The Tucson Folk Festival is back for its 39th year on Friday, April 5 – Sunday, 7!
The 39th Annual Tucson Folk Festival is an exciting weekend of live and original music featuring more than 150 performances and 400 musicians across six stages at/near Jácome Plaza in downtown Tucson.
This year’s headliners include national and regionally celebrated acts: Steve Poltz, Lisa Morales Band, Keith Secola, Leslie Mendelson, The Cross-Eyed Possum, Eagle Rock Gospel Singers, Baba Marimba, and Mariachi Nuevo Azteca de Tucson.
“I’m thrilled to be playing the Tucson Folk Fest especially when the desert is in full bloom,” said Lisa Morales of Lisa Morales Band. “It’ll be wonderful to be home, doing what I love and I can’t wait for Tucson to hear the new songs that will be on my upcoming album!”
The full stage schedule for the 2024 Tucson Folk Festival can be found on their website.
“We must conserve letters. We are running out of them,” Steve Poltz joked. “Therefore, I hereby make a motion that we can save our precious letters by condensing ‘best festival’ to ‘bestival’ and Tucson Folk Festival to ‘TFF.’ TFF will be the bestival I’ve ever played. I can’t wait.”
There will be culinary options and unique crafts in the Elise Grecco Community Marketplace, the Festival Beer Garden, a kidszone with musical and arts experiences, raffles, and a festival store.
So, you’re bound to get hungry! Here are the food and beverage vendors setting up at this year’s fest.
Participating Food & Beverage Vendors
- BlackJack Citrus Infusions
- Hungary Express
- Gus’s Gyros and Lemonade
- Fiesta Filipina
- San Francisco Chocolate Factory
- Hot Pops Kettle Corn
- 3 Margaritas Kitchen
- Pam’s Kitchen
- Eatgypt
- Mr. Ice Guy
Where to Find the Music
The six festival stages each present a unique listening atmosphere highlighting some of the most historic sections of Downtown Tucson.
The Presidio Museum Stage takes place inside the historic walls of the Presidio San Agustín where a 150-year-old Sonoran house serves as the performer green room.
The North Church Stage leaves plenty of room for dancing as some of Tucson’s best blues, country, and original Americana bands take the stage. The Court Stage, Telles Stage, and three workshop and song circle tents surround the Old Town Artisans block, providing more intimate listening experiences for acoustic-oriented acts.
All stage venues are within walking distance of Jácome Plaza (corner of Stone and Pennington).
Pre-Tucson Folk Festival Show
The public is also invited to the Tucson Folk Festival Kickoff Showcase and Fundraiser on Thursday, April 4 from 6 – 9::30 p.m. at Monterey Court.
During the evening, attendees will be entertained by more than a dozen of the festival’s performers while raising donations to support the free festival. Reservations are encouraged and can be made in advance on Monterey Court’s website.
The Tucson Folk Festival is presented annually by the Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association and the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance with support from the City of Tucson, Pima County, Rio Nuevo District, Arizona Commission on the Arts, and the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona.
For more information, visit tucsonfolkfest.org.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
