Will it be the exuberant Jamaican ska of the Skatalites, the Celtic sounds coming from TREAD's fiddle masters, the Tibetan flute of Penpa Tsering or the wild polka accordion of the Alex Meixner Trio?
It's hard to pick the breakout act from the 25 playing at the 22nd annual Lowell Folk Festival.
"We always have one act that is the surprise, someone who really steals the show," said festival music programmer John Marciano, an Andover resident.
It's not surprising. Organizers have gathered some of the best traditional musicians from across the world in one spot.
The three-day festival — which kicks off tomorrow — hits dozens of genres and ethnic musical traditions from its six stages spread throughout downtown Lowell. That kind of diversity is no coincidence.
"It really comes out of the immigrant theme," said Peter Aucella, Lowell National Park superintendent.
That theme extends beyond the musical offerings. Dozens of religious and ethnic groups will staff booths throughout the festival, allowing attendees to sample foods from Asia, South America and Greece while walking only a few yards. These booths are located at Boarding House Park, JFK Plaza and the Dutton Street Dance Pavilion.
Traditional craftsmen will also be showing off their work, from elaborate masks to classic duck decoys, along the canal near St. Anne's Church on Merrimack Street. Many of these artists come from the National Heritage Museum's "Keepers of Tradition: Art and Folk Heritage in Massachusetts," on display through February at the Lexington Museum.
While celebrating the past, the festival also looks to Lowell's future. Some mill space has evolved into artist lofts and galleries. This new industry of Lowell's is showcased in the festival's Art in the Courtyard, featuring painters, photographers, jewelers and others artists near the Visitor Center on Market Street.
For those with children, Shattuck Street will be turned into a giant activity area, filled with interactive art projects.
"It's like a big Lowell love fest," said Jerry Beck, director of Lowell's Revolving Museum and coordinator of the festival's family activity area on Shattuck Street.
The schedule
The festival runs from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
Friday, July 25
6:40 to 7 p.m.: Parade downtown
Boarding House Park:
7:15 to 8 p.m.: Lonesome River Band (Bluegrass)
8:15 to 9 p.m.: Henry Gray & the Cats (Blues)
9:15 to 10:15 p.m.: Skatalites (Jamaican ska)
Dance Pavilion:
7:15 to 8:30 p.m.: Red Volkaert & Cindy Cashdollar (Country)
8:45 to 10 p.m.: Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys (Zydeco)
Saturday, July 26
6:40 to 7 p.m.: Dynasty Carnival Parade (Trinidad)
Boarding House Park:
Noon to 12:45 p.m.: TREAD (Celtic)
1 to 1:45 p.m.: Henry Gray & the Cats (Blues)
2 to 2:45 p.m.: Lonesome River Band (Bluegrass)
3 to 3:45 p.m.: Helder Moutinho (Portuguese)
4 to 4:45 p.m.: Red Volkaert & Cindy Cashdollar (Country)
5 to 6 p.m.: Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys (Zydeco)
7 to 7:45 p.m.: Puerto Plata (Dominican)
8 to 8:45 p.m.: Red Volkaert & Cindy Cashdollar (Country)
9 to 10 p.m.: Mighty Sam McClain (R&B)
JFK Plaza:
12 to 12:45 p.m.: Alex Meixner (polka)
1 to 1:45 p.m.: Jerry Grcevich (Eastern European)
2 to 2:45 p.m.: Sister Marie Knight (Gospel)
3 to 4 p.m. Pilon Batuku (Cape Verdean)
4:15 to 5 p.m.: Skordalia (Greek)
5:15 to 6:15 p.m.: Skatalites (Jamaican ska )
Market Street Stage:
Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Andrew Nemr & Rocky Mendes (tap)
