38th annual Woodstock Folk Festival on July 16 draws musicians from around the nation

On Sunday, July 16, music lovers will gathering on the historic Square in Woodstock for the 38th annual Woodstock Folk Festival.

The annual festival will be noon to 6 p.m. The suggested donation for the all-day festival is $30 or $40 for families. In case of rain, it will move indoors to the Unity Spiritual Center, just a couple blocks off the Square at 225 W. Calhoun St.

As in past years, the festival will feature local and national musicians who perform in a variety of styles: traditional and contemporary folk, Americana, roots, soul, and blues.

This year's main stage co-hosts are WFMT Folk DJ Marilyn Rea Beyer, WNUR Folk DJ Sue Kessell, and the longtime festival emcee Chuck VanderVennet.

Delmark Records, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, will receive the "Woody" Award.

This year's Lifetime Achievement Award will be given at 4:15 p.m. to recipient Jack Williams. This Arkansas-based singer-songwriter and guitarist has been playing professionally for 65 years. His South Carolina roots come through in his vivid songs with a strong sense of place and his storytelling in an old Southern tradition enhanced by his extraordinary guitar skills. He has 10 CDs of original music, a DVD collection of his onstage performances, and a CD collection of cover songs reflecting major influences on his musical development. He has produced all of his own recordings plus CDs by Mickey Newbury, Ronny Cox, Eric Schwartz, and others. His songs have been recorded by artists ranging from Tom Jones to David Clayton-Thomas to Lowen & Navarro. In addition to his solo career, he has accompanied such luminaries as Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow, and Harry Nilsson. Early in his career, his bands accompanied performers such as John Lee Hooker, Jerry Butler, and the Shirelles.

Opening the festival at noon will be Mark Dvorak, dubbed "Chicago's official troubadour" by WFMT's Rich Warren. This singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has performed solo and in various other groups including Weavermania. In addition to his many CDs, he has also published essays and poems. Performing over 200 dates each year, he has woven the disparate threads of touring musician, educator, and community builder. He also will lead the singalong finale at the conclusion of Sunday's festival at 5:40 p.m.

Nina Ricci will grace the stage at 12:30 p.m. A modern folk singer-songwriter and guitarist, the Nashville-born and bred musician was trained at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In addition to singing and songwriting, she also plays finger-style guitar. One of the new guards of the American folk revival, she heralds songs of the 1960s folk movement and writes a new chapter with her own songwriter's voice. She performs both traditional and original folk songs, entertaining the audience through history and humor, sharing the stories behind the songs and her experiences on the road as a traveling musician.

Dean Milano and Julianne Macarus will hit the stage at 1:15 p.m. They have worked together, in various groups of fellow musicians, for over 40 years, participating in Chicago area's vibrant music scene. Macarus began playing violin at the age of six and became the concertmistress of the school orchestra at that time. Throughout her life she's juggled acting, singing, playing her instruments, directing plays, and writing poetry and songs. Milano has been making music in Chicago since 1966, playing bass and singing in numerous bands and shows. He's played in all genres, but likes to play folk songs whenever he has the opportunity.

Buffalo Rose will be taking the stage at 2 p.m. The Pittsburgh-based band includes singers Lucy Clabby, Margot Jezerc, and Shane McLaughlin, Malcolm "Mac" Inglis on dobro, Bryce Rabideau on mandolin, and Jason Rafalak on upright bass. It takes the singer-songwriter tradition to a new level by crafting original songs which are emotive, meticulously arranged, and inspired by a world of idiosyncratic influences that never let a dull or predictable moment creep in. They gleefully combine genres to move acoustic music forward to a new place while never losing sight of its roots.

On stage at 2:45 p.m. will be Elexa Dawson from the Potawatomi Nation who creates community-focused Americana music where sultry soul meets rural roots. Her debut album, "Music is Medicine," brings her storytelling to life through transcendent melodies connecting land-based musical programming to folk stages. This award-winning songwriter wants you to "Join me on my creative exploration of what it means to be Neshnabe, the Potawatomi's name for ourselves, meaning originally human, original, created, connected, elemental."

At 3:30 p.m., Georgia-based singer-songwriter Deidre McCalla will perform songs that embody hope and celebration, struggle, loss, and longing - sometimes all in one song. Her most recent album, "Endless Grace," was the No. 1 album on the Folk Radio Charts in June of last year. In 2023, her song "Shoulder to the Wheel" won the 19th annual International Acoustic Music Award for Best Folk/Americana/Roots song. She received a SERFA Award from the Southeast Regional Folk Alliance and her album "Don't Doubt It" is included in the LGBT Collection at the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History and listed by Ms Magazine as one of 25 Classic Women's Music Albums.

At 5 p.m., there will be a presentation of the "Woody" Award to Delmark Records on its 70th anniversary. At 5:10 p.m., Blues artist Jimmy Burns will perform as part of the tribute.

Founded by Bob Koester in St. Louis in 1953 as Delmar Records, they moved to Chicago in 1958. Koester opened the Jazz Record Mart and moved the company to its basement, renaming it Delmark Records.

Over the years Delmark has released albums by Donald Byrd, Junior Wells, Sleepy John Estes, Buddy Guy, Roosevelt Sykes, and many more, including Jimmy Burns.

Koester retired in 2018 and sold the company to musicians Julia A. Miller, president and CEO, and Elbio Barilari, vice president and artistic director, who will be on hand to receive this year's "Woody" Award.

Burns was born in the Mississippi Delta, but has lived most of his life in Chicago. This legendary blues musician who turned 80 this year has also performed doo-wop, R&B, and folk.

The Open Mic Stage will include a performance and workshop with Culture, Arts & Music featuring the music of Harry Belafonte performed on steelpan. The Open Mic Stage will be co-hosted by Gloria Burchfield and Mark Lyons. Signup for the Open Mic begins at 12:05 p.m.

Remember to bring a chair or blanket. Pets are not allowed on the Square.

The Woodstock Folk Festival is just steps from the Metra NorthWest line, making it an easy commute from Chicago.

For information, visit www.woodstockfolkfestival.org or facebook.com/woodstockfolkfestival.