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The Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival
Main stage at the 2005 Kate Wolf festival
Kate Wolf was a well-loved folk singer-songwriter based in Sonoma County, Northern California. Although she died in 1986 just as she was reaching national acclaim, her music continues to capture the minds and hearts of new fans, and to inspire many contemporary country and folk artists. She played to packed houses in Mendocino many times in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Kate released many record albums and CDs, and she toured far beyond California. She appeared on the Austin City Limits PBS TV series in 1985, not long before she became ill. Videotapes and DVDs of that memorable performance and more are available from www.katewolf.com
The Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival had its origin in June 1996, when the Kate Wolf Retrospective Concert was held to celebrate Kate and her music. Kate's friends, family, and a sold-out crowd had such a wonderful time that they decided to make it an annual event. From 1996 to 2000, Caswell Vineyards in Sonoma County hosted the festival, which is sponsored by the Sebastopol Community Center in Sebastopol, CA, and produced by Cloud Moss and Cumulus Presents
In 2001 the festival found a new home at Black Oak Ranch (home of the Hog Farm commune, Camp Winnarainbow, and Wavy Gravy), just north of Laytonville (northern Mendocino County). There's plenty of room for campers to stay the entire three-day weekend on site. Though festival has grown larger, it remains a mellow, family-friendly event featuring acoustic-style traditional music. Each year the festival presents nationally known performers such as Joan Baez, Donovan, Greg Brown, Steve Earle, Rosalie Sorrels, Tom Paxton, David Grisman and many more.
Nicholas Wilson has been photographing the annual festival since 2004. About 1000 of his Kate Wolf Festival photos can be seen on this site from the links below. Several hundred more of his photos from the 2004 festival can be seen at the official Kate Wolf website festival gallery linked below.
Folksinger Bruce "Utah" Phillips was a friend of Kate's and a regular performer at the festival. He died at home on May 23, 2008, and the 2008 festival is dedicated to his memory. There is a special photo tribute to Utah Phillips on this site.
For information about the 2008 festival see the official site at www.cumuluspresents.com/kate
Guide to Nicholas Wilson's Kate Wolf Festival Photos
New! View the 2007 Kate Wolf festival photo gallery
Over 370 photos from the 2007 festival can be viewed from a single large index page (posted 6/26/2008)
2007 Performers
- Richie Havens
- Hot Tuna
- Marcia Ball
- David Bromberg and Angel Band
- Dave Alvin
- Eliza Gilkyson with Nina Gerber
- Rosalie Sorrels
- Laura Love Band
- The Bills
- Dougie MacLean
- Utah Phillips
- John Trudell & Quiltman
- Nina Gerber
- Kenny Edwards, Joe Craven & Cary Black
- Tom Russell
- The Mammals
- Joe Craven & Sam Bevan
- Robin & Linda Williams & Their Fine Group
- Guy Davis
- The Devil Makes Three
- Lowen & Navarro
- Marc Atkinson Trio
- Moira Smiley & VOCO
- The Be Good Tanyas
- Wavy Gravy
View the 2006 Kate Wolf festival photo gallery
Over 300 photos from the 2006 festival can be viewed from a single large index page
2006 Performers
- Bruce Cockburn
- Steve Earle
- Arlo Guthrie & Guthrie Family Legacy
- Greg Brown with Bo Ramsey
- The Roches
- Alison Brown Quartet
- Rosalie Sorrels
- Tim O'Brien Band
- Utah Phillips
- The Campbell Brothers
- Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum with Dirk Powell & Christine Balfa
- Railroad Earth
- The Wailin' Jennys
- Buddy Miller
- Mary Gauthier with Thomm Jutz
- Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez with John Platania
- The Websters & Scott Nygaard
- Adrienne Young & Little Sadie
- The Kennedys
- Jim Page
- Hugh Shacklett
- Clan Dyken
- Wavy Gravy
View the 2005 Kate Wolf festival photo galleries
Main Stage Performers and Audience (197 photos)
Secondary Stages (31 