October 4th is the date for this year’s PlainSong Festival. Located once again at the Southeast Community College campus at 8800 East O Street in Lincoln activities start at noon with doors opening at 11 AM for this one day celebration.

Festival activities include two stages of continuous music and dance, a wide range of workshop offerings, children’s activities, visual art displays, and more.

Our featured artist this year is Josh White Jr. www.joshwhitejr.com Josh White Jr. is described as “secular, folk/blues, pop, jazz, vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, actor, adult & children’s concert performer, teacher, and social activist.” Born in 1940 to famed singer and social leader, Josh White, Josh Jr. has been performing since age 4 when he started singing with his father at the “Café Society”, the first American integrated nightclub.

Josh attended New York’s famous Professional Children’s School and between the years of 1949 & 1960,he was in 5 broadway plays, one off broadway play, numerous other productions, and was awarded a special Tony Award for “Best Child Actor.”

After appearing on countless television variety and talk shows around the world as a solo artist, Josh Jr. starred in his first PBS/TV concert special in 1979 “Ramblin” costarting with Odetta, Tom Paxton & Bob Gibson.

At the peak of the folk boom, 1963 to the 80’s, Josh Jr. was considered one of NACA’s most celebrated and honored perfomers.

Other artists to appear on the PlainSong Main Stage this year are; Tom May - host of the national radio program, River City Folk, Victoria Parks- Irish music vocalist from Iowa, Mahour Mellat Parast-;Persian Music, Kusi Taki – Andean Music, Irish Dancers, Tribal Dancers, Jubilant Bridge from Colorado, and more!

Scheduled on the Crescent Moon Coffee Stage: Michael Murphy- Omaha folk artist/Indian flute, Doris Winkler – singer/guitarist form Grand Island, and Lincoln artists; Chris Sayre, DeAnn Allison, Tom Martin, C.A. Waller, Terri Jo, Deb Davis, Alligator String Band, Womenfolk, Stone Soup, Emanon,Plain Label, and Buffalo Grass.

Area visual artist will present their work under the coordination of Lincoln painter, Wendy Bantam. Scheduled artists include: Amador Garres, Jan Fox, Carol Devall, DeAnna Larson, Mary Mowery, and Sharon Cech.

An area devoted to children’s activities will include crafts, music, storytelling, face painting and surprises!

Workshops will be presented in the areas of songwriting, poetry writing, fingerstyle guitar, Delta Blues style guitar, tribal belly dancing, Celtic Drumming, Irish dancing, dulcimer playing, alternative string style, mountain dulcimer, Persian music & more..

Performing artists will have their CDs available for sale along with event t-shirts, posters, and food!

All ages are welcome to this multicultural family event. There is no admission to attend. Donations will be accepted to offset the cost of the festival. Suggested donations are $5 per family.

For additional information please contact festival director, Terri Jo Dahlquist at 402/560-6597 or email terrijo@inebraska.com
Festival information can also be obtained at www.terrijo.com/plainsong/