The band Kingfoot with Joe King on guitar, Jimmy Foot on guitar and mandolin, and Kevin Johnson on bass, opened the Humboldt Folklife Festival on the outdoor Dell'Arte stage on Saturday, July 18. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
To see all 25 local bands that performed at the Humboldt Folklife Festival this year, it took an eight-day week — fitting, given the two sets of Beatles sing-alongs. Mother Nature cooperated with clear skies and warm temperatures out in Blue Lake from Saturday, July 18, to Saturday, July 25, when attendees showed up for outdoor shows and workshops by local musicians.
The Humboldt Folklife Society’s mission is to highlight the many talented local musicians that live and entertain in Humboldt County, and to encourage people to participate in music and dance. Since 1978, it’s been doing so through the festival. Organizers kept the 2026 edition’s performances on schedule and sounding great, thanks to a good sound crew and a team of volunteers.
The festival opened with Kingfoot, followed by another great performance by Huckleberry Flint on the Dell’Arte outdoor stage on July 18. Everyone took Sunday off and then on Monday night, Nigella Mahal held the Murmurations album release show inside the Carlo Theatre at Dell’Arte.
Longtime Humboldt Folklife Festival host and songwriter/musician Patrick Cleary invited Dave Trabue, Tony Cogliati, Katie Belknap and James Zeller to join him for Songwriters in the Round in the Dell’Arte Carlo Theatre on Tuesday. Cleary led the four in an exploration of what inspired them as songwriters, and it turned into a special evening with the five learning from each other. At one point, Cleary shared a quote from Ian Leslie’s book John & Paul: “The role of an artist is to convey an emotion so that others can feel it.”
With the goal of keeping traditional bluegrass music alive, Wednesday’s Bluegrass and Beyond night on the Dell’Arte outdoor stage opened with A Banjo Makes 3, followed by the Compost Mountain Boys and — more “beyond” than bluegrass-y — the talented Hobohemia.
On Thursday, Harmonic Howl performed their original songs and covers of female anthems at their first-ever festival appearance under warm sunshine before the appearance of the namesake stars on Under the Stars night. Next up was SoHum lead singer April Moore and Ranch Party, then Cadillac Ranch closed the night with an outstanding special guest appearance by singer Ruby Ruth George of Harmonic Howl.
Friday’s traditional Barn Dance with caller Lyndsey Battle and the Cidermill String Band drew a large crowd to Presch Hall at Blue Lake’s Perigot Park.
On Saturday starting at 10:30 a.m., the Street Stage featured Huayllipacha, Dessert First, Brothers DeMarkov, Fred and Wilma, Bosporus, Moonstone Ramblers and two hours of the always popular Beatles Sing-along led by Joel Sonenshein and Jeff Kelley.
Starting at 11 a.m., the Amphitheatre Stage featured Chubritza, The Crying Hearts, Drop of the Pure, Tony Khalife and Nick Peters, Bayou Swamis, Rise and Bloom, Cowtown Sound and Elderberry Rust.
Workshops and jams at Saturday’s All Day Free Day at the Grange included: Ernest the Bass Meet and Greet, led by local bassist Amber Grimes; a ukulele workshop led by community group Ukulele Fight Club; harmony singing led by Seabury Gould and Jim and Tamara Hubbard; the Uplifting Hopeful Folk Sing-along hosted by Seabury Gould; a beginning marimba band workshop led by Jesse Jonathan; and a traditional Irish seisiun led by Dana E. Connors.
The next Humboldt Folklife Society music fundraiser will be the Buddy Brown Blues Festival on Saturday, Aug. 15, which shifts location this year to the outdoor Dell’Arte stage in Blue Lake. The society will also offer two workshops during the Redwood Coast Music Festival that begins Oct. 1.
Mark Larson (he/him) is a retired Cal Poly Humboldt journalism professor and active freelance photographer who likes to walk.
James Zeller brought some protest signs against the proposed Amazon distribution facility as he introduced one of his recent songs at Songwriter in the Round at the Carlo Theater on Tuesday, July 21. One of the song’s lyrics: “We’re not buying what you’re trying to sell.” Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonLongtime Humboldt Folklife Festival host and songwriter Patrick Cleary (second from left) invited Dave Trabue, Tony Cogliati, Katie Belknap and James Zeller to join him for an encore version of “I’ll Fly Away” at the closing of Songwriter in the Round in the Carlo Theater on Tuesday, July 21. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe band Kingfoot with Joe King on guitar, Jimmy Foot on guitar and mandolin, and Kevin Johnson on bass, opened the Humboldt Folklife Festival on the outdoor Dell’Arte stage on Saturday, July 18. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonKevin Johnson, literally on his bass, and Kingfoot band members Joe King and Jimmy Foot playing guitar to open the Humboldt Folklife Festival on Saturday, July 18. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe Huckleberry Flint band drew a large crowd as they closed the kick-off party for the Humboldt Folklife Festival on the outdoor Dell’Arte stage on Saturday, July 18. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonDustin Taylor rocked out with his guitar during Huckleberry Flint’s performance on opening night at the Humboldt Folklife Festival on the outdoor Dell’Arte stage on Saturday, July 18. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonDustin Taylor from the Huckleberry Flint band introduced his three children as surprise guest artists during the kick-off party for the Humboldt Folklife Festival on the outdoor Dell’Arte stage on Saturday, July 18. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonDustin Taylor from the Huckleberry Flint band introduced his three children as surprise guest artists during the kick-off party for the Humboldt Folklife Festival on the outdoor Dell’Arte stage on Saturday, July 18. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonWednesday’s Bluegrass and Beyond night opened under cool overcast skies with A Banjo Makes 3, featuring Doc Woglom (left) on mandolin and vocals, Jim Hatchimonji on the fiddle and vocals, Charlie Sleep on guitar and vocals, Larissa Sleep on upright bass and vocals, and Kevin Ralston on banjo. