We be jammin': Anchorage Folk Fest turns 30 this year

 Is it possible? Could the Anchorage Folk Festival really be 30 years old this year? That means my daughter was born the year the festival started. Now that's a sobering thought! And reason to celebrate.On the next Hometown Alaska, we'll talk about the upcoming festival, which opens with a kick-off part January 16 and continues through January 28. The festival has selected its guests artists: Week One will feature Dan Tyminski, who provided the singing voice for George Clooney's on-screen character in "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" You might remember him best for "I am a man of constant sorrow," which earned him many accolades.Week One also showcases Taylor Smith & the Roamin' Jasmine, with "rejuvenated interpretations of 1920s country blues, 1950s New Orleans R&B, vintage Calypso from Trinidad, 1930s swing, and even some 1950s Country tunes, mixed in with original songs."Western Centuries, "a honky-tonk super group..."that creates a sound that moves beyond the constraints of country," and musicians Ben Winship and Eli West headline Week Two.In addition, there are workshops and dances and lots of local musicians performing throughout the festival.But since this is the big 3-0 anniversary, we'll hear stories of the festival's earliest days. And ways that an all-volunteer, non-profit, grassroots music festival carries on year after year after year.HOST:  Kathleen McCoyGUEST:

• Joel Kadarauch, Anchorage Folk Festival volunteer and musician
• Mary Schallert, Anchorage Folk Festival, musician and teacher
• Jamie Whiteman, Anchorage Folk Festival, musician with Tanana Rafters

LINKS:

• Anchorage Folk Festival website
• Anchorage Folk Festival Facebook page
• Dan Tyminski, "The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn," BBC Four
• Dan Tyminski, "Man of Constant Sorrow," solo, Paste Studios, NYC
• Tanana Rafters, website
• Video profile, Mary Schallert, KTUU Channel 2 feature
• What playing music does for your brain, Buzzfeed video, 2017
• How playing an instrument benefits your brain, Ted Talk, 2014