Upcoming Events
All season - Download our program book!
In our online Concert Series Program Book, see what SFMS has coming up, and find out about Central PA businesses and arts organizations that support live folk music.
Download the PDF version here.
Sat, April 11 - Bryan McDowell & Mark Schatz
Harrisburg
Join us for an eclectic musical feast hosted by two giants of American acoustic music. We might hear old-time, boogie-woogie, folk ballads... anything and everything, the sky’s the limit! Guaranteed fun.
Concert on Saturday, April 11 at Fort Hunter.
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Sun, April 12 - April Jam & Song Swap
Harrisburg
Tax season blues: bring your favorite blues song to our April jam. Our jam sessions are enjoyable afternoons of hands-on, homemade music. Everyone is welcome: instrumentalists and singers, musicians and listeners, all ages and levels, all acoustic folk styles. It's friendly and free.
Sunday afternoon, April 12 at Fort Hunter.
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Sun, April 19 - Open Mic Night
New Cumberland
Spend the evening at the lovely West Shore Theatre in New Cumberland, enjoying some fine local music and maybe taking center stage yourself. Be there at 5:15 to sign up to play!
Open Mic on Sunday, April 19 at West Shore Theatre.
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Sat, April 25 - Folk Music at Wildwood Wetland Festival
Harrisburg
SFMS presents Joe Pye and Neidig & Koretzky as musical guests at Wildwood Park’s 25th Annual Wetlands Festival, which will also include wildlife exhibits, nature walks, animals to meet, crafts and food trucks. Rain or shine!
FREE family fun and live music on Saturday, April 25 at Harrisburg’s Wildwood Park.
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Sat, April 25 - Becoming a Teaching Artist
Online
If you’re a traditional artist, you’ve surely met people who would love to do what you do — and traditional arts are meant to be passed along. Whether sharing your knowledge as a teacher seems daunting or intriguing, join us for a FREE virtual panel discussion presented by our Susquehanna Folk Arts Center, moderated by SFMS folklorist Amy Skillman.
Our panelists are three very experienced local teaching artists: Muskan Balampaki, Bobbi Carmitchell and Rachita Nambiar. We’ll share stories, insights and experiences, and tips for success.
Live on Zoom on Saturday morning, April 25.
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Sun, April 26 - Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
York
This brilliant duo blend profound understanding of Scottish traditional music with cutting-edge string exploration, intimate chamber music with ecstatic dance energy, and place the cello at the rhythmic heart of it all. Alasdair Fraser has been called “the Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling”, and one could say that’s no less true for cellist Natalie Haas.
An open Celtic music session at 5:45 pm kicks off the evening.
Concert on Sunday, April 26 at UUCY.
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Fri, May 1 - Give Local York
York
Traditional music creates joy, ties communities together, and builds ties between communities around the world. And don’t we all wish for more joy and connection?
Give Local York makes your support go further! Donations to Susquehanna Folk are partially matched! Our open jam session that evening at Central Market will share some musical joy right here in York, PA. All are welcome to join in.
GIVE ONLINE ALL DAY Friday, May 1.
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Fri, May 8 - The Kennedys
Harrisburg
Folk duo Pete and Maura Kennedy blend country, bluegrass, Western swing and janglepop in a joyous musical mashup. After well over a million miles of touring during decades of performing and writing, they are masters of encouraging, empowerings songs that pull back against divisions.
Concert on Friday, May 8 at Fort Hunter.
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Sun, May 10 - May Jam & Song Swap
Harrisburg
Bring one of your Mom's favorite tunes to our May jam. Our jam sessions are enjoyable afternoons of hands-on, homemade music. Everyone is welcome: instrumentalists and singers, musicians and listeners, all ages and levels, all acoustic folk styles. It's friendly and free.
Sunday afternoon, May 10 at Fort Hunter.
