Folkstage

Saturdays at 8:00 pm
closeup of a guitar and a microphone

Put yourself in the room where live folk music thrives

Folkstage is a one-hour concert series featuring the finest traditional and singer-songwriter talent in folk music. Each year, some two dozen concerts come to you live from local venues or WFMT's studio. Additional episodes feature selections from 45 years of archival performances, including from the Old Town School of Folk Music.

You might also like The Midnight Special, a thematic mix of folk music and more every Saturday night from 9 pm to midnight after Folkstage.

Folkstage is available for free streaming in two different ways – live during the broadcast and on demand via the rights-compliant 5-hour, non-interactive player below within two weeks of the broadcast.

Theater on Folkstage! Recorded Live at WFMT

March 30, 2024, 8:00 pm

Recorded expressly for Folkstage, hear songs performed during a recent visit from Nolan Almeida and Raye Zaragoza who play Peter Pan and Tiger Lily in the new adaptation of Peter Pan by playwright Larissa FastHorse. Plus, samples from past shows presenting Chicago’s vibrant, folky, musical theatre scene.

Folkstage Highlights from the Archives

April 6, 2024, 8:00 pm

During our live on-air membership drive, join in the fun as we sample lively sets from 2023 by South for Winter, Jonas Friddle, Donna Herula, Dom Flemons, and Mean Mary.

Deidre McCalla Live from WFMT

April 13, 2024, 8:00 pm

During her extraordinary career, Deidre McCalla has gently commanded many a stage as a Black woman, mother, lesbian, feminist artist in the forefront of showing how Black folk do folk.

Maxwell Street Klezmer Band Live from WFMT!

April 20, 2024, 8:00 pm

The Maxwell St. Klezmer Band takes the stage with the phenomenal Cantor Pavel Roytman. Enjoy a mix of distinctive klezmer music and songs to mark Passover. Take that, Pharaoh!

Mike & Ruthy from the Archives

April 27, 2024, 8:00 pm

Michael Merenda and Ruth Ungar, co-founders of The Mammals, in an expansive 2014 performance including covers, originals and traditional numbers.

Mike Agranoff Live from WFMT

May 4, 2024, 8:00 pm

Mike Agranoff plies his folk trade with intelligence, humor, superb fingerstyle guitar and English concertina. His music and stories range from traditional tunes to the American Songbook to Americana.

WLS Barn Dance Centennial Recorded Live at The Hideout

May 11, 2024, 8:00 pm

WFMT partners with the Chicago History Museum to air an exclusive hour of music, history, poetry, and comedy showcasing Chicago’s role in a century of country music. Artists include Tara Betts, Gerald Dowd, Los Gallos, Girls of the Golden West, Kelly Hogan, Andrew Sa, Marvin Tate and more with Barry Irving as emcee.  

Katie Oates Trio Live from WFMT

May 18, 2024, 8:00 pm

Katie Oates is a preacher’s kid with a rich voice and a warm heart worn proudly on her sleeve. Katie, Parker Foley, and Mathew Tully come to Folkstage to showcase the new album, Edge of a Hurricane.

Dylan Covers on Folkstage from the Archives

May 25, 2024, 8:00 pm

A collection of Dylan songs performed live on Folkstage by a wide range of artists from Ed Holstein to Antje Duvekot, Robin Greenstein to Kevin So and more.