On this Wednesday’s Juneau Afternoon, we continue our week-long celebration of the Alaska Folk Festival, with a look at the history and traditions of this iconic Juneau event.
While the music is what brings everyone together, year after year, the festival is really about much more than what happens on the stage.
On this program, Katie Henry, Bob Banghart and Mike Truax will share their stories with Rhonda McBride about how the festival got its start almost a half century ago — and how it quickly became a part of Juneau’s cultural identity.
You can catch Juneau Afternoon,Tuesday through Friday, live at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO Juneau 104.3. The rebroadcast airs at 7:00 p.m. on KTOO. Also listen online at ktoo.org.
Part 1: The Alaska Folk Festival: An authentically Alaskan homegrown musical experience
Guests: Bob Banghart, Katie Henry and Mike TruaxThe Alaska Folk Festival had its beginnings on a cold winter night in 1975, when a group of musicians decided they would perform at the Alaska State Museum. In the years that followed, it didn’t take long for the festival to outgrow its original location. From Merle Travis’ selection as the festival’s first headliner, to the Golden Ham Award, and the many growing pains along the way, the history of the folk festival is as colorful as the event itself.
