Lyons’ Folks Festival Reveals Its Final Lineup

If you live in the Rockies and weren’t able to score tickets to either the sold-out 42^nd annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival, or the sold-out 43^rd annual RockyGrass Festival, you should consider Folks Festival. Run by Planet Bluegrass, the same team that puts on the other two events, Folks is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this summer, and its stacked lineup showcases artists from festivals passed alongside new voices. The happening, which will take place from August 14-16 in scenic Lyons, is a family-friendly gathering that celebrates all facets of folk, meaning it’s suited to the majority of music lovers.

Today, Planet Bluegrass added Nashville roots music virtuoso Gillian Welch, stellar orchestral indie-rock septet the Family Crest, and dreamy Boulder-based duo Taarka to its three-day festival roster. Folks Festival favorites Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin, both renowned singer-songwriters in their own right, phenomenal vocalist Martin Sexton, and a special 25 Years of Folks Gospel Set were also added. They will join roots trio the Wood Brothers, Southern troubadour Jason Isbell, alt-country troupe Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers, and critically acclaimed crooner Sufjan Stevens, as well as many other talented artists.

Folks Festival is a community gathering (hence the name “Folks” rather than “Folk”), and is known for blurring genres and showcasing a healthy mix of legends and up-and-comers. In the Planet Bluegrass tradition, attendees are known as Festivarians and the entire event strives to be as sustainable as possible. For those who are reluctant to attend a three-day festival, single day tickets are $60 each. Also, sitting on your tarp for the entirety of the music is completely normal, so don’t go into Folks thinking it will require the same energy as say, Bonaroo. Three-day passes are $145, and you can purchase them through Planet Bluegrass’ website without any additional fees. Folks Festival, 500 W Main St, Lyons; bluegrass.com/folks.

_{This could be you: Festivarians take a break from the music at Folks Festival.}