Check out a gallery of photos from Saturday's performers here

 Check out a gallery of photos from Sunday's performers here

David Bromberg, Natalie MacMaster and Sam Bush from the Sunday 2004 Boston Folk Festival

More than 6,000 people, outstanding performances, and the uninvited remnants of a hurricane made for yet another unforgettable Seventh Boston Folk Festival. The three-day event that the Boston Herald calls “diverse days of quality folk music”, spanned every genre of today’s acoustic music; - blues, bluegrass, country, western swing, frantic Celtic fiddling, traditional music, and the best of contemporary singer/songwriters.

Natalie MacMaster and her band closed the festival with a rollicking, foot stomping performance under the setting autumn sun. Her blistering fiddle runs and jaunty tunes delighted the crowd that had enjoyed late afternoon sets by the incomparable mandolinist, Sam Bush and his band, and David Bromberg. Other main stage performers were the talented singer and guitarist Geoff Muldaur backed up by the legendary bassist, Fritz Richmond; traditional blues from Cephas & Wiggins, and strong opening performances that set the bar for the music to come from Lucy Kaplansky and western swinging Mark Erelli.

Girlyman, and Robin Greenstein swapped their favorite Beatle tunes, and the Shades of Blue were explored by blues masters Muldaur, Cephas & Wiggins, TJ Wheeler, Stephanie Corby, and Bob Franke.

On Saturday, rain forced the entire festival indoors. While it was pouring outside, the music was hot and sassy inside with some of the best performances by folks such as Ollabelle, Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem, Adrienne Young and Little Sadie, Erica Wheeler, and strong sets that closed out the second day of the festival from Paxton and Dar Williams.

 Michael Troy Wins Boston Folk Festival Songwriting Contest
Michael Troy, of Somerset, MA was selected as the winner of this year’s Boston Folk Festival Songwriting Competition, for his song, “Romancing the Moon.” The song was chosen from among five finalists competing for the top cash prize of $400 and the opportunity to perform their song on the main stage of the Festival on Saturday afternoon. The other competitors in the Songwriting Competition included;: Thea Hopkins, Somerville, MA ("Jesus is on the Wire"), who finished second; Tracy O'Connell, Natick, MA ("Durango Red") who finished third, Jud Caswell, Brunswick, ME ("Stocks"), and Kevin Keady, Edgartown, MA ("Road Rage"),. Cash prizes were also awarded to the top finalists. Folk legend Tom Paxton, writer of songs like, ‘Rambling Boy,’ and ‘The Last Thing on My Mind,’together with nationally known performers, Jack Hardy and Rod MacDonald, served as judges in the contest. The five finalists were selected from over 350 entries from as far away as New Zealand.