All ages can participate at Folk Stomp

Whether you like to pick, clog or sing along to folk music, there is a place for you at Folk Stomp. This new, three-day music event that launches Monday in the newly renovated St. Elmo Firehall is a fundraiser for Folk School of Chattanooga.

“We could have called it a festival,” said organizer Christie Burns, “but we were looking for a unique title with a lot of energy that would express this is something participatory.”

Burns said performers, many of whom are also instructors, have been booked to fill Folk Stomp Monday through Wednesday. Organizers have tried to ensure there is a music opportunity for all age groups.

Each day begins with a morning kids camp for ages 4-11 to learn and create.

“We are taking reservations for the camp,” said Burns. “They’ll be working with Kara Miscio and Augusta Webb to learn and create. It’s not a camp where they learn to play, but kids may bring their own instruments if they want to use them to play.”

Burns said she and Matt Evans will lead “Instrument Explorers” on the first day of kids camp, during which children may try out each instrument. On Tuesday, Ed Huey will lead a harmonica workshop, and on Wednesday kids will learn flat-footing from guest Paul Anderegg.

Each day at 2 p.m., teens are invited to bring their instruments to the firehall and jam together. The fee each day is $5.

For adults, there will be workshops (learn to play the musical saw or harmonica), an a cappella sing-along led by Stephanie Downer Brewer, and flat-footing, also known as clogging or buck dancing. Folk Stomp visitors are invited to bring their instruments to join in jam sessions.

Nightly concerts will include performances by The Driftwood Singers from Los Angeles, Moon Slew, Ed Huey, Pay the Reckoning, Slim Pickins, Bob Chuckrow and Timbre Fox.

Burns said the newly renovated firehall lends itself to this benefit.

“It’s fresh and new with beautiful hardwood floors, an open downstairs and a lot of separate spaces for workshops.”

She said this is the Folk School’s first major fundraiser, and organizers have tried to incorporate as many aspects of folk music within the three days as possible.