Applications for the 40th Annual Tucson Folk Festival are now open! This milestone year for one the longest-running and largest free music festivals in the country will feature live music on six stages in Downtown Tucson. Happening from April 4-6, 2025, the festival is set to attract over 18,000 attendees with over 150 live performances from over 450 musicians.
Festival Performers include local, regional and national acts featuring a large range of styles. Performers are selected by a blind juried process that relies primarily on recorded submissions. The selection committee is made up of 5 – 10 TKMA members, past festival performers, musicians, longtime music fans, sponsors, and TKMA Board Members. Well over 300 performers apply each year for a coveted stage spot at the Festival. Historically, about 60% of our performers are from the Greater Tucson area, 20% are from Arizona (outside of Tucson), and 20% are from out-of-state.
Performer Applications begin at a $10 application fee, which becomes a $30 late application fee from November 1 – 15, 2024. New to the performer application process this year: TKMA Members will have their Performer Application Fee ($10 or $30) refunded on or around December 15, 2024.
The Stefan George Memorial Songwriting Competition is a beloved part of the festival each year – a chance for established and emerging songwriters to share new insights, new songs inspired by the times, and play for an audience that is hanging on every lyric. Each year, dozens of entrants compete for a spot in the finalist showcase at the Tucson Folk Festival. The winner and runner-up of this showcase receives a coveted evening slot at the Saturday night festival.
The Roger Mikulas Young Artist Showcase is an annual performance opportunity at the Tucson Folk Festival open to anyone 18 years or younger. A great opportunity for young, up-and-coming musicians, the showcase is a fun and welcoming environment that offers a chance to perform on a professional stage at a popular community event! The tradition is named in honor of Roger Mikulas, who was a strong supporter and one of the founders of the Young Artist Stage in 2006. Organized today by Board Member Ron Pandy, the showcase continues to showcase some of Tucson’s youngest and most promising musicians.
UPCOMING CALENDAR
CONCERTS | SONG CIRCLES | SOCIAL EVENTS
- October 20th, 10 AM – 1 PM – TKMA Brunch at Monterey Court w/ Jeremy Gilliam and Tari Tenace, hosted by Greg Aiken
- October 20th, 1 PM – 4 PM – TKMA Song Circle at Monterey Court, hosted by Ron Pandy
- October 25th, 7 PM – 10 PM – Fall Fundraiser w/ The Wayback Machine and The Jane Heirs – $10 Cover – Make Your Reservation!
- November 3rd, 10 AM – 1 PM – TKMA Brunch at Monterey Court w/ Nancy Elliott and Ted Ramirez, hosted by Jonathan Frahm
- November 3rd, 1 PM – 4 PM – TKMA Song Circle at Monterey Court, hosted by Ron Pandy