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonDoc Woglom from A Banjo Makes 3 leaned back on his vocals while playing his mandolin during Wednesday’s Bluegrass and Beyond night at the Humboldt Folklife Festival. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonPhotos of the late Paula Flannery, a local “free spirit” dancer at many live music shows, including the Humboldt Folklife Festival, were set up in her memory on the Carlo Theatre stage during performances (here the Compost Mountain Boys). Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonWednesday’s Bluegrass and Beyond night at the Humboldt Folklife Festival included Bruce Johnson from the Compost Mountain Boys on bass and vocals. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonBluegrass musicians Larissa and Charlie Sleep from A Banjo Makes 3 joined the audience after their Wednesday set to listen to the Compost Mountain Boys at Bluegrass and Beyond night. On stage from left, Britt Smith on mandolin, Tim Wilson on banjo, Martin Dodd on guitar and Bruce Johnson on bass. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMembers of the audience dancing to The Compost Mountain Boys at Wednesday’s Bluegrass and Beyond night. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonWednesday’s Bluegrass and Beyond night wrapped up with Hobohemia (who said they only rehearsed one bluegrass song) with Rob Diggins (left) and Jolianne Einem on violins, Beverly Twist on guitar and vocals, Ron Lee on bass, Amanda Malachesky on mandolin and vocals, and Ryan Roberts on guitar and vocals. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonHobohemia’s Amanda Malachesky sang and played mandolin at Wednesday’s Bluegrass and Beyond night at the Humboldt Folklife Festival. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonIn their first performance at the Humboldt Folklife Festival, Harmonic Howl opened under warm sunshine at Thursday’s Under the Stars night on Dell’Arte’s outdoor stage. Ruby Ruth George (center) led on guitar and vocals with strong vocal support by Elle and Brianna Penner, Surya Sardonicus on drums and Saul Smith Stewart on bass. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonHarmonic Howl at Thursday’s Under the Stars night featuring Ruby Ruth George (center) on guitar and vocals, vocal support by Elle Penner and Brianna Penner, Surya Sardonicus on drums and Saul Smith Stewart on bass. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonHarmonic Howl opened under warm sunshine at Thursday’s Under the Stars night at the Humboldt Folklife Festival on the Dell’Arte Carlo Theatre stage. Ruby Ruth George (center) led on guitar and vocals with strong vocal support by Elle and Brianna Penner, Surya Sardonicus on drums and Saul Smith Stewart on bass. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThursday’s Under the Stars night featured the strong vocals of April Moore and Ranch Party (Tony Nester on lead guitar and Christopher Lange Brannon on bass, Surya Sardonicus filling in on drums). Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonSouthern Humboldt’s April Moore and Ranch Party (Tony Nester on lead guitar at left and Christopher Lange Brannon at right on bass) were joined by Surya Sardonicus (second from left) who had just finished a set with Harmonic Howl when he was asked to fill in on drums. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonCadillac Ranch wrapped up Under the Stars with a great set by Jake Wiegant (left) on vocals and guitar, Liz Whitchurch on keyboard and vocals, special guest Ruby Ruth George (who had opened the night with Harmonic Howl), Rick Levin on vocals and guitar, Jes Bishop on drums and Ron Sharp on bass. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonCadillac Ranch wrapped up Under the Stars with a great set by Jake Wiegant (left) on vocals and guitar, Liz Whitchurch on keyboard and vocals, special guest Ruby Ruth George (who had opened the night with Harmonic Howl), Rick Levin on vocals and guitar, Jes Bishop on drums and Ron Sharp on bass. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonRuby Ruth George performed outstanding vocals as a special guest with Cadillac Ranch at Under the Stars on Thursday night at the Folklife Festival. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonGuitar player and singer Jake Wiegant rocked out with Cadillac Ranch as they closed Under the Stars on Thursday night. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonRuby Ruth George performed outstanding vocals as a special guest with long-time festival favorite Cadillac Ranch at Under the Stars (and under a crescent moon) on Thursday night at the Folklife Festival. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonBeatles Sing-along organizers Joel Sonenshein and Jeff Kelley (center foreground), along with singers Terry Bean, Violet Mercedes Dinning and Laura Krueger (front right corner), attracted another lively crowd to two of their always popular sets on Saturday at the Humboldt Folklife Festival. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonHumboldt Hot Air station manager Neroli Devaney (left) and Maggie Gainer (right), of Arcata, looked over some of Gainer’s 1,200 donated vinyl records from her late husband Don Wolski’s collection. Sales at the festival raised funds to support KHHA 94.7 FM and honored Wolski’s legacy as a long-time DJ for KKUP and KHSU.
Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonFifteen bands played on two stages during Saturday’s All Day Free Festival. Some of Cowtown Sound’s members wore Holstein cow costumes in the hot sunshine. Among the members were Daniel Nickerson on guitar and vocals, Tea Finch on singing saw, Cyrus Smith on bass, Jesse Alm on cello and Julio Perdido on percussion. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonTea Finch played the singing saw during Saturday’s All Day Free Festival with her partner Daniel Nickerson on guitar and vocals, along with other members of the Cowtown Sound band. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Great photos of our festival as always, Mark. Thanks.
Thanks so much, Mark.
You really captured the joy of both performers and audience members.