The 2000 Boston Folk Festival

Right from the start, there were large crowds at the North Stage to see Garnet Rogers open the festival followed by Tish Hinojosa. Festival-goers packed indoor auditoriums to see some of their favorite performers on the smaller, more intimate showcase stages. Two song swap stages provided opportunities for both audience and performers to interact.

The Boston Globe called the Third Annual Boston Folk Festival a celebration of the genre’s diversity, commenting that "no aspect of folk went overlooked." Groups such as Tom Landa and the Paperboys, Seamus Connolly, and Robbie O’Connell covered Celtic music while Magnolia added a cajun beat, and Paul Rishell and Annie Raines sang the blues.

New this year was the addition of a dance stage. Djembe Safara presented a breathtaking display of West African culture with heart-pounding drums and awe-inspiring dances. The Gloucester Hornpipe and Clog Society started the dancing with its traditional English Country dance tunes. Rumba NaMa had dancers doing the samba and finally the dance stage closed with einstein’s little homunculus with Lucia Watson calling contra dances.

Two more harbor cruises were added this year because of their popularity. Festival goers cruised the Boston Harbor while enjoying the maritime-themed music of Local New Englanders Chris Pahud and Phil Kissinger, Lynn Noel and Barry Finn. A special Alumni only cruise was also added to the schedule. UMass alumni enjoyed a sunset cruise while Water Sign, a New York City based band, provided entertainment.

Children are an important ingredient at the Boston Folk Festival. The Family Stage in particular was geared to introducing and involving children to folk music. Martin Swinger solicited kid’s suggestions and incorporated them into a new song he wrote and performed that day. The Children’s Activities Area provided hand-on activities for children. Kids could pick up and play several different instruments at the instrument petting zoo. Musicians stopped by throughout the afternoon to lead children in songs and give them a close-up view of how the instruments are played. Kids could color in a special Boston Folk Festival coloring book and take it home as a souvenir.

There was an expanded food and craft area this year. Festival-goers could choose from Chinese, Thai, Hungarian and Vegetarian food as well as hamburgers, hotdogs, Italian sausages, ice cream and soup. In the crafts area, a wide range of handmade items were available, ranging from silver jewelry and silk scarves to Batik clothing and ornate beadwork.

The following performers appeared at 2000 Boston Folk Festival: