The Shawano Folk Music Festival does many things to draw interest from hundreds of bands across the country.
“It’s incredibly well run, and word has spread around the country that it’s a great festival,” said honorary co-director Joe Jencks, of the band Brother Sun.
The festival, which opens Friday and runs through Sunday at Mielke Park, enables artists to perform multiple days at one venue.
“It’s a good opportunity to settle in and build better relationships with the other artists,” performer Tomcat Joe said. “It gives you a chance to mingle.”
Carolyn Carter, an Arkansas native and first-time performer at this year’s festival, said that playing a weekend event makes her feel more comfortable.
In contrast to many northern festivals, Carter said, festivals in Arkansas typically are stretched out over a weekend, just like the Shawano event.
“I guess it reminds me of home,” she said.
The small community and collaborative feel also are important to many artists.
“Everyone is so friendly and welcoming,” Jencks said. “It’s very intimate and not frenzied. … It’s like a retreat.”
“I love grassroots community-based stuff,” fellow honorary co-director and Brother Sun member Greg Greenway said. “It’s just running on love.”
The festival committee receives CDs from “literally hundreds” of different artists and fans hoping to be a part of the event, festival co-director Becky Van Buren said.
Festival organizers make sure the performers are taken care of as well.
According to Van Buren, volunteers pick up the artists at the airport, house them and feed them throughout the weekend.
“It’s relaxing,” Tomcat said. “It allows us to focus on performing and the musical aspects rather than where we are going to lay our heads that night.”
With all the bands clamoring to get into the event, the committee tries to get a diverse group of bands that represent various genres and levels of experience.
“We have a diverse and eclectic group. We are not just a bluegrass, swing or blues festival,” founder Joel Kroenke said.
The committee also tries to attract returning performers so that the audience can build a rapport and gain familiarity with the bands.
Five acts — Tarl Knight, Randy Bruce, Indigie Femme, Tom Prasada-Rao and Carolyn Carter — are making their debuts at the festival this year. Several more, including Tomcat Joe and Brother Sun, appeared for the first time last year.
Meanwhile, returning as festival veterans are Claudia Schmidt, Sally Rogers, Mark Dvorak and Cliff Elertson.
“Once they’ve come here, they get hooked and definitely make it a part of their summer schedule,” Kroenke said.
