From baby boomers chilling to Robbie Fulks performing traditional, sometimes plaintive, folk music to twenty- and thirty-somethings enthusiastically singing along when Sierra Ferrell took the main stage, the first-ever Evanston Folk Festival Saturday and Sunday at Dawes Park on the lakefront appealed to a wide swath of audiences.
Attendance numbers hit 4,500 on Saturday and 4,000 on Sunday, not including about 500 free kids’ admissions each day, said organizer Jake Samuels, director of SPACE Presents, an Evanston music venue.
He said 18% of attendees, and all but 18 locals among the 44 performance acts and conversation/lecture hosts, were from out of state, possibly giving the North Shore economy a late-summer boost.
Kristen Nelson of the Evanston History Museum had set up a table outside the Dawes stage with volunteer Laura Godfrey, handing out information and letting kids scramble to take their photo with a cutout of “Charlie,” or Charles Gates Dawes, whose historic home exuded a sense of grandeur behind that stage.
“It’s such a beautiful sight to see all these families come out,” said Nelson, the center’s director of external affairs.
From their perch, they heard Jontavious Willis exude a bluesy sound, which Nelson described as “awesome,” and Willi Carlisle playing a more folksy sound infused with a little rock, encouraging the audience to sing along.
Amy Krause and a friend had set up a table and chairs with food and candles, Ravinia-style, to take in the scene.
“I’ve been here since around 2, and it’s pretty great,” said Krause, of Downers Grove. “I can’t believe they got Sierra to come to this. It’s fantastic.”
Nodding in the direction of her friend Lisa Van Plew, Krause said, “She drove in from Three Oaks, Michigan.
“It’s a beautiful setting, with a diverse crowd, and very well executed.”
Lauren Thacker of Chicago, who said she arrived at the fest around 3 p.m. Saturday, was standing in line at a food truck with her family, observing “It seemed like a very low-key, chill fest. The scenery by the lake is beautiful. But the lines (for food) are a mile long.”
Organizer Samuels said the festival operations went smoothly, with minimal complications.
“We are really pleased with how the festival went and feel we accomplished what we set out to do — celebrate a variety of interpretations of folk music, bring our community together, and showcase many of the things we love about Evanston,” he said. “It felt like a huge win for Evanston.”
As for whether the festival will take place again next year, he said, “We’d be excited to see this become a recurring event with the blessing and support of our town and neighbors. We’ll see where those conversations lead.”
