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FolkNews from the Humboldt Folklife Society

12th Annual Wild Iris Folk Festival The 12th Annual Wild Iris Folk Festival, June 3rd - 5th, promises to fill the Boonville Apple Fair Grounds with a delightful mix of acoustic music. The fun starts Friday night, June 3rd, with the Oork Cloud playing for a Contra Dance in the Apple Hall, and continues throughout the weekend with musical treats for many tastes. Utah Phillips returns to the Wild Iris Stage with his unbeatable blend of wit, song and story on Saturday afternoon. Saturday night offers the opportunity to dance under the stars to the beat of Joe Craven and Django Latino. Filling out Saturday’s program are the vocal harmonies of Bay Area women’s band Blame Sally; Catfish Jack and Maria Villaboy, back from Austin especially for Wild Iris; singer-song writers Lenny Laks and Danny Barca, and Celtic finger style guitarist Clarelynn Rose.

Sunday afternoon offers the opportunity to hear the acoustic mayhem of the Waybacks, the soulful roots sounds of Ruthie Foster, tight bluegrass harmonies from John Reischman and the Jaybirds, the hot swing rhythms of Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums featuring Carmen Getit, and the folk harmonies of Foxglove. All this after a morning listening to your friends and neighbors jamming in the campground, performing during the Breakfast Open Mic or in the Band Scramble, enjoying a workshop with one of the performers and a Gospel Program featuring Sherrie Jones.

The Wild Iris stage area is shaded by redwoods and evergreens, and surrounded by a small crafts fair, and booths selling local foods, wines, and beer. The festival also has an entire program of children’s activities both Saturday and Sunday. Tent and RV camping is available at the fairgrounds on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, with hook-ups and hot showers. Tickets are available for all or part of the weekend.

A destination in itself, the Anderson Valley, home of the Wild Iris Folk Festival, also features some of Mendocino County’s finest tasting rooms, galleries, restaurants, and bed & breakfasts. The beautiful beaches of the Mendocino Coast are only half an hour’s drive away. The fairgrounds is located in Boonville, where the local farmers market is held on Saturday mornings, and many shops and cafes are within walking distance of the festival. The Wild Iris Folk Festival is produced in conjunction with public radio station KZYX&Z, and sponsorships from Skip Gibbs Company, Inc., Printing XPress, The Liana Trust, as well as public radio stations KRCB and KMUD. Advance tickets are $35 for a Saturday or Sunday Pass, and $55 for a Full Weekend Pass. There is a discount for teens and seniors, and kids 15 and under are free. No pets at the fairgrounds, please.

For information call (707) 895-3589; to purchase tickets, (707) 895-2825; to volunteer, (707) 895-2006 or visit the Wild Iris website.