Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival

Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival 2020
At President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth VT President. The festival will be held rain or shine.

Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival 2020

The 16th annual Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival which has been selected by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce as a “Top 10 Fall Event” will take place at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth Notch, Vermont on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 5th and Sunday, September 6th, 2020. Stars from Vermont and internationally known musician

s team up for a lively two-day festival of folk and blues music performed in the pure country air of historic Plymouth Notch, birthplace of the 30th U.S. The event also features children’s entertainment such as wagon rides on Saturday and face painting on both days. All concerts are free, and donations are appreciated. We are also taking food donations of non-perishables for the Vermont Food Bank. Rain venue is the stunning historic 1840 Union Christian Church right in Plymouth Notch. Schedule and Artist Line-up:

Saturday, September 5th, 2020 / 2-5 p.m. Phil Henry 2-3 p.m. Lara Herscovitch 3-4 p.m. Bow Thayer 4-5 p.m. Saturday Night Jam Session 8 p.m. Hosted by Jay Ottaway

Sunday, September 6th, 2020 / 2-5 p.m. Crowes Pasture 2-3 p.m. Alastair Moock 3-4 p.m. The Kennedys 4-5 p.m.

03/01/2026

Plymouth Folk and Blues this Labor Day Weekedn, Sept 5&6, 2026 with Grace Morrison, Tom Pirozzoli, Joseph Parsons, KeruBo, Sister Speak Music and The Kennedys!

02/25/2026
We are thrilled to announce the 2026 Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival line-up: Grace Morrison, Tom Pirozzoli, Joseph Par...
02/25/2026

We are thrilled to announce the 2026 Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival line-up: Grace Morrison, Tom Pirozzoli, Joseph Parsons, KeruBo, Sister Speak and The Kennedys.

Saturday, September 5, 2026 / 2-5 p.m.
2-3 p.m. Grace Morrison
3-4 p.m. Tom Pirozzoli
4-5 p.m. Joseph Parsons

Sunday, September 6, 2026 / 2-5 p.m.
2-3 p.m. KeruBo
3-4 p.m. Sister Speak
4-5 p.m. The Kennedys

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Grace Morrison (Saturday, 2-3 p.m.)
If nerditude had a formal name, it would be Grace Morrison. A proudly unconventional Cape Cod songwriter, she blends country storytelling, pop hooks, and Swamp Yankee grit into her trademarked sound, Saltwater Country. Pianist, accordion player, cranberry grower, and coffee roaster, Morrison’s music is as endearing, specific, and memorable as the coast that raised her. One of the defining moments in her journey came when she collaborated with hit songwriter Lori McKenna. “I was eight months pregnant when Lori invited me to write with her. We wrote Just Loving You, and it was the most personal thing I had ever written. The way it connected with audiences—it was something I had never experienced before. I learned that the more personal and specific my songs are, the more they seem to resonate. You’ve got to write what you know.”
“Her voice smacks of Jewel, and her style, cadence, song structure is every inch from the school of Joan Osborne, Lisa Loeb, Natalie Merchant. It’s uncanny. Had Morrison been born a decade earlier, she might’ve played Lilith Fair herself." — Lauren Daley/Boston Globe
More info: www.gracemorrison.com

Tom Pirozzoli (Saturday, 3-4 p.m.)
Tom Pirozzoli’s recordings have had national and international success, and he’s in the Smithsonian Folkways Collection. He’s been on the Top 40 AAA charts, had a featured release at Tower Records back in the day, and has worked with artists like Greg Brown, Jesse Wi******er, Doc Watson, and W***y Porter. Sophisticated guitar playing forms a rich backdrop for his warm tenor, with melodies and lyrics exploring a wide range of the human and global experience. His encounters with people, cultures, and ideas while traveling Europe, South America, India, Southeast Asia, China, and Tibet continue to enrich and deepen his music. His relaxed stage presence is endearing, funny, insightful, and spontaneous.These days, Pirozzoli only performs a handful of times annually as he focuses on his successful fine art career.
More info: www.pirozzoli.com