1 to 1:45 p.m.: Reveillons (French Canadian)
2 to 3:15 p.m.: Percussive Dance Traditions
3:30 to 4:15 p.m.: Akwesasne Singers (Native American)
4:30 to 5:15 p.m.: Sister Marie Knight (Gospel)
Lee Street Stage:
12:15 to 1 p.m.: Don Roy Trio (French fiddle)
1:15 to 2 p.m.: Helder Moutinho (Portuguese)
2:15 to 3 p.m.: Suhas Rao Ensemble (South Indian)
3:15 to 4 p.m.: Balla Kouyate (Malian)
4:15 to 5:15 p.m.: Keepers of Family Musical Legacy
St. Anne's Churchyard:
12:15 to 1 p.m.: Whitetop Mountain Band (Old-time)
1:15 to 2: p.m. Akwesasne Singers (Native American)
2:15 to 3:15 p.m. World Strings Traditions
3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Penpa Tsering (Tibetan)
4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Folk Violin Traditions
Dance Pavilion:
Noon to 1:15 p.m.: Skatalites (Jamaican ska)
1:30 to 2:30 p.m.:Alex Meixner (Polka)
2:45 to 4 p.m.: Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys (Zydeco)
4:15 to 5:30 p.m.: Puerto Plata (Dominican)
7:15 to 8:30: p.m.: Henry Gray & the Cats (Blues)
8:45 to 10 p.m.: Skatalites (Jamaican ska)
Street Performance Area:
2 to 2:45 p.m.: Mariachi Estampa de America (Mexican)
5:15 to 6 p.m.: Mariachi Estampa de America (Mexican)
Sunday, July 27
Boarding House Park:
Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Sister Marie Knight (Gospel)
1 to 1:45 p.m.: Andrew Nemr & Rocky Mendes (tap)
2 to 2:45 p.m.: Pilon Batuku (Cape Verdean)
3 to 3:45 p.m.: Jerry Grcevich (Eastern European)
4 to 4:45 p.m.: Balla Kouyate (Malian)
5 to 5:45 p.m.: Henry Gray & the Cats (Blues)
JFK Plaza:
Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Lonesome River Band (Bluegrass)
1 to 1:45 p.m.: Balla Kouyate (Malian)
2 to 3 p.m.: Whitetop Mountain Band (Old-time)
3:15 to 4:15 p.m.: Redd Volkaert and Cindy Cashdollar (Country)
4:30 to 5:15 p.m.: Pilon Batuku (Cape Verdean)
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Mighty Sam McClain (R&B)
Market Street Stage:
12:15 to 1 p.m.: Penpa Tsering (Tibetan)
1:15 to 2 p.m.: TREAD (Celtic)
2:15 to 3 p.m.: Akwesasne Singers (Native American)
3:15 to 4 p.m.: Suhas Rao Ensemble (South Indian)
4:15 to 5 p.m.: Andrew Nemr & Rocky Mendes (tap)
5:15 to 6 p.m.: Reveillons (French Canadian)
Lee Street Stage:
Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Jerry Grcevich (Eastern European)
1 to 1:45 p.m.: Suhas Rao Ensemble (South Indian)
2 to 2:45 p.m.: Don Roy Trio (French fiddle)
3 to 4 p.m.: French Fiddle Traditions
4:15 to 5 p.m.: Helder Moutinho (Portuguese)
5:15 to 6 p.m.: Skordalia (Greek)
St Anne's Churchyard:
12:15 to 1:15 p.m.: Singing Traditions
1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Guitar Traditions
2:45 to 3:15 p.m.: Skordalia (Greek)
3:30 to 4 p.m.: Penpa Tsering (Tibetan)
4:15 to 5 p.m.: Whitetop Mountain Band (Old-time)
5:15 to 6 p.m. Sister Marie Knight (Gospel)
Dance Pavilion:
12:30 to 1:45 p.m.: Reveillons (called dance) (French Canadian)
2 to 3:15 p.m.: Mighty Sam McClain (R&B)
3:30 to 4:45: Puerto Plata (Dominican)
5 to 6 p.m.: Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys (Zydeco)
Street Performance Area:
1 to 1:30 p.m.: Gund Kwok (Chinese)
3 to 3:30 p.m.: Gund Kwok (Chinese)
Source: Lowellfolkfestival.org
How to get there:
From the Merrimack Valley, hop on 495 South. Take Exit 35, the Lowell Connector. Follow the connector to the end and take a left onto Central Street. Follow Central Street into the heart of downtown Lowell. Parking is available at garages on Market and John streets for $10 all day, or on the street where available.
