the SCC Cafe, as well as a bake sale.