Welcome to the official site of the AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest - one of the best free music festivals in the nation! Produced by the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, the FolkFest features more than 70 hours of free music over Labor Day weekend. Check back often for updates!

Every Labor Day weekend -- Johnstown, Pennsylvania

FolkFest History
The Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA) has produced the FolkFest for 16 or 13 years-depending on how you count it. With the help of City and Commonwealth officials, JAHA recruited National Folk Festival to Johnstown in 1990 for a three-year run, raising the necessary funds to do so. In 1993, JAHA became the sole producer of the FolkFest, which was renamed the AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest in 1994 when AmeriServ Financial became the event's title sponsor. The FolkFest has retained the National Folk Festival's emphasis on "celebrating the musical soul and cultural roots of America." Past performers at the Johnstown FolkFest read like a "who's who" in traditional music. The festival brings artists who might never play here otherwise; and the festival's free admission allows festivalgoers to sample kinds of music they might not seek out otherwise. The FolkFest has developed a national reputation for its high-quality programming. Here's a detailed listing of our past performers, with photos courtesy of Jim Alexander:
AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 2007 For detailed biographical information and photos of 2007 performers, click here; for photography and information about FolkFest 2007, click here. A.J. Croce -- singer/songwriter The Tossers -- Celtic rock Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers -- zydeco Slavic Soul Party -- Balkan brass Eric Lindell -- New Orleans R&B Scott Miller & the Commonwealth -- roots rock Bill Kirchen -- rockabilly Tres Chicas -- folk rock Too Slim & the Taildraggers -- electric blues Druha Trava -- bluegrass Last Train Home -- country rock James Talley -- folk Bill Deasy -- singer/songwriter Gigi Dover & The Big Love -- Southern soul The Marauders -- rockabilly Jimmy Adler -- blues Grinning Mob -- jamband McKay Brothers -- Texas hill country music Jimmy Sapienza & 5 Guys Named Moe -- Italian standards Jennifer Drummey & the Small Band -- acoustic rock Jazz In Your Face -- big band Jackson Monsour -- singer/songwriter
	AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 2006 For detailed biographical information and photos of 2006 performers, click here; for photography and information about FolkFest 2006, click here. Balkan Beat Box -- dance/world music The Recipe -- jamband Sleepy LaBeef -- rockabilly Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience -- zydeco Maia Sharp -- singer/songwriter Lee Boys -- sacred steel Billy Price Band -- soul Irish Descendants -- traditional Celtic Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers -- rock Eric Tessmer Band -- electric blues Those Darn Accordions -- "America's favorite rock-n-roll accordion band" Doll Hospital -- lounge music Gamble Brothers Band -- funk Will Hawkins -- singer/songwriter Mark Dignam -- singer/songwriter Tim Dabbs -- folk Rusty Gun Revival -- acoustic honky-tonk The Gospel Lights -- gospel Russell Lauf Band -- country rock Rachel Allen -- singer/songwriter Jazz in Your Face -- big band jazz
AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 2005 Click here for information and photographs of the 2005 festival; or here for detailed biographical info on 2005 performers. The Daptone Super Soul Revue featuring Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings -- soul Wanda Jackson & Rosie Flores -- rockabilly Brave Combo -- alternative polka Cephas & Wiggins -- Piedmont blues Jason Ringenberg -- alternative country Lil' Brian & the Zydeco Travelers -- zydeco Eddie From Ohio -- folk rock (scheduled, but was not able to play) Chandler Travis Philharmonic -- alternative Dixieland Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans --world music Red Elvises -- novelty rock Redbird -- Americana Peter Mulvey -- singer/songwriter Kris Delmhorst -- singer/songwriter Jeffrey Foucault -- singer/songwriter The Kissers -- Celtic rock The Greyhounds -- funk The Gospel Lights -- gospel "Farmer Jason" Ringenberg -- children's show Soda Jerk -- rock Tim Dabbs -- folk Jazz in Your Face -- big band jazz Angelo M -- singer/songwriter Russell Lauf Band -- country rock The Rhinelanders -- German polka
	AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 2004 For photography and information about FolkFest 2004, click here. Seven Nations -- Celtic rock Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band -- zydeco Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra -- polka Walter "Wolfman" Washington & the Roadmasters -- funk, soul & blues Chris Smither -- singer/songwriter Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys -- rockabilly Bill Kirchen -- honky-tonk Barrence Whitfield & The Savages -- soul The Recipe -- jam band Hot Club Sandwich -- jazz string band Anne McCue -- singer/songwriter Two Dollar Pistols-- alternative country Ernie Hawkins -- acoustic blues Big Leg Emma -- bluegrass/folk The Gospel Lights -- gospel Del Sinchak Band -- polka Little Buddy -- electric blues The Mavens -- roots country Grinning Mob -- blues The NewLanders -- Pennsylvania folk Jazz In Your Face -- big-band jazz
AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 2003 The Louisiana Blues Throwdown, with Harry Hypolite, Mathilda Jones, Eric Lindell and the Marc Stone Band -- soul, blues and R & B Alex Torres y los Reyes Latinos - Latin The Prodigals -- Celtic rock Those Darn Accordians - eclectic Wayne "The Train" Hancock - roots country Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-Fonics - rockabilly The Cool John Ferguson Band -- blues guitar Red Meat - country Chandler Travis Philharmonic -alternative Dixieland Two High String Band - bluegrass Caroline Herring - bluegrass& folk Cootie Stark - Piedmont blues Tarbox Ramblers - backcountry music Peter Mulvey - singer/songwriter Jazz in Your Face - big band Del Sinchak -- Slovenian polka The Newlanders -- acoustic folk The Delaneys - rock Ribbon Grass - dance rock John Charney with White Mojo and Friends - blues & rock John Stevens' Doubleshot - polka The Johnstown Button Box Band - polka Polka Express - polka
	AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 2002 Terrance Simien and the Mallet Playboys -- zydeco Asylum Street Spankers -- swing/blues/jazz novelty band Bio Ritmo - salsa Robbie Fulks -- honky tonk Michelle Willson and the Evil Gal Orchestra -- blues Campbell Brothers -- sacred steel guitar Greg Trooper -- singer/songwriter Ernie Hawkins -- Piedmont blues Hot Club Sandwich -- string-swing Countdown Quartet -- jazz Dog Run Boys -- bluegrass Hooley -- traditional Celtic Boilermaker Jazz Band - jazz Tim Dabbs --folk Jolly Joe and the Bavarians -- polka
AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 2001 Southern Culture on the Skids -- eclectic Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas -- zydeco Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers -- blues guitar Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers -- CuBop Acoustic Syndicate -- bluegrass Bonnie Rideout -- Scottish fiddle Ray Condo and the Ricochets -- Western swing Barrence Whitfield and the Groove Juice Symphony - R&B Dallas Wanye and the Hardcases -- honky-tonk Christy McWilson -- singer/songwriter Hugh Feeley and Talk is Cheap -- blues harmonica Walt Wagner and the Polka Serenaders -- Eastern polka Die Schlauberger -- alpine Simple Gifts -- acoustic Dead Irish Blues Band -- Delta jug band The Fabulous Gunslingers -- Western/rock Gospel Lights -- gospel
	AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 2000 Buckwheat Zydeco -- zydeco The Seldom Scene -- bluegrass Miss Lavelle White - blues Those Darn Accordions -- eclectic The Prodigals - Celtic rock Chris Smither -- singer/songwriter Ronnie Dawson -- singer/songwriter Wendell Rivera's Latin Jazz All-Stars -- Latin Tim Dabbs -- singer/songwriter Irish Descendants - Irish folk Earthtones - reggae Dead Irish Blues -- delta jug band Crusade with Ed Biegaj - polka
AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 1999 - Our 10th anniversary reunion party Alex Torres and the Latin Kings (1994) -- salsa Sleepy LaBeef (1995) -- country John Cephas & Phil Wiggins (1990) -- Piedmont blues The Holmes Brothers (1990) -- blues Don Walser (1996) -- country Neil Anderson and Full Circle (1996) -- highland Jimmy Sapienza and Five Guys Named Moe (1994 & 1998) -- swing Rank Outsiders (1997) -- country/rock Heather Eatman (1995) -- singer/songwriter Hot Club of Cowtown -- Western swing/tin pan alley Hart Rouge - folk
	AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 1998 Walter 'Wolfman' Washington -- blues Austin Lounge Lizards Terrance Simien and the Mallet Playboys -- Cajun Corey Harris -- blues Mamou -- zydeco Cherish the Ladies -- irish Asylum Street Spankers -- eclectic Trout Fishing in America -- folk Steel Impressions -- steel drum Jimmy Sapienza and the Swingmeisters -- swing/big band Bill Bevac Band - polka
AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 1997 Laurie Lewis and Grant Street -- bluegrass Tab Benoit -- Louisiana blues Los Pinkys -- conjunto Solas -- Irish Rank Outsiders -- country/rock Lil Brian and the Zydeco Travelers -- zydeco Gathering Field -- alternative rock Del Sinchak -- polka The Englishmen -- reggae Code Blue --blues Kevin Roth -- singer/storyteller
	AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 1996 Fat Possum Mississippi Juke Joint Caravan with R.L.Burnside, Dave Thompson and Junior Kimbrough The Persuasions - a capella Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas - zydeco Beaver Creek - bluegrass Don Walser and the Pure Texas Band - country Clan Na Gael - Scottish/highland Galla & Dan - russian/gypsy folk Earthtones - reggae Grooveyard - jazz/rock The Braxmen - a cappella Eddie and the Slovenes - polka
AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 1995 Maggie Christl -- Celtic folk/storyteller Greenfields of America - Irish C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band -- zydeco Tim & Mollie O'Brien and the O'Boys -- bluegrass Sleepy LaBeef -- rockabilly The Dixie Hummingbirds -- gospel Phillip Fankhauser and the Checkerboard Blues Band -- blues The Grace Family -- old time folk Heather Eatman -- singer/songwriter Joe Grkman Band -- polka
AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest 1994 Johnny Clyde Copeland - R & B Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers -- blues Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band -- zydeco Alex Torres and the Latin Kings - Latin J.D. Crowe and the New South -- bluegrass Lenny Gomulka's Chicago Push -- polka Jimmy Sapienza and Five Guys Named Moe -- swing/blues Casco Bay Tummlers -- klezmer John Bagnato Quartet - jazz
Johnstown FolkFest 1993 Clarence Gatemouth Brown -- blues Kukuruza -- Russian folk Aine Minogue -- Celtic harp Rockin' Dopsie and the Zydeco Twisters -- zydeco Queen Bee & the Blue Hornet Band -- blues/rock Glorius Rebirth -- gospel Drums for Peace -- rhythm Dynabrass -- Slovenian polka Douglas Miller -- gospel
National Folk Festival 1992 Terrance Simien and the Mallet Playboys -- Cajun Clarence Fountain and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama -- gospel Fontella Bass -- soul/gospel Southern Scratch -- Native American Warner Williams -- Piedmont guitar Eddie Pennington -- Western guitar Melvin Wine -- West Virginia fiddling Chatuye -- Belize drumming Shashmaqam - Bukharan Jewish Big Joe Duskin -- boogie woogie Brendon Mulvihill -- Irish fiddle Gillis Brothers -- bluegrass
National Folk Festival 1991 Fairfield Four - gospel Walter Mouton and the Scott Playboys -- Cajun Wayne Henderson -- Appalachian guitar Roman Ritachka -- Ukrainian bandura Los Pleneros del Batey -- plena Ganga -- Bengali folk Ceilidh House -- Irish Tony Ellis -- Appalachian banjo Etta Baker -- Piedmont guitar Sun Rhythm Section -- rockabilly
National Folk Festival 1990 Holmes Brothers -- blues Lyman Enloe -- Missouri fiddler Liz Carroll -- Celtic Billy McComskey and Daithi Sproule -- Celtic Otonowa -- Afro-Cuban percussion John Cephas & Phil Wiggins -- Piedmont blues Preston Frank and the Zydeco Family Band -- zydeco Moses Rascoe -- blues guitar Charlie "Possum" Walden -- fiddler Bud Hudenski and the Corsairs