Featured Performers

Enjoy a weekend of entertainment, participation and exhibits.

Along the banks of the historic Suwannee River in White Springs, Florida, folk artists have long gathered to celebrate Florida’s land, people and diverse cultural heritage. Since its humble beginning in 1953, the Florida Folk Festival has not only grown to become Florida’s most prestigious affair but also is named “Florida’s Best Cultural Event.” The festival has also been recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a “Top 20 Event” in the southeastern United States.

Featured performers are listed below. Many will be performing or teaching workshops throughout the weekend along with our special guest artists. You can even dance the night away each evening with a variety of dances. Get ready for a fun and entertaining weekend for the entire family! 

Get ready for a fun and entertaining weekend for the entire family! Our feature performers are listed below with the evening of their amphitheater performance. Many will be performing or teaching workshops some other time throughout the weekend along with our special guest artists. You can even dance the night away each evening with a variety of dances; and don’t miss dancing with Papaloko & Loray Mistik on the Heritage and Dance Stage. Check out our full schedule of events for specific times and stages. 

HARMONIC MOTION (Friday Evening)

HARMONIC MOTION Middle Eastern Music and Dance (www.harmonicmotion.org) focuses on folkloric music and dance from Armenia, Arabic countries, Sefarad, and Turkey.  Its core performers and teachers are Joe Zeytoonian on oud, darbuka, and voice, and Myriam Eli on darbuka, riqq, dance, and voice.  Based in South Florida since 1985, they have performed and taught at many local festivals, concerts, universities, and schools.  Mr. Zeytoonian has received various grants and honorable mentions from the Florida Department of State including the 2000 Florida Folk Heritage Award as Armenian master oud player, as well as Individual Artist Fellowships.  He also received an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and the HistoryMiami Museum.   Ms. Eli is the 2023 Florida Folk Heritage Award recipient and has received Individual Artist Fellowships and the Apprenticeship as Master Teacher of Middle Eastern Dance from the Florida Department of State.  Mr. Zeytoonian recorded with Gloria Estefan, and they both recorded and performed with Shakira.  Ms. Eli was her dance instructor and choreographer and toured with her.  In 2022, Harmonic Motion was Florida Folklife’s Artist-in-Residence performing at Florida State University, Mission San Luis, and various schools in Tallahassee.  Additionally, they have toured the United States, Turkey, Japan, and Latin America.

THE LITTLE MERCIES (Friday Evening)

The Little Mercies is a folk trio of songwriting multi-instrumentalists - Bronwyn Chelette, Shanice Richards, and Rosalee Walsh. They present traditional music with authenticity and creativity alongside intimate originals that draw inspiration from their musical upbringings and experiences. Singing three-part harmonies and playing twin fiddle, their individual sounds instantly blend together making the spanish moss and magnolia leaves dance in the Florida sun. Having jumped from playing bars to headlining festivals in just two years, their love for music and their joy playing with each other will surely make you laugh, cry, smile and dance all through the day.

SINKHOLE SERENADERS (Friday Evening)

Kick back and enjoy a selection of “Obscure Favorites for These Modern Times” with the Sinkhole Serenaders.  Hailing from Gainesville and performing for their very first time at the Florida Folk Festival, this trio of seasoned musicians has been steadily gaining popularity throughout the north Florida region.  

Showcasing a wide variety of musical styles from the golden era of decades past, they happily tackle everything from blues, old time, and Tin Pan Alley to Celtic, café, and gypsy, including originals based on classic tunes. The combined sounds of accordion, ukulele, slide and other guitars, harmonicas, musical saw, whistles, washboard, reeds, and, of course, vocals create a unique and memorable musical offering.  

The three Sinkhole Serenaders, Gus, Jim, and Pete, have been involved with music for decades. “We’ve all had our fun over the years doing our own things … everything you can think of, from the carefree days of new wave and rock through all the subsequent cycles of folk, bluegrass, and the blues we’ve explored, even memorable roles in Oktoberfest, Irish, and circus bands.  So now, connecting as a trio, we are having a blast drawing on our varied experiences and combining the musical styles we love into something new that celebrates the past yet feels fresh all over again.”

SinkHole Serenaders will be performing each day of the Festival, as well as offering the musical workshop “An Introduction to Accordion for Stringed Players”.

