Tucson Folk Festival

The Annual Tucson Folk Festival ... Free to the Public Since 1986

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WORKSHOPS & SONG CIRCLES

Want to learn more about your instrument and play it better? Learn some new vocal techniques? Play along or share a song in the Ballad Tree Song Circle? Pick up some tips about storytelling or songwriting? Come to one or more of the great workshops being offered at this year’s folk festival and please feel free to bring your instrument! Workshops are FREE and open to all!

Workshops and song circles will take place in area immediately North and West of the Court Stage, near the intersection of Washington St and Court Ave.

Song Circles (also called the ‘Ballad Tree’ in past years): A tradition here and at other festivals, the Tucson Folk Festival song circle offers musicians an informal setting to present songs in a round robin format (song circle). It could be a tune you just wrote or a song you learned from your grandfather 40 years ago. The gathering welcomes beginners and master players – we encourage all acoustic instrument players, singers, poets, storytellers and listeners to stop by and share in our Song Circle. No signups are required, just come on over with your instruments. All attendees are welcome.

SATURDAY APRIL 5, 2025
WORKSHOP TENTS NEAR COURT STAGE

Address: 200 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701 (Near Court Ave and Washington St) Google Map

Tent ATent B
1 PMSharon Goldwasser – Irish FiddleThe Brothers Reed – Songwriting & Indie Management
2 PMBobbo Byrnes – Rhythmic Soloing Tucson Song Circle, Juliana Murphy and Valerie Osborne – Community Singing
3 PMLisa Sanders – Overcoming Stage FrightJeremy Gilliam – Lead Guitar
4 PMDeb Seymour – Speed SongwritingLizzie – Tips for Young Performers
Click on the links for workshop descriptions

SONG CIRCLES (BALLAD TREE)

Address: 200 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701 (Located in the pedestrian street north of JoJo’s Restaurant)

1 PM – 2:30 PMHosted by Donna & Jeff Bloomberg
2:30 PM – 4 PMHosted by Marty Flashman

SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2025
WORKSHOP TENTS “A” AND “B” NEAR COURT STAGE

Address: 200 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701 (Near Court Ave and Washington St) Google Map

Tent ATent B
1 PMMarty Province – Dangerous Songs?! Nancy Elliott – Songwriting
2 PMMarty Province – Beginning Fingerstyle Folk GuitarSteff Kayser – Guitar Tips
3 PMMichelangelo Caggiano – Performance TipsLynn Perdzock & Raggedy Edge – Booking Tours
Click on the links for workshop descriptions

SONG CIRCLES (BALLAD TREE)

Address: 200 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701 (Located in the pedestrian street north of JoJo’s Restaurant)

1 PM – 2:30 PMHosted by Pat Madea
2:30 PM – 4 PMHosted by Jim Dumbauld

Workshop Details

Saturday

Sharon Goldwasser

Irish fiddle workshop.  We’ll share some tunes and explore how to make them sound and feel more Irish.  Non-fiddlers are welcome to join us.

The Brothers Reed

Songwriting/tour booking/self management.

Bobbo Byrnes

Creating Dynamics & Rhythmic Soloing For Solo Acoustic Performer – Learn the tools to help you accompany yourself in a more dynamic & interesting way. Not bluesy soloing but rhythmic soloing, and how to change your strumming style to keep you & your audience entertained. With Bobbo Byrnes.

Tucson Song Circle, Juliana Murphy and Valerie Osborne

Calling All Voices: Seeding Harmony through Community Singing – You are invited to experience the timeless power of joining our voices together in song. Songs from the modern community singing movement will be sung a cappella and taught on the spot in a call & echo style, so if you feel the pull to sing, know there’s a welcoming place for you in this circle. 

Lisa Sanders

Stage fright – causes and solutions.

Jeremy Gilliam

Intro to Lead Guitar – My simple step by step approach to get you started playing lead guitar and jamming with friends.

Deb Seymour

“Feeling stuck? Writer’s block? speed songwriting we will be using word prompts and you’ll have three minutes to write four lines using that word. Bring a pen and notebook and a great sense of humor. Guaranteed to get you inspired and unstuck! 

Lizzie

You’re young, and you want to pursue your Musical Passions. Lizzie, a lifelong, successful musician and a freshman at the University of Arizona, will share how she grew from a young Songwriter to a regularly performing Musician. Learn from a Young Artist who is living the “Dream”.

Sunday

Marty Province

Dangerous Songs?! The music of Peace, Protest, and Politics from Nursery Rhymes to the present day.

Nancy Elliott

The Heart Of It All, while participatory, is a writing workshop.

Marty Province

Beginning Fingerstyle Folk Guitar. An introduction to fingerpicking. Topics include, basics, intros/outros/interludes, adding melodies and harmonies to one’s vocals, and developing one’s own style.

Steff Kayser

Simple tips & tricks to improve your guitar playing.

Michelangelo Caggiano

Intentional music and performance – From the coffee house to the arena, Secret Harbor’s singer-songwriter, Michelangelo Caggiano presents a purposeful approach to fine tuning your performance, focus your goals and become the captain of your musical ship. We will discuss the value of Confidence, Direction and building Relationships with your audience.

Lynn Perdzock & Raggedy Edge

This workshop is intended to give the indie musician the tools and guidance needed to book a tour, from finding venues along the desired route, to making contact with booking agents, to suggestions for a successful tour and staying healthy on the road.

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Thank You

… for enjoying the Tucson Folk Festival and supporting TKMA to help keep the music playing for 40 years in Tucson.

Our main event, the annual Tucson Folk Festival, is an all-volunteer-operated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The funds raised during the festival assist us in meeting key expenses to bring about this meaningful showcase of local and national Musicians.

From our generous sponsors and community partners who assist us each season to our members and donors, we thank you for helping us meet our budget.  Please consider becoming a TKMA Member and donating when you can. Help support live, local music at the Tucson Folk Festival.

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