A caesura is a break in a conversation, a line of verse or a song—silence, but not for long. That’s exactly what the Philadelphia Folk Festival has done. On the brink of financial collapse, organizers canceled the annual event in 2023 for the first time in six decades. This year, a practical reassessment of size, purpose and funding has led to a scaled-down version of the festival, which is back at Schwenksville’s Old Pool Farm Aug. 16-18. “It still represents a culmination of artistic expression, community spirit and the sheer joy of music,” says Miles Thompson, who’s board president of the nonprofit Philadelphia Folksong Society, the event’s organizing body.
Once the longest running outdoor music festival in the country, PFF has always celebrated the rich tapestry of folk music. But attendance, which peaked at 12,000–14,000 from the late 1960s to early ’90s, had dropped to a third of that in recent years. Surprisingly, as much as 85% of what was once a $1.2 million annual budget was spent on production and eight weeks of building, manning and deconstructing the infrastructure. The rest went to the artists.
COVID shutdowns dealt a huge blow, but the organization was taking out loans before that. It also began selling off assets just to stay afloat. A parking lot near the festival site sold for $240,000, and the society didn’t renew the lease on its office and small performance space in Roxborough.
The original festival model was also done in by the rising costs and challenges of attracting talent, fundraising setbacks and an aging volunteer corps with few newcomers. “Younger people don’t volunteer to be part of it,” says PFS member Bob Beach, who books shows for the Lansdowne Folk Club and hosts open-mic gatherings in the festival campground. “It’s contrary to the vibe that’s been.”
The Philadelphia Folksong Society was founded in 1957 by a small group of artists and music enthusiasts. Its flagship festival began in 1962, and the first four events were held at C. Colkett Wilson Farm in Paoli. Back then, a ticket for the whole thing cost $4. Now, an all-festival pass is $226. The late George Britton, a music instructor, balladeer and actor, was the event’s most instrumental founder. In 1965, he also launched the legendary Main Point performance venue in Bryn Mawr.
The festival began in 1962, and the first four events were held at C. Colkett Wilson Farm in Paoli. Back then, a ticket for the whole thing cost $4. Now, an all-festival pass is $226.
For the festival’s damp and chilly 1962 debut, Pete Seeger rallied the crowd with sing-alongs of “Guantanamera” and “I Don’t Want Your Millions, Mister.” Seeger was so taken by the down-home vibe that he donated his pay to the coffers. The 2019 fest climaxed with a much more costly performance by David Crosby & Friends. They kept their pay.
In the interim, there were memorable appearances by Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, John Denver, Emmylou Harris, Janis Ian and Bonnie Raitt. There’s also a rumor that Bob Dylan showed up. “We don’t know if Dylan played, but he attended early on,” says the 75-year-old Beach. “It’s rumor, but we love rumors. They make the world go around.”
Later on, the whispers of crushing debt were more difficult to hear. “There were rumors—then confirmation of all kinds of rumors,” Beach says.
In search of sustainability during last year’s lapse, a reorganized PFS board appointed a new management team. With a decades-long track record that includes the successful Spring Gulch Folk Festival in New Holland, Conshohocken attorneys Andy and Michael Braunfeld of Blind Justice Music are now festival directors. Well-regarded music industry veteran Kimberly Sinclair is the new artistic director.
“They’ve reassessed, and said, ‘Let’s just have a nice festival,’” Beach says. “Last time I talked to Michael, he said, ‘We’re trying to do something we should’ve started three years ago.’ They believe the best thing is start back up smaller and build it again from there.”
Visit pfs.org and folkfest.org.
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