Contemporary Folk Week, July 27-August 2, 2025
Contemporary Folk Week 2025 Catalog Section
We are very excited to have veteran instructor Cliff Eberhardt at the helm as the new coordinator of Contemporary Folk Week. His staff for 2025 represents an unparalleled collective expertise of song craft that has come to define this program, offering inspiration and artistic development for various levels of creativity. It includes songwriters John Gorka, Don Henry, Buddy Mondlock, Ellis Paul, Kari Sickenberger, Nora Jane Struthers, and David Wilcox. In addition, there will be classes by Laurie MacAllister and Elise Witt on vocal technique, Vance Gilbert on performance, and Joe Craven on creative practice.
Whether you’re a new performer trying out material at a local open mic, a working musician looking for help to reach your next goal, or someone who would simply like to feel more confident playing and singing in front of others, Contemporary Folk Week is here to help. We feature an extraordinary staff of instructors with expertise in both the art and business of contemporary acoustic music. In addition, our size and format encourage community-building at its best with frequent and informal interaction between students and teachers, ensuring that you go home energized and empowered to make the most of your music. Choose from a variety of classes (capped at 15 students each) in songwriting, performance, vocal technique, and creative practice, all of which stress individual attention to students’ needs. Social activities include open-mic events, concerts, song circles, and plenty of spontaneous music-making. Our workshops run concurrently with Guitar Week, using the same schedule, so it’s easy to take classes in either program. Please note, however, that our open-mic events are open only to those who have declared themselves to be Contemporary Folk Week students and are taking at least two classes in the Contemporary Folk Week program.