Preview: Second Annual Denton Folk Festival

Beginning Friday April 6, folk fans across Denton can find some of their favorite new and old acts playing at the Denton Folk Festival. This weekend is the festival's second incarnation; during their inaugural year the fest was held at Jagoe House - now the whole shindig has moved just a short drive down W University Drive to Parker's Plantation, Denton's largest outdoor venue. Matt Grigsby, director of the Folk Festival, said he was excited about the move of venues. "Our ultimate goal is to make the festival a camping festival, which is something we haven't seen in Denton," Grigsby said. 

Doors open at 5 p.m. on Friday, with acts like Claire Morales and the Boxcar Bandits playing until midnight. Also headlining is The Deer, a self-proclaimed "psychotropic" band that was the 2018 winner of the Austin Music Award for Best Performing Folk Band. Tickets for Friday alone are only $10 - tickets for Saturday are $20, or you can pay a paltry $25 to see over 15 bands. Headliners for the second night include Levi Cobb and the Big Smoke and the Straw Hat Society; Saturday's festivities begin at noon with a children's show - in fact, the entire festival is kid-friendly.  Both nights are BYOB and will feature plenty of food vendors throughout the property. "[The Folk Festival] is something Denton's been wanting," Grigsby said. According to Grigsby, the initial idea for the festival was inspired by Kerrville's Folk Festival, and that as long as there's a want for the music in Denton, the event will happen again and again. Grigsby will be playing his own set Friday night at 9 p.m. on Stage 1.

The organizers of the event have even made a handy Spotify playlist of the billed bands for prior listening; the lineup itself is pretty stacked, with some of the most renowned names in Denton folk. For a roaring good time for the whole family, and to check out the full lineup and details, be sure to check out the festival's Facebook event and page.