Joseph Parsons (Saturday, 4-5 p.m.)
Joseph Parsons is an American singer-songwriter known for his poetic lyricism, warm baritone voice, and deeply human storytelling. With roots in the folk-rock and Americana traditions, Parsons has built a devoted international following through projects such as the JPBand, US Rails, and Hardpan, as well as a rich solo catalog. Born in the U.S. and long based in Europe, he bridges continents in both sound and spirit—blending acoustic intimacy with electric drive, and reflective songwriting with powerful live performances. His music explores themes of longing, resilience, love, and belonging, carried by melodies that feel timeless yet unmistakably personal.
More info: www.josephparsons.com

Sunday, September 6, 2026

KeruBo (Sunday, 2-3 p.m.)
Hailing from Kenya and now residing in the Burlington area, KeruBo is an accomplished Afro-jazz artist, singer, and songwriter with over two decades of experience gracing stages across the globe at music festivals. KeruBo’s musical artistry fuses African traditional music enriched with traces of Brazilian samba/bossa nova, jazz, and blues. KeruBo's vocal repertoire encompasses the enchanting realm of African folk music and Afro jazz, effortlessly transitioning between time-honored African laments and contemporary renditions. Her artistic tapestry has been woven with inspiration drawn from a lineage of music luminaries and songsmiths, most notably the likes of Miriam Makeba, Dorothy Masuka, and Nina Simone. More info: www.kerubomusic.com

Sister Speak (Sunday, 3-4 p.m.)
Sister Speak is the recording alias of Canadian singer, guitarist, and songwriter Sherri Anne Nyberg. With roots spanning Canada’s west coast, southern California, Sweden, and now based between Montreal and Vermont, Sister Speak’s sound blends alternative, folk, blues, indie rock, and Cali-roots influences, anchored by Nyberg’s soulful vocals and expressive guitar work. Known for powerful live performances and lyrics rooted in empathy and human connection, Sister Speak has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe, building a dedicated international fanbase through acoustic performances, full-band shows, songwriting, and recordings. Sister Speak has supported legendary acts including Don Carlos, Air Supply, and The Doobie Brothers, and has performed at festivals alongside Mary Lambert, The Wailers, and Black Uhuru. Her music has been featured on CBC, BBC, NPR, California Roots Presents playlists, and radio stations worldwide. More info: www.sisterspeakmusic.com

The Kennedys (Sunday, 4-5 p.m.)
The Kennedys are vocalists/guitarists Pete and Maura Kennedy. A husband and wife duo, they set out on the road together in the early 90s as members of Nanci Griffith's Blue Moon Orchestra, and since striking out on their own, they have traveled the US, Canada and Europe for three decades as a two-person band. Higher energy than a folk act, but not as loud as a rock band, they mix passionate songwriting with a flair for entertainment and a repertoire of classic songs drawn from their sixteen albums of uplifting original material. Think of a song by Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers or the Beatles, and that smile on your face is the same smile you’ll be wearing when The Kennedys hit the stage. More info: www.kennedysmusic.com

What a purely magically day we had in Plymouth today at the second day of the 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival unde...
09/01/2025

What a purely magically day we had in Plymouth today at the second day of the 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival under sunny skies! Thanks to all the artists, sponsors, family and friends who made the event one of the best ever. (Photos: Nancy Nutile-McMenemy)

Weather is looking good for day 2 of the 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival today!
08/31/2025

Weather is looking good for day 2 of the 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival today!

We had a magical start to the 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival yesterday Saturday. We look forward to great weather...
08/31/2025

We had a magical start to the 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival yesterday Saturday. We look forward to great weather and music today Sunday with The Speckers, Krishna Guthrie, and Hubby Jenkins. Music starts at 2 p.m.!

The 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival starts tomorrow Saturday, August 30th. Playing on Sunday August 31 at 4 p.m - ...
08/29/2025

The 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival starts tomorrow Saturday, August 30th. Playing on Sunday August 31 at 4 p.m - HUBBY JENKINS
Hubby Jenkins is a talented multi-instrumentalist who endeavors to share his love and knowledge of old-time American music. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he delved into his southern roots, following the thread of African American history that wove itself through America's traditional music forms. As an integral member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and later Rhiannon Giddens’ band, Hubby has performed at festivals and venues around the world, earning himself both Grammy and Americana award nominations. Today he spreads his knowledge and love of old-time American music through his dynamic solo performances and engaging workshops.

The 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival starts this Saturday, August 30th. This week we will be featuring our performe...
08/28/2025

The 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival starts this Saturday, August 30th. This week we will be featuring our performers.
Playing on Sunday August 31 at 3 p.m. KRISHNA GUTHRIE!

