This is my third year being part of the New Jersey Folk Festival staff. During my first year, I was the Shore Stage Coordinator which was an experience like no other for more reasons than one. I was fortunate enough to not only learn about traditional folk music, but to also get introduced to more contemporary folk music. This was due to the fact that the Shore Stage features a Singer/Songwriter Showcase for more contemporary bands as well as a Jam Session which includes more traditional styles of folk music such as bluegrass, old-timey, and Irish seisiun. Witnessing such an incredible variety of music blending together in such a small area was incredible and ultimately the reason that I accepted an offer to be the Sky-lands Coordinator the following year.
The Skylands Stage is the main stage of the festival, therefore, it features many well known performers. It was truly an honor to take part in making the New Jersey Folk Festival come to life by working with such talented people. After taking part in yet another great folk festival, I knew that Dr. Gillespie’s offer to be the 2016 Festival Manager was just what I needed my final year on the festival staff and as an undergraduate student at Rutgers. Even during the most stressful folk festival moments, I have never regretted being part of it. As a science major, I am in and out of large lecture halls and labs frequently. Contrary to this, folk festival allows for a change in atmosphere every Monday night which is extremely refreshing and enjoyable.
Established in 1975, the New Jersey Folk Festival is the oldest continuously running folk festival in the state. Everyone on the festival staff works diligently to conserve traditions and pass them onto it’s attendees through everything from the treats that our food vendors provide to the music our performers play to the informative exhibits our heritage area presents. The festival staff of 15 undergraduate student coordinators has been working hard to make the festival come alive in a traditional and authentic way. We are happy to celebrate Bluegrass music as this year’s folk festival theme. Bluegrass music is an incredible form of American roots music that has a strong relation to country music. It is a mixture of Irish, Scottish, Welsh, traditional English, and African-American music through incorporation of jazz elements. This culturally diverse music genre is most definitely worth celebrating.
Our director, Professor Gillespie, who founded the folk festival and our associate director, Matthew Hueston, who have been with the festival for many years, have both been supervising the coordinators carefully. With the help of our board of directors, volunteers, and attendees, my fellow coordinators and I are able to maintain the traditions of such an incredible event. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the people that have put time and effort into the folk festival and remind everyone that we are all very happy to invite you to attend the 42nd annual New Jersey Folk Festival.
Lada Abdyshayeva
Festival Manager, 2016