The American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront has released the names of the first several artists scheduled to appear at the 15th annual three-day event in August. Announced cultures include western swing, bluegrass, Portuguese, salsa, Prince Edward Island, Sri Lanka dance and Jazz. All seven performers being announced today will be first-time performers at the American Folk Festival.

"This year marks the 15thFestival on the Bangor Waterfront," said Heather McCarthy, Executive Director of the American Folk Festival. "The lineup will be a mix of new performers and some returning favorites from the 15-year history. This community has embraced a festival that has drawn more than 1.5 million people over the last 14 years. We’re very excited to present the 15thedition this August."

Oorganizers are not only excited about this year’s edition, but are looking back at the festival’s beginnings. “While there were plenty of people looking at the opportunity of the National Folk Festival in 2002 as a chance to show off Eastern Maine and to succeed, I don’t think anybody could have foreseen how this festival – and our waterfront – have evolved,” said American Folk Festival Board Chair Richard Fournier. “Since 2002, we have seen 290 performing groups representing 152 different cultures, an economic impact of $238 million, and more than $1.3 million in bucket brigade donations. Simply amazing.”

The artists announced March 31 are:

Michael Mwenso & The Shakes featuring Brianna Thomas is a Jazz revue comprised of between 3-5 vocalists and a rotating ensemble including percussionists, pianists, horns and more. Mwenso is just 31-years-old but has been singing and playing piano for more than 20 years. The Shakes were featured in late 2015 on Jazz Night in America on NPR and performed at the Kennedy Center’s 2015 New Year’s Eve Gala. 

Michael Cleveland is considered one of the premier bluegrass fiddlers of his generation. He has been playing fiddle since the age of 4 and made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 1993 as a guest of Alison Krauss. He is a GRAMMY winner and is the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 10-time Fiddle Performer of the Year.

The East Pointers is a trio performing traditional music from Prince Edward Island. The group’s debut album, “Secret Victory” contains 10 original tracks written by the group with a sound that could have come from any era in the history of Celtic/folk music. The group was named the Prince Edward Island New Artist of the Year in 2015 and has recently been touring in the UK and Australia.

Nathalie Pires is a Portuguese performer who has received a number of awards and honors through her talents in traditional fado music. She began singing at 13 and has recorded two albums including the most recent, ”Fado Alem,” released earlier this month by Sony Music.

Gerarde Contino y Los Harbaneros was selected by NPR/WNYC as Manhattan’s best band of 2015. Contino is a Cuban singer/songwriter who loves to improvise, pull the audience into call & response, and provoke fans into “hip-shaking abandon.”

The Western Flyers is a classic western swing trio specializing in Cowboy songs and old-time fiddle tunes. Festival goers can expect a swinging rhythm section, brisk fiddling, and sensitive singing from this relatively new group with Joey McKenzie on guitar, Katie Glassman on fiddle and Gavin Kelso on bass.

The National Women’s Dance Troupe of Sri Lanka is “part art showcase and part graduation.” The dancers in this troupe have trained for anywhere from 10-15 years to perform this tradition, and reach the master level. The troupe comes from Staten Island, NY, which has the largest community of Sri Lankans outside of Sri Lanka.

The American Folk Festival celebrates the roots, the richness and the variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling and food. The Festival is supported entirely by public donations that make it possible to continue to present the Festival in our community. 

For more information about the 2016 American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront, please visit www.americanfolkfestival.com or call 207-262-7763.