2006 Midwest Folk Festival Makes Illinois Debut August 5 & 6

Saturday, August 5 - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Bishop Hill Barn Dance August 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 6 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free Admission

The sixth annual Midwest Folk Festival makes its Illinois debut August 5 & 6 this year in historic Bishop Hill, Illinois. More than twenty art forms from ten folk and ethnic groups will be showcased in a variety of formats, including live performances, hands-on activities, demonstrations, displays, and an artist-led children's area. In addition to five stages and activity areas, festival goers will have the opportunity to enjoy barn dancing, great food, and more. The 2006 Midwest Folk Festival is sponsored by the Illinois Arts Council and Bishop Hill Heritage Association in cooperation with the Bishop Hill State Historic Site, the Iowa Arts Council, the Wisconsin Arts Board, and the Quincy Society for Fine Arts.

"Bishop Hill will be the perfect backdrop for this year's fascinating ethnic and folk artists to perform and entertain audiences." Says Illinois Arts Council Chairman Shirley R. Madigan. "We are thrilled to present the Midwest Folk Festival and invite people of all ages to attend."  

Award winning artists at the Midwest Folk Festival include: Honeyboy Edwards, original practitioner of the acoustic Delta Blues style, with Devil in a Woodpile's Rick Sherry ? Liz Carroll, world-renowned Irish fiddler, with guitarist Jim DeWan ? Yang Wei, considered the most outstanding pipa player performer of modern times ? Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp, bringing the best in Louisiana French music ? Bill Robinson, nicknamed the "King of the Dulcimers" ? Chris Vallillo, prairie-poet style singer-songwriter ? Kui Haghighi, renowned santour player and composer of classical Iranian music ? Gustavo Lopez and Juan Dies, discussing and performing "bolero romantico" ? Earl Edlin, master of river crafts ? And others!

For further information or a detailed performance schedule, contact Tamara Kubacki, Illinois Arts Council Director of Ethnic and Folk Arts, at 312/814-6740 or tamara@arts.state.il.us . For information on Bishop Hill, visit www.bishophill.com or the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency website at http://www.state.il.us/hpa/hs/Bishop.htm .  

The Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, is committed to the cultural, educational, and economic growth of the diverse people and communities of our state through support and encouragement of artists and the arts.