Only 22 days away: The 51st Annual Alaska Folk Festival, April 6-12, 2026
10:00am-11:30am Main Stage All Levels

Stagecraft Workshop for Musicians

With: Lucy Peckham, Bennet Hilsgen, Mike Sakarias

Learn how to use the stage equipment, mics, monitors, to your best advantage as a performer.

10:30am-11:50am Egan Intro

Elementary Music Theory 101

With: Rick Bidlack

Introduction to fundamentals of music theory. Definition of the major scale and chords derived therefrom. Nomenclature of intervals. Rudiments of tonality and functional harmony. For great musicians who've been wondering what it all means.

10:30am-11:50am Hickel Intermediate-Advanced

Learn a Waltz (or two, or three)

With: Ken Waldman

Ken Waldman has composed almost two dozen waltzes, and is planning an all-waltz CD. He recently led a well-received waltz workshop in Pennsylvania. Talkeetna Waltz, Fairbanks Cabin Waltz--Ken has waltzes that musicians have enjoyed playing.

10:30am-11:50am JACC

Clawhammer Banjo for Songwriters

With: Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose and Willi Carlisle

Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose and Willi Carlisle will present unique possibilities for banjo songsters to expand their repertoire and writing skill with chord progressions, writing techniques, rhythmic ideas. Bring a banjo and your

10:30am-11:50am Hammond

Fiddle Tone and Technique for Backup

With: Beth Chrisman

Alaskan festival-favorite Beth Chrisman shares advice from decades on the road and as one of Texas’ most revered honky-tonk fiddlers.

12:00pm-1:20pm JACC Intro

Intro to Square Dance Calling

With: Connor Maguire - AFF51 Guest Caller

Want to call dances but don't know the first thing? Come learn the first thing! We will take an introductory look at some of the fundamentals for calling square dances. Come ready to dance!

12:00pm-1:20pm Sheffield Intro

Introduction to English Country Dance

With: Odette Edgar

Enjoy the beautiful live music of English Country Dancing while you learn the basic figures and enjoy some classic dances.

12:00pm-1:20pm Hickel Intro

Clogging

With: Annie Bartholomew

Learn some basic steps for dancing to string band music

12:00pm-1:20pm Egan Intermediate

Old Time Guitar

With: Riley Baugus

Learn Appalachian Old Time guitar techniques from Guest Dance Band guitarist Riley Baugus

12:00pm-1:20pm Hammond Intermediate

Fiddle Tunes & Talk

With: Joe Thrift

Learn a tune and talk fiddle maintenance with violin maker and Guest Dance Band artist Joe Thrift

1:30pm-2:50pm Hammond Intro-Intermediate

Old-time fiddling - Bowing is fun!

With: Judy Lungren

1:30pm-2:50pm Sheffield Intermediate

Couple Dance

With: John Laskey

Mostly waltzing to beautiful live music by Full Circle. Some swing etc. Non didactic experience with long time dancers. I'll be available for more detailed instruction if you ask.

1:30pm-2:50pm Hickel All Levels

Rasmusson Artist grant opportunities

With: Sheryl Saturnino Oliva

General info session of Rasmuson Foundation's Individual Artist Award (IAA) program, with special focus on Fellowship award open to individual mid-career/mature artists (applications accepted from Mar. 10-May 5).

1:30pm-2:50pm JACC

Square Dance Workshop

With: Willi Carlisle, Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose, Beth Chrisman

Guest artist Willi Carlisle and his band will lead a traditional southern square dance, taught on the spot, and answer your burning questions! Expect to move, but no experience required. Callers, musicians, and dancers welcome!

1:30pm-2:50pm Egan Intro

Appalachian Singing

With: Riley Baugus

Dance Band Guest Artist will share traditional Appalachian ballad singing techniques and stories

3:00pm-4:20pm Hickel All Levels

Songwriting

With: Elise Leavy

Writing with a prompt, how to get unstuck, cowriting, how to start and finish a song... a little bit of talking, a lot of songwriting

3:00pm-4:20pm Hammond Intermediate-Advanced

Intermediate/Advanced Harmonica

With: Grant Dermody

Tone Production and Improvisation

3:00pm-4:20pm Sheffield All Levels

Playing for Dances

With: Connor Maguire - AFF51 Guest Caller

Come learn some of the tips and tricks about playing square dances successfully. All instruments and all skill levels are welcome!

3:00pm-4:20pm Egan

Instrument Swap 3-5:30

With: Come One Come All!

Are your instruments gathering dust or making too little noise? Hoping to find something real nice? Meet, greet, and trade instruments with your fellow festivalgoers! 3-5:30 pm.

3:00pm-4:20pm JACC Intro

Zimbabwean Marimbas

With: Jesse Larson, Betsy Sims

Come try your hand at these super fun instruments. You'll be playing a whole song by the end of the workshop. Limited to 20 participants and geared towards those who haven't played before.

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Alaska Folk Festival

51st Year — April 6-12, 2026

Main Stage | Centennial Hall, 101 Egan Dr.
Dance Stage | JAHC, 350 Whittier St.
Juneau, Alaska