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

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Fri, May 23 - Buffalo Rose

Buffalo Rose Buffalo Rose York
This wildly charismatic modern folk/Americana band from Pittsburgh, PA, takes acoustic folk to a new, contemporary level. Their original songs are emotive, meticulously arranged, and delightfully unconventional. Buffalo Rose first came to Susquehanna Folk as a finalist in our 2020 Emerging Artists Showcase. Appearing with special guests Grace Mahar & Mike Dempsey. Concert on Friday, May 23 at UUCY. MORE

Sat, May 31 - Folk Artists Gathering

Folk Artists Gathering Folk Artists Gathering Hershey
The Susquehanna Folk Arts Center is hosting a networking 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 to meet others, collaborate and brainstorm ways to support folk and traditional arts in our region. Saturday afternoon, May 31 at Hershey Public Library. MORE

Sun, June 8 - Open Mic Night

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. Your returning hosts are The Winter Brothers: Peter and Luke Lee. Be there at 5:15 to sign up to play! Sunday, June 8 at West Shore Theatre. MORE

Thu, June 19 - John Doyle & Michael McGoldrick

John Doyle & Michael McGoldrick Harrisburg
Two of the finest Irish musicians in the world, masters of the tradition, innovative players and composers: Mike with flute, whistles and pipes; John with guitar and vocals. An open Irish music session at 5:45 pm kicks off the evening; musicians and listeners welcome! Irish Session & Concert on Thursday, June 19 at Fort Hunter. MORE

2025 - Summer Folk

Summer Folk
The Susquehanna Folk Festival is on hiatus, but summer fun is not! Keep the music coming through the summer with artists like Cumberland Honey, American Patchwork Quartet, and Tuba Skinny. Stay tuned for details!

Sat, August 9 - Apprenticeship Celebration

Apprenticeship Celebration Apprenticeship Celebration Camp Hill
Join us for performances, demonstrations, and stories shared by this year’s SFMS/PCA Traditional Arts apprentices and the master artists who mentored them. This event is part of our “Bringing It Home” series, presented by our Susquehanna Folk Arts Center. Sunday, August 6 at Fredricksen Library. MORE

NEWS FLASH!

John Doyle & Michael McGoldrick

June 19: John Doyle & Michael McGoldrick: Irish session & concert

TICKETS FOR DOYLE & McGOLDRICK
DOYLE & McGOLDRICK DETAILS

Just when you thought our season was over, here comes a blockbuster finish — an intimate evening at Fort Hunter with two of the best Irish trad musicians on the planet. Might we suggest getting tickets early?

If you follow folk music — and not just Irish trad, but also bluegrass, old-time or Americana — you have probably heard both of these guys. You might not know their names, but you've heard them play.

John Doyle is one of the most innovative and most imitated Irish/Celtic guitarists out there. He's rightly in demand for his ability to bring out the best in any music, but he's also a captivating singer and solo performer. He was a founding member of Solas (on our stage earlier this spring) and first came to our stage in 2005 with fiddler Liz Carroll.

For flute, whistles and pipes, the same words can be applied to Mike McGoldrick: innovative, influential, often-imitated, much in demand. Mike was a founding member of the ground-breaking Irish contemporary trad bands Lúnasa and Flook, and is a long-time member of Scottish band Capercaillie. He's also performed with Afro-Celt Sound System, Kate Rusby, Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton.

Both John and Mike have been regulars for many years with the Transatlantic Sessions, led by Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas. That ongoing project brings together musical luminaries from across the spectrum of roots music, from traditional Celtic to bluegrass, country, blues and folk.

TICKETS FOR DOYLE & McGOLDRICK
DOYLE & McGOLDRICK DETAILS

Carnaval comes to Harrisburg

In this Folk Artist spotlight, folklorist Amy Skillman describes a Brazilian Carnaval celebration held in Harrisburg, PA on March 2, 2025. It was organized by Mônica Teles and Pedro Antonetty, two artists in our Folk Artists Gallery who are members of the musical ensemble Brazilian Vibes.

A montage of photos from the event, picturing people having fun, musicians performing, and lots of bright-colored balloons and other decorations.

This vibrant dance party captured the fun of the week-long Carnaval celebration held in Rio de Janiero each spring. Similar celebrations held around the world (such as Mardi Gras in New Orleans) are a traditional way to mark the beginning of Lent, the 40‑day period before Easter.

Read more about Carnaval
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.
A plate of Vietnamese grilled pork. It is beautifully presented in a whitebowl with pretty chopsticks laid across the rim pf the bowl. The bowl contains a layer of salad greens at the bottom, then a pile of thin white rice noodles, then the pork in red-brown sauce, then a garnish of decoratively-sliced carrot pieces, chopped peanuts, and cauliflower florets.
Curtain call at a Black Opry show, with several Black artists (mostly women) celebrating.
Closeup of a Black woman’s hands stitching small hexagons of colored calico into a flower. In her lap is a clear bag holding several finished flowers.
Two Hispanic men with dark skin pose with large Puerto Rican drums in front of a Puerto Rican flag. They wear white shirts and trousers, and white hats with black bands. They are also holding other percussion instruments, including maracas and a basketball-sized shaker covered with colorful fishnet.
A Black man stands in the corner of a brick-walled room, playing a banjo and gazing down toward his hands.
IMBA Award winner Tray Wellington takes a forward-looking approach to the banjo, an instrument inextricably linked with the Black experience in America. Tray's innovative music puts the cultural touchpoints of the banjo — so often clichéd, stereotyped and whitewashed — solidly in his rearview mirror. [2024-2025 Concert Series]