Logo: Susquehanna Folk Music Society
Presenting fine traditional arts in Central Pennsylvania since 1985

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Thu, October 9 - Cécilia

Cécilia York
Fresh and high-spirited music-making from three of Canada’s finest musicians. They bring the best of many musical worlds together, playing traditional, Celtic and Québecois with contemporary, classical, jazz and swing influences. This will be a warm, joyous evening of fine music shared with good friends. Concert on Thursday, October 9 at UUCY. MORE

Sat, October 18 - Fall Coffee House

Fall Coffee House Fall Coffee House Fall 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. This edition of the Coffeehouse features a heaping helping of acoustic roots music, “old school” folk and stellar guitar work: bluesmen Hank Imhof and Lewis Bechtold as "Deuce on the Loose," folksinger Pat McCaskey, guitar wizard Randy Zwally, and blues fingerpicker Neil Tapp. FREE Coffeehouse concert on Saturday, October 18 at Fort Hunter Barn. MORE

Sunday afternoon, Nov 2 - Hubby Jenkins

Hubby Jenkins Hubby Jenkins Hubby Jenkins Highspire
An afternoon concert and workshop with an artist called “the joyous embodiment of the future of acoustic blues.” Articulate, enthusiastic and immensely talented, Hubby Jenkins is one of the brightest lights in a new generation of African American musicians. With special guest Hank Imhof. Admission includes “Blind Willie Johnson 101”, a post-concert Master Class focusing on the slide guitar techniques of that revered gospel blues artist (1897-1945). Like former bandmates The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Hubby goes deep, seeking blues from before it was blues, ragtime, jug band and string band music that became jazz and country... deeply American musical forms that all grew out of human experiences, stark social realities, and seismic changes in American culture. Sunday afternoon, November 2 at Champions in Highspire. MORE

Sun, November 23 - Seán Dagher

Seán Dagher Harrisburg
From Celtic to Arabic, medieval to modern, from symphonies to sea shanties in video games: few artists can match Seán Dagher’s scope! We met him last fall as part of Skye Consort, and now we’re excited to have him here on his own. Concert on Sunday, November 23 at the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg. MORE

Tue, December 9 - Windborne: Music of Midwinter

Windborne: Music of Midwinter Harrisburg
The Windborne singers released “To Warm The Winter Hearth“ late last year, smashing records for crowdfunded support of a folk album. Its music is even more exquisite live: ancient songs made new and fresh, familiar favorites better than ever. This will be the third SFMS show with these charming and masterful singers, and it’ll be too good to miss. Concert on Tuesday, December 9 at Unitarian Church of Harrisburg. MORE

Sat, February 21 - Winter Coffee House

Winter 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 on Saturday, February 21 at Fort Hunter Barn. MORE
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Hubby Jenkins joins our Fall lineup

“the joyous embodiment of the future of acoustic blues”

Hubby Jenkins
Hubby Jenkins — November 2

One of the brightest lights in a new generation of Black musicians! Articulate, enthusiastic, and immensely talented, Hubby seeks the deepest roots of blues, early jazz and pre-country.
That uniquely American music (not to mention that uniquely American instrument, the banjo) sprang from life experiences within our complex American culture. Through that musical lens is a rich and nuanced perspective on American history, and also fine music, well played, by a knock-your-socks-off multi-instrumentalist.
Stay for his Master Class after the Sunday afternoon show, even if you don't play guitar.

Hubby joins a fall lineup that includes super‑groovy contemporary folk, snow‑scented music from Scotland, high‑spirited contemporary Québecois, the amazing multi‑genre musician whose sea shanties enliven the Assassin’s Creed video game series, and off-the-beaten-path music to warm the winter hearth.

Julie Fowlis Cécilia Seán Daghe Windborne: Music of Midwinter
Julie Fowlis October 2
Cécilia October 9
Seán Dagher November 23
Windborne Dec 9

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Pennsylvania Relief Sale Quilt Auction

In this Folk Artist spotlight, we visit the Pennsylvania Relief Sale, a quilt auction that supports humanitarian work around the globe. More than just a fundraiser, it’s a family-friendly event centered around one of the most enduring cultures in our region.

An applique quilt showing a colorful array of tulips in a wooden cart or buggy. A bluebird perches on the cart’s handle.
This cheerful wall hanging won "Best in Show" at this year's Pennsylvania Relief Sale

For anyone who loves quilts and other handwork, the annual Pennsylvania Relief Sale is a must. A cultural staple in our region since 1957, it reflects generations of Central PA traditions of handwork, foodways, gardening, games, and music.

Besides the exhibition and auction of quilts, the event features food, live choral music, a plant sale, quilting supplies, and the contagious joy of quilt enthusiasts in a creative calico wonderland.

What began on a farm in Berks County, now fills all 172,000 square feet of the Giant Exposition Hall at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Next year's sale — April 2026 — is their 70th sale, and it's well worth marking your calendar now!

A montage of six quilt patterns. Top left is two squares of Veggie Cats: an orange cat curled in the shape of a pumpkin, and a maroon cat curled in the shape of an eggplant. Top center has blue swirls like cresting waves between long-pointed stars. Top right is a crazy quilt, with various shapes sewn together and ornately embroidered.

photos by Amy Skillman

The quilts showcase a wide variety of designs and techniques, from patchwork to applique to embroidery.
Read more about the Pennsylvania Relief Sale...
See more Folk Artist Spotlights
The board and staff of the Susquehanna Folk Music Society are committed to celebrating and affirming diverse cultures through programming which explores the music, dance, craft and stories of many people. We stand in complete solidarity with the Black community and all marginalized communities to speak out against injustice, bigotry and racial violence.
Crys Matthews, a young Black woman, wears a crisp white button-down men’s shirt, black tie and black suspenders. She has her thumbs underneath the suspender straps, pulling them up off her shoulders. Her curly hair is long on top and cropped close at the sides.
Aron Rook’s illustration of a little girl painting with a paintbrush on a pad of paper held in her lap. The child is wearing blue overalls and a pink shirt. She has slanted eyes and glossy chin-length black hair. The background is abstract swirls of orange and gold with streaks of blue and green, which in the complete illustration are a stylized tiger.
The three musicians of Alash Ensemble stand on a mountain field, holding traditional stringed instruments. They are all men of Asian appearance, all from Tuva in southern Siberia. They wear the garments of their culture: ankle-length coats of stiffened silk with bright gold sashes, caps with fur trim, and boots.
Mônica Teles, holding a drum, sits back-to back with Chelsea Caroline who holds a guitar. Mônica is a young women of Hispanic appearance, with light brown skin and dark hair; her bandmate is a young white woman. Both have bare arms with cowrie shell armbands.
A Black man is smiling warmly, resting his hand on the upper curve of a guitar. He has short graying hair, a wide smile, and a long face. He wears a white shirt and a vest with narrow vertical ribbon-like stripes.
Reggie Harris believes in the power of music to build community. Through his singing, song-leading, storytelling, and simply living his commitment, Reggie helps people discover that they can make a difference. His new musical project with White folk singer Greg Greenway, “Deeper Than the Skin,” is an inspiring experience of shared friendship and humanity. [2024-2025 Concert Series]