Saturdays at 8:00 pm
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. Previous live performers include Dom Flemons, Connie Kaldor, Bonnie Koloc, Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards, Jim & Susie Malcolm, Abby Posner, and many more. Additional episodes feature selections from 45 years of archival performances, including from the Old Town School of Folk Music. Become a Folkstage supporter today.
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.
Mustard’s Retreat From the Archives
In the early days of Folkstage, Michael Hough and David Tamulevich sang of mosquitos and answering machines and other delightful topics. It was summer 2002 and we’re still laughing with Mustard’s Retreat who, with original member Libby Glover, celebrated 50 years as a band in 2025.
Grant Park Music Festival Independence Day Salute
Folkstage is pre-empted this week so that we may bring you Christopher Bell conducting the Grant Park Orchestra in the Festival’s traditional Fourth of July concert which includes patriotic music, favorites by Copland and Gershwin, plus a performance of Carmen Dragon’s orchestral arrangement of “The Orange Blossom Special” live on WFMT with host Dave Schwan.
The Limeliters from the Archives
The Limeliters performed at the Byron Colby Barn of Prairie Crossing, Grayslake, Illinois, on July 22, 2000. We replay this remarkable show on the birth anniversary of founding band member Alex Hassilev.
Tish Hinojosa Live at WFMT
Singer/songwriter Tish Hinojosa was born in San Antonio, Texas, to Mexican immigrant parents, the youngest of thirteen. She has released 16 albums in English and Spanish bridging Tejano, folk, country, and border music. In advance of her set at the Woodstock Folk Festival on Sunday July 19, Tish performs solo, live from the Levin Performance Studio.
