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 A | Tent B | ||
| 1 PM | Sharon Goldwasser – Irish Fiddle | The Brothers Reed – Songwriting & Indie Management | |
| 2 PM | Bobbo Byrnes – Rhythmic Soloing | Tucson Song Circle, Juliana Murphy and Valerie Osborne – Community Singing | |
| 3 PM | Lisa Sanders – Overcoming Stage Fright | Jeremy Gilliam – Lead Guitar | |
| 4 PM | Deb Seymour – Speed Songwriting | Lizzie – Tips for Young Performers |
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 PM | Hosted by Donna & Jeff Bloomberg | |
| 2:30 PM – 4 PM | Hosted 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 A | Tent B | ||
| 1 PM | Marty Province – Dangerous Songs?! | Nancy Elliott – Songwriting | |
| 2 PM | Marty Province – Beginning Fingerstyle Folk Guitar | Steff Kayser – Guitar Tips | |
| 3 PM | Michelangelo Caggiano – Performance Tips | Lynn Perdzock & Raggedy Edge – Booking Tours | |
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 PM | Hosted by Pat Madea | |
| 2:30 PM – 4 PM | Hosted 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.