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The Sensational Barnes Brothers photo by BOB HOWARD

Crys Matthews Photo by Bob Howard

Goodnight Moonshine photo by BOB HOWARD

Olive Klug photo by BOB HOWARD

Humbird photo by BOB HOWARD

Darlingside photo by Bob Howard

Beth Wood photo by Bob Howard

Crys Matthews photo by Bob Howard

Griffen House, Edie Carey, Jenner Fox, Olive Klug photo by Bob Howard

Griffen House photo by Bob Howard

Edie Carey photo by Bob Howard

Jenner Fox photo by Bob Howard

Edie Carey photo by Bob Howard

Damn Tall Buildings photo by Bob Howard

10/13/2023

The Curtain Closes on the Sisters Folk Festival 2023

BOB HOWARD // What happened this year and looking forward to 2024.

The headliners John Craigie, Darlingside, Donna the Buffalo, and Steve Poltz filled the big tents to capacity with enthusiastic and welcoming audiences and they delivered stellar performances. Their performances bring the crowds that support the magic of the Sisters Folk Festival. Two-thirds of the performers appearing in Sisters are appearing for the first time introducing new artists to a welcoming audience.  Among them were Jorge Glem, Damn Tall Buildings, Humbird, Bad L'Bluz, Handsome Moments, Goodnight Moonshine, Olive Klug, Crys Matthews, Chastity Brown, the Sensational Barnes Brothers.

Sisters featured young artists that have a lot to say about their experiences growing up now. In the 1960s, Phil Ochs coined the term "topical" for protest songs. This year at the festival, several first time artists were specifically topical, focused on social justice, than in years past. They spoke to their experiences as lesbian, queer, non-binary people of color facing cancellation and embracing their message. They were enthusiastically welcomed by the audiences. 

Most of the artists played three sets throughout the weekend.  Highlighting a handful of the new artists appearing throughout the festival.

Crys Matthews with Melody Walker and Heather Mae - Already being hailed as “the next Woody Guthrie,” Crys Matthews is among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers. 

Sam Reider and Jorge Glem - Grammy-nominated Venezuelan cuatro virtuoso Jorge Glem teams up with American composer and accordionist Sam Reider to create a one-of-kind fusion of Folk music. 

Bab L'Bluz -  created in 2018 in Marrakech by Brice Bottin and Yousra Mansour. It is a French-Moroccan quartet that mixes Moroccan music traditions such as gnawa and chaabi with contemporary styles such as Rock, Blues and Funk. 

Chastity Brown - musician from Minneapolis, Minnesota  dubbed "a banjo-playing Soul-singer" and "a rocking, rolling encyclopedia of Roots music." 

Handmade Moments - Anna Moss & Joel Ludford a homey Ozark stew from the sacred well of American musics: Jazz, Old-Time Country, Blues, Soul, Hip-Hop, Rock...

The Sensational Barnes Brothers - The Deep Soul Gospel duo is formed by the siblings Chris and Courtney Barnes..

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