The Guthrie family story is interwoven into the fabric of American music. While Krishna Guthrie incorporates elements of his lineage, from the folk roots of his great-grandfather Woody, to the masterful storytelling of his grandfather Arlo, he’s not afraid of adding influences from his own generation as he carves his own initials in the family tree. At a young age, Krishna began touring internationally with his family, as well as playing in local bands when off the road. Becoming skilled at several instruments, he also started writing his own songs. In the winter of 2013/14 Guthrie found himself playing regular gigs with a band in Vermont, and he decided to make the Green Mountain State his home. While never leaving behind the roots of his family’s music, Krishna turns it up a notch, infusing rock, blues and modern influences.
https://www.krishnaguthrieband.com/

The 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival starts this Saturday, August 30th. This week we will be featuring our performe...
08/27/2025

The 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival starts this Saturday, August 30th. This week we will be featuring our performers.
Playing on Sunday August 31 at 2 p.m. :
THE SPECKERS
Fiddle icon John Specker earned the title “Father of the Ithaca Sound” for his seminal influence upon multiple younger generations of upstate New York fiddle players. Defying the odds, he also has the rare good luck to front The Speckers, a fiddle trio featuring his two daughters, including Ida Mae Specker, who won the 2024 Vermont Rising Star award from the New England Music Awards. Family bands have a long and storied history in the annals of American music. The Specker family both honors and meddles with that fine tradition. Triple bows slice the air, heartfelt vocals tell it like it is, and bodies sway in biological and stylistic synchronicity. The result is a singular take on “old-time,” anchored in tradition, audacious in originality. The Ithaca Times writes, “What sets the Specker sound apart from other regional styles is a heavy back beat and a tendency toward syncopation derived from various styles of African-American music—blues, soul, R&B, and reggae."
https://www.johnspecker.com/the-speckers.html

The 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival starts this Saturday, August 30th. This week we will be featuring our performe...
08/26/2025

The 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival starts this Saturday, August 30th. This week we will be featuring our performers.
Playing on Saturday August 30 at 4 p.m. :
THE MILKHOUSE HEATERS
Ex-rockers from the Boston music scene, Mike and Jan Sheehy settled in Bellows Falls, VT, where the humble seeds of the Milkhouse Heaters were planted. Weaving tall tales and sad stories of the sometimes comical and tragic human condition, their music has been described as being like Emmy Lou Harris and Gram Parsons meets Chrissie Hynde and Joey Ramone. With powerful dual vocals, driving guitar and thumping bass, as well as harmonica and the occasional kazoo, the Milkhouse Heaters have a unique sound all their own, which they describe as Indie-Folk.
https://www.themilkhouseheaters.com/

The 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival starts this Saturday at 2 p.m. This week we will be featuring our performers. ...
08/25/2025

The 20th Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival starts this Saturday at 2 p.m. This week we will be featuring our performers.
Playing on Saturday August 30 at 3 p.m. : PHIL HENRY

"Phil Henry is a top-tier singer-songwriter. Whether he's telling stories or rocking out, he has a gift for smart lyrics, accessible melodies, and a welcoming voice" (John Platt, WFUV, NYC). Award-winning singer-songwriter Phil Henry is a craftsman. Weaving worlds with engaging characters who feel at once familiar, he’s a triple threat: powerful singer, captivating storyteller, and talented multi-instrumentalist. Whether performing solo or with his band, Phil Henry and the News Feed, he delivers endearing stories with music that crisscrosses genres without stepping on toes. His performing resume includes festival appearances at Kerrville Folk Festival (TX), Black Bear Americana Festival (CT), and SolarFest (VT); listening rooms like Club Passim (MA), Ripton Coffeehouse (VT), and Caffe Lena (NY); and he's opened for acclaimed singer-songwriters like Mark Erelli, Richard Shindell, Peter Mulvey, and Vance Gilbert. As an educator, Phil also brings his passion for performing into the classroom. In 2023, he was honored to be awarded the Vermont Music Educators Association's Music Educator of the Year for his work at West Rutland School.

WATCH: More music and video! ABOUT: Phil Henry is a singer-songwriter steeped in folk tradition, but not bound by it. He’s penned a treasure chest of relatable tunes about both everyday, and extraordinary life.

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Plymouth, VT
05056

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