REMEDY TREE (Friday Evening)

Florida's Americana ensemble Remedy Tree has achieved notable success, securing second place at the prestigious SPBGMA National Band Championship. Following their signing with Mountain Fever Records in 2024, the band has performed internationally, showcasing their talents at Ireland's Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival. Remedy Tree has shared the stage with legendary artists such as Peter Rowan, The Steeldrivers, Ricky Skaggs, Town Mountain, Rhonda Vincent, and Della Mae. As a selected 2023 IBMA Ramble Showcase band, they have demonstrated their prowess within the industry. With a new album and larger shows on the horizon, Remedy Tree is poised for a breakout year in 2025. Get ready to join the journey with this rising Americana sensation.

THE CURRYS (Friday Evening)

The Currys have been staking their claim within the indie music scene since 2013, when vocalist/guitarist Tommy Curry quit his teaching job and moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, to join the harmony-based folk-rock outfit newly formed by brother Jimmy Curry (vocals, guitar) and cousin Galen Curry (vocals, bass). The band have since written and released four full-length albums: their studio debut Follow (2014), called “eye-opening, but warmly familiar” by Earmilk, and whose title track is “one of the most beautiful pieces of music I’ve ever heard” (Todd Moe of NCPR); sophomore effort West of Here (2016), with its “tight-as-a-rubber-band” harmonies and “infectious” songwriting (PopMatters); and the expansive, self-produced This Side of the Glass (2019). 

During the pandemic, The Currys took the opportunity to explore different avenues of creativity. In 2020 the trio launched a podcast, This Side of the Mic, to showcase songs and share some laughs and insights. The band leveraged their down-time into writing and demoing dozens of new tracks, polishing their production chops and collaborating with fellow creators to expand their sound. The singles they released through 2021, such as pop/R&B track “Man On the Side” and Graceland-inspired “Last Night,” pushed the boundaries of their previous catalog.

In the spring of 2023, the three Currys were joined by Sebastian Green (drums), Sam Whedon (guitar), and Alex Rees (keys) to begin production on their fourth studio album. Keepers, released in October 2023, represents another step in the band’s evolution, pairing the lush, three-part harmony that marks any Currys project with a more guitar-driven, indie pop aesthetic. The album pays homage to the band’s influences, with tracks evoking Sgt. Pepper’s, Jason Isbell, even dreamy pop-punk. Keepers is an honest next step for a group with an appetite for exploration and a long road ahead.

"Stirring vocals...from a promising new band." - C-Ville Weekly

“...toothsome and satisfying…” - Popshifter on West of Here

"It’s almost impossible not to be moved, physically and metaphorically, by the gorgeously composed tracks on this album." - Wordkrapht on Follow

LILI FORBES AND THE FUNKY TATERS (Friday Evening)

Expect to hear original music by Lili Forbes and Michael Lewis when Lili & The Funky ‘Taters take the stage at the Florida Folk Fest.  Forbes, along with her twin sister from St. Maarten, have been singing and performing together since they were 12 years old.  Growing up with the folk musical traditions of the Caribbean, they soon became expert in many Caribbean rhythms, including gospel, and toured the islands as teenagers.  Today, they have their own separate musical careers but still compose songs together.  The ‘Taters have existed in different mutations since their formation in 2013.  Today, they are a nine-piece band with horns that plays danceable funk, jazz, and blues, with an emphasis on New Orleans rhythms.  They are led by Michael Lewis, who first began composing songs in 1990.  Forbes, who now lives in Tallahassee, and Lewis, from Tallahassee, first came together for a performance at the International Jazz Plaza Festival in Havana, Cuba, in 2019, where they played their originals as well as jazz and pop covers.  They have been playing together ever since for special occasions, such as the International Jazz Plaza Festival in Havana, Cuba and, of course, the Florida Folk Festival.  So put on your dancin’ shoes! 

ROMEO'S TASSA KIDZ (Saturday Evening)

Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Romeo Ragbir is a master musician and instrument builder who specializes in the tassa drum. Tasaa originated in South India and was revolutionized in the West Indies where it was fused with Calypso BEATS. Romeo leads the first tassa group in South Florida, Romeo's Tassa Kids, and performs at Indo-Caribbean Hindu weddings and other cultural events and ceremonies in the community. His grandparents brought the tassa tradition from India to Trinidad, and Romeo learned from his father how to make and play these drums. He has passed these skills on to his children and grandchildren as well as many students all over Florida. For over thirty years, Romeo has dedicated himself to preserving and sharing this tradition and was recognized for his expertise in 2009 with the Florida Folk Heritage Award.

CORTADITO (Saturday Evening)

Since its origins thirteen years ago, the evolution of Cortadito has led it to become one of the torch bearers of a pop culture phenomenon that is two centuries strong. A traditional folk and acoustic band that focuses on performing one of the earliest styles of Cuban Pop music known as Son (pronounced sOwn), their sound can best be described as reminiscent of the famed Buena Vista Social Club. This dynamic, Miami-based ensemble has been joined on stage by Grammy and Latin Grammy award-winning singer Aymeé Nuviola, world-renowned flutist Nestor Torres, and has performed with legendary member of Buena Vista Social Club, Eliades Ochoa. In October 2022, the group was invited to perform at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The band currently performs throughout South Florida and the United States and is currently promoting their first-ever full-length release The Guajiro Triangle, which the band will also touch on during the show.

BEN PRESTAGE (Saturday Evening)

Ben Prestage's own brand of Deep South Swamp Music has been featured at some of the world's premier Blues, Jazz, Americana, and Folk festivals. Armed with self-crafted instruments made from roasting pans, alligator heads, and even a closet door, Prestage creates a unique sound that has earned him numerous awards and nominations.

Growing up in rural Florida near the headwaters of the Everglades in gator and panther territory helped shape Prestage's spanish-moss-covered sound, but he had music in his blood before birth.

Ben's maternal great-grandmother was the leader of an all-girls band (at a time when that was unheard-of) that toured the popular vaudeville circuit and performed with one of the most famous and highest paid stars of the 1920's- Al Jolson. Her daughter was an accomplished boogie-woogie piano player.

On his father's side, Ben's grandfather played Blues and Country guitar in a Mississippi string band, when he wasn't sharecropping cotton and sweet potatoes or cutting timber.

Prestage cut his teeth performing in Florida fish camps, biker bars and tourist traps. After a stint as busker/street performer on historic Beale Street in Memphis, TN Ben emerged as one of world's top one-man-bands. After releasing a dozen albums, and touring across the US and more than a dozen countries, Ben Prestage continues to create music that "soars like a swamp hawk and wallows like an old bull gator."

WALTER PARKS (Saturday Evening)

In 2020 Walter Parks was invited by The Library of Congress to archive his research on and perform his arrangements of music made by the homesteaders of the headwaters of the Suwannee River – The Okefenokee Swamp.  The hollers, hymns and reels of those hardy southeast Georgia homesteaders are featured in his one man show “Swamp by Chandelier”

For 10 years Parks, a Florida native born and raised in Jacksonville, served as the sideman guitarist to Woodstock Festival legend Richie Havens. Now based out of St. Louis, Walter has recently co-written with Stan Lynch, former Tom Petty drummer and has performed at various venues with R&B drum legend Bernard Purdie and at Lincoln Center with Judy Collins. 

“In much the same way that The Okefenokee Swamp still is the eastern United States’ final frontier, it has also served the same for my career, for by it I have found uncharted territory and that’s hard to do in the music business.”

THE FIREWATER TENT REVIVAL (Saturday Evening)

Expect the unexpected!  Described as a “whiskey snortin’, happy-go-lucky, good-time band,” The Firewater Tent Revival is a psychedelic bluegrass band from the small fishing village of Mayport, located just outside of Jacksonville Florida. Not quite Bluegrass, Country or Rock, this is “Psychedelic-Party-Grass.”  Storyteller style lyrics, using bluegrass instrumentation, done jam band style, by a High-Energy String Band simply makes you want to dance.

Formed in 2010 and originally called The Hopeless, Dave Smith and Jon Deering formed the band simply to be able to keep playing music together. Soon after, new members joined the band, and it had several featured guest artists. The group recorder their first EP “Sinkin Boat” in February 2015. Two months later they played their way into the hearts of the Jacksonville public, winning third place in the popular crowd funding festival One Spark.

Folio Weekly Magazine, Jacksonville’s most widely printed arts and entertainment publication. proclaimed, “The Firewater Tent Revival burns it up with primo bluegrass and a hot party vibe” and describes them as being “on a subliminal mission to return the music to its original function as pure entertainment.” 

“When it isn’t fun to do any more it’s over,” is the perspective the band maintains.

THE LEE BOYS (Saturday Evening)

The Lee Boys are one of America’s finest African American sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of three brothers, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy, Jr. (7-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church they attended in Perrine, FL. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was the pastor and a steel player himself.

“Sacred steel” is a type of music described as an inspired, unique form of Gospel music with a hard-driving, blues-based beat. The musical genre is rooted in Gospel, but infused with rhythm and blues, jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, country and ideas from other nations. Influenced by the Hawaiian steel guitar fad of the 1930’s, brothers Willie and Troman Eason brought the electric lap steel guitar into the worship services of the House of God church in Jacksonville, FL. The Pentecostal congregation embraced the soulful sound, and over time this unique sound became the hallmark of the church. The Lee Boys are part of the fourth generation of musicians in this faith.

When The Lee Boys bring their joyous spiritual sound to the stage, audiences instantly recognize that this is not “sitting and listening” music: dancing, shouting out, and having fun are considered essential parts of their tradition. Founder and bandleader Alvin Lee explains, “the inspiration and feeling that comes along with our music is the reason that people feel good. It is like the new music on the block and it’s just getting ready to explode!” It’s mostly original material, with a few standards and hymns the group “blueses up a little.”  In 2008-09 alone they performed for more than 250,000 music fans at festivals throughout the United States. In the process, their unique sound has attracted musical artists such as Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Los Lobos, Gov’t Mule, Umphrey’s McGee, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and The Travelin’ McCourys- all of whom have played with the Lee Boys and/or invited them to tour with them.

They’ve performed throughout the United States, Canada and Europe and will continue influencing audiences worldwide with their “sacred steel”. Their tour calendar includes over 100 major festival performances, including headline stops at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Memphis in May, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, MerleFest, DelFest, Wanee and All Good Festival. In December 2008, the band debuted on national television with a rousing performance on NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien that had the host jumping out of his chair and raving about the band.

The Lee Boys have been in the studio with The Travelin’ McCourys have completed a joint album entitled “Meetin’ In The Middle” which illustrates their amazing bluegrass/sacred steel festival shows and adds to their growing discography.

SIKAN AFRO CUBAN DANCE PROJECT (Sunday Night)

Marisol Blanco is a professional specialized in the performing arts, choreographer, dance and music teacher of the Afro diaspora with more than 30 years of experience dedicated to the artistic medium and community work. Currently, she trains teachers of all levels in Afro-Cuban folk, popular, Latin and Caribbean dances throughout the Americas and the diaspora. Blanco studied at the National School of Art (ENA) (1992) and the Higher Institute of Art (ISA) (1995). She was trained by notable pioneers in educational, dance and choreographic development such as Graciela Chao, Bárbara Balbuena, María de los Ángeles Sardui, Julia Fernández, Lucía Sulbiadur, Domingo Pao and Alfredo O'Farrill, who left a strong mark on her teaching pedagogy, which consists of how to discover musicality and instruments in the different parts of our body. Following the guidance of maestro O'Farrill, Blanco trained in Cuban rhythms and percussion with pillars of the old school such as Lázaro Pedroso, Radamés Villegas, Mario Jáuregui, Cristóbal Larrinaga, and Ángel Terry. She took additional music courses at the Félix Varela Center for Cultural Development.

She was a member of Cuba's first all-female percussion and dance group, Obiní-Batá (2000-2008). Some of her contributions in the fields of performance and teaching include the National and International Salsa and Bachata Congresses (2010-2025), the International Folkloric Dance Festivals Dancing with the World and One World Soul of Dance (2015-2023), Dance Africa Miami (2009-2025), and academic commitments at the University of Miami, Miami Dade College, St. Thomas University, Boulder-Colorado University, Florida International University, and Indiana University (2015-2025). Blanco developed her community dance project, Sikan, with an educational purpose aimed at fostering a life ethic for the women in her community, in addition to having InaOmi as a nonprofit for socio-cultural exchange. She recently completed her second Master of Fine Arts in Choreography at Linda Berry School of Arts at Jacksonville University. Her dance exploration since her time and graduation from the National School of Art has focused primarily on the artistic incorporation of male roles on female bodies in Yoruba dances. Currently, her research has extended to the origins of Regla de Ocha or Santería in Cuba.

She received the Florida FolkLife Award (2024-2025) and is an artist-in-residence at the Miami Historical Society, HistoryMiami Museum.

JIM STAFFORD (Sunday evening)

Winter Haven native: Jim Stafford is a comedian, singer, songwriter, and entertainer extraordinaire. He wrote and recorded his first chart making song, “The Swamp Witch”, produced by his boyhood friend Kent LaVoie aka Lobo in 1974. He followed with a gold single, “Spiders and Snakes”, which stayed on the American pop charts for 26 weeks. The hits just kept coming and included “My Girl Bill”, “Wildwood Weed”, and the wonderfully satirical “Cow Patti”, written for the Clint Eastwood movie, Any Which Way You Can, in which Jim appeared.

For over 20 years the Jim Stafford show is always named a favorite by audiences and critics alike. The singer, songwriter, comic genius, and entertainer extraordinaire is self-taught on guitar, fiddle, piano, banjo, organ, harmonica and the human brain--he might bring any of them into play at any moment. 417 Magazine, the Springfield News Leader and the Branson Entertainment Awards have voted Jim Best Entertainer, Best Personality and Best Comedy Show. Mayflower Tours has named Jim’s Show as one of their top ten suppliers in North America. Jim wrote many of the songs for which he is famous and has brought his inimitable style to several movie soundtracks. He received a gold record for his work in the Disney movie The Fox and The Hound and writes for many other popular artists.

Jim launched his television career with The Jim Stafford Show on ABC in 1975. His numerous television appearances included music specials, variety shows and talk shows. He co-hosted the popular prime time show Those Amazing Animals with Burgess Meredith and Pricilla Presley. Jim also hosted 56 episodes of Nashville on the Road and made 26 appearances on the Tonight Show. In 1987 & 1988, Jim was a regular performer and head writer/producer for the Emmy-nominated Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

Jim’s first love has always been live performance. During his show Jim combines hysterical comedy with masterful performances on the classical guitar as well as with heart-warming stories of the human spirit. Critically acclaimed as the “Victor Borge of the Guitar”, Jim creates hilarious antics from everyday life taking laughter to a new art form.  He’ll share his secrets for creating stage presence.

HADLEY PARRISH-COTTON (Sunday Night)

Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, Hadley Parrish-Cotton is an independent singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist now based out of Portland, Oregon. Described as engaging, comforting, insightful and thought provoking, Hadley blends the country and folk influence of their childhood with introspective lyrics that promote self-love and acceptance, growing, and finding joy in challenge and change. Having attended for many years as a child, Hadley is so excited to return to the Florida Folk Festival now as a performer, to be able to celebrate the beauty and community there, and to share their love of folk music and art.

MEAN MARY (Sunday Night)

Mean Mary is a genre-bending multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and storyteller whose mix of banjo, fiddle, and guitar has earned her over 38 million YouTube views and a fast-growing international fanbase. Her latest album, Woman Creature, received critical acclaim for its sharp lyrics, cinematic scope, and superb production—earning the #1 spot on Country Music People’s Critics’ Choice 2024 list and landing in the Top 10 on multiple “Best of” lists from respected DJs and tastemakers in the folk and Americana world. With songs that range from toe-tapping to spine-tingling, she blends Americana, folk, and blues into a sound all her own. A modern-day nomad, she’s lived everywhere from a remote cabin in northern Minnesota to the heart of the Nashville scene—but she grew up in Florida and recently returned, happy to once again call it home between tour stops.

JEANIE FITCHEN (Sunday evening)

Jeanie Fitchen has come a long way from her first appearance at the Florida Folk Festival in 1966.   Since then, she has traveled to nearly every part of Florida, as well as to Tennessee, New York, Alaska, and points in between, earning for herself a bevy of accolades and awards for her performances, songwriting, and recordings focusing not only upon the culture, history, and environment of Florida, but also the basic human dignity of all people and their right to live in freedom with justice and equal opportunity.

As a young teenager Jeanie found her niche in the simple beauty and artistic style of traditional music from around the world. Throughout the years, however, she began to write and record her own songs earning a 1999 Grammy nomination for her CD, Roads, in the category of Best New Folk Album.  For her long-standing contributions to the folk cultural resources of the state, Jeanie received a Florida Folk Heritage Award in 2001. For the songs she has written and sung in praise and defense of Florida's natural and cultural heritage, Jeanie was honored with The Fellow Man and Mother Earth Award by The Stetson Kennedy Foundation in 2010.  And In recognition of her legacy of performances as a Florida singer-songwriter and for her contributions to the Florida Folk Festival, Jeanie was inducted into the 2016 Florida Folk Festival’s Legends and Legacy Hall of Fame.

When asked why people should care about folk music, Fitchen says, “I think it allows people to reflect, and sometimes it compels people to make changes in their life or world around them.  There will never be another form of music like this.” And there will never be another Jeanie Fitchen, a truly unique performer devoted to Florida Folk music steeped in the tradition of past folk icons and Florida’s diverse cultural history.