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Mon, May 11 - Mama’s Broke
Harrisburg
This Canadian duo challenges the borders between people, places, and traditions, while encouraging freedom of expression and community through music. Their dark, fiery, folk-without-borders sound is a rich synthesis of influences they’ve absorbed during twelve years of near-constant transatlantic touring.
Opening the show is Jude Brothers: an eclectic blend of traditional sensibilities and contemporary concerns, a feral strangeness and delicate sweetness, an unnerving ancientness and an endearing naivety — an artist comfortable navigating their own contradictions as a freak folk singer-songwriter from northwest Arkansas.
Concert on Monday, May 11 at Fort Hunter.
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Sat, May 30 - Folk Artists Gathering
Camp Hill
The Susquehanna Folk Arts Center is hosting a get-together for people who practice or enjoy traditional arts. That term includes playing traditional music, singing in a church choir, making quilts or rugs or wood-carvings, cooking from grandma’s recipes, learning Balkan dances — the list is endless! Please join us for networking with other folk arts practitioners, or just to take a peek into the kaleidoscope of local traditional arts, on
Saturday afternoon, May 30 at Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill.
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Fri, June 5 - Stone House Breakdown: Sunset Music
Harrisburg
As part of Fort Hunter Park’s “Sunset Music and Movies” series, SFMS presents Stone House Breakdown, a local band that revives and celebrates Appalachian music. They perform original songs in the traditional bluegrass style, old timey standards, bluegrass gospel, and contemporary Americana folk. Rain date June 7th.
Outdoor concert on Friday, June 5 at Fort Hunter Park.
Sat, June 6 - Spring Coffee House
Harrisburg
Susquehanna Folk Coffeehouses are intimate evenings showcasing Central Pennsylvania’s fine amateur acoustic musicians, who play a wide variety of material for an attentive, music-loving audience. Interested in performing? Apply now!
FREE Coffeehouse concert Saturday, June 6 at Fort Hunter.
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Sun, June 21 - Michael Daves & Jacob Jolliff
Lancaster
Two of America’s premier bluegrass talents have teamed up as a formidable duo, straddling the line between hard-core traditional bluegrass and experimental forms. Their high lonesome vocal harmony and fiery flat picking honors the classic guitar-mandolin “brother duets” while leaving plenty of room for improvisation and inspired left turns.
Concert on Sunday, June 21 at West Art in Lancaster.
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Sat, August 8 - Apprenticeship Celebration
Camp Hill
Join us for performances, stories and demonstrations from our biggest‑ever cohort of Traditional Arts apprentices and the master artists who mentored them. This event is part of “Bringing It Home,” SFMS’s program featuring local folk artists.
Program on Saturday afternoon, August 8 at Fredricksen Library.
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Sat, August 22 - Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
Harrisburg
All Susquehanna Folk volunteers, past and future, are invited to a cookout potluck with live musical entertainment by SFMS Board members! A fun event to celebrate our volunteers and welcome new ones.
Picnic on Saturday, August 22 at Fort Hunter Park, West Pavilion.
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Sun, September 20 - Folk at Fort Hunter Day
Harrisburg
SFMS hosts an open jam session as part of the annual Fort Hunter Day festivities. Afternoon music includes Acoustic Stew, Maximum Buffalo, and Big Sky Quartet. Enjoy family-friendly activities and historical demonstrations, food, crafts, and more.
All day Sunday, September 20 at Fort Hunter Park.
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Sun, September 20 - Open Mic Night
New Cumberland
Spend the evening at the lovely West Shore Theatre in New Cumberland, enjoying some fine local music and maybe taking center stage yourself. Be there at 5:15 to sign up to play!
Open Mic on Sunday, September 20 at West Shore Theatre.
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Sat, September 26 - Field & Folk: save the date!
New Cumberland
Mark your calendar for a fun outdoor harvest dinner with live music: our 5th annual Field & Folk! The performer will be announced soon. Pencil in the following evening as a rain date, but put a big red circle around
Saturday evening, September 26 at Beshore Hill Farm.
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