Anchored by renowned folk artist David Bromberg, the Prescott Park Folk Festival will take place on Saturday, July 18, starting at 5pm in Prescott Park, Portsmouth. The folk festival will also feature Christine Lavin, Jason Spooner Trio, Canadian fiddle sensation Samantha Robichaud, and more.
 
Held in the afternoon for its first decade, the folk festival was shifted to the evening to better present the caliber of artists the festival featured. "It was a big move for us," explained Ben Anderson, Prescott Park Arts Festival executive director, "Giving the folk festival an evening mainstage is part of our commitment to high-quality music presentations. The word is spread fast last season about what could be found in the park in terms of music. This year is no exception."
 
And the word did spread quickly. Anderson reports that attendance for both the Wednesday night concerts and Saturday festivals increased by more than 300 percent last year. "It's really exciting," said Anderson, "Watching people discover new incredible acts is something I really love. One of those acts is Samantha Robichaud, who is part of the folk festival and an exceptional fiddler."
 
With over 200 awards and only 20 years-old, Samantha Robichaud is a fiddler who is classed as one of Canada's best. Picking up the fiddle at age four (and never putting it down), Samantha has performed from Carnegie Hall to the Grand Ole Opry and was the female recipient of the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin in 2005. Her stage presence packs a wallop and her music makes it easy to see why the Canadian East Coast is world famous for its fiddle players.
 
David Bromberg brings his quartet to Prescott Park to anchor the folk festival. A singular performer, writer and arranger, Bromberg's remarkable musical versatility and innovative resourcefulness have earned vast critical and popular acclaim. Bromberg plays a full band's worth of instruments, including acoustic and electric guitar, fiddle and dobro. He is one of the most proficient musicians of his era with an eclectic approach to folk, rock, and bluegrass music. After several years of inactivity on the touring front, Bromberg is back and his live show remains as unique as ever. First appearing in the '60s, it was Bromberg's extraordinary guitar picking and exceptional stylistic range that brought him to the attention of Bob Dylan, Ringo Star, John Hurt, Chubby Checker and others.
 
Christine Lavin, a singer/songwriter living in New York City who has recorded over 19 solo albums, will also perform. Lavin's hilarious performances bring the audience to uncontrollable laughter thanks to her unique and funny take on contemporary life that makes for a one-of-a-kind concert experience. Lavin brings the insight and wit of a humorist with a novelist's eye for evocative details and compelling narratives.
 
"Christine Lavin is a riot," said Anderson, "If you've never experienced one of her performances before, you're in for a great treat."
 
Also performing is the Jason Spooner Trio, winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, and Ossipee Valley Songwriting Contest, Harvey Reid and Joyce Anderson, and Jerks of Grass, voted Portland's Best Roots/Acoustic act for seven years running.
 
The Folk Festival is part of the Prescott Park Arts Festival's 35th season that features Grease Thursday to Sunday each week as part of their FairPoint Communications MainStage throughout the summer. The festival season also includes the River House Restaurant concert series in Prescott Park each Wednesday night with artists such as Richie Havens, Jonathan Edwards, The Waybacks, Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more.
 
The annual music festivals include Jazz Festival (July 5), Folk Festival (July 18), Country Festival (August 1), Rhythm & Roots Festival (August 8), and Americana Festival (August 15).
 
All events offered at the Prescott Park Arts Festival are presented free of charge with a suggested donation of $5 - $8 dollars.
 
Since 1996, the Arts Festival has consistently been named by Yankee magazine as a "must see" tourist attraction. Prescott Park Arts Festival is an independent non-profit organization with a mission of serving the community with a diverse array of quality arts events accessible to all.
 
For more information on the festival, or to see a full schedule of events, visit http://www.prescottpark.org or call 603-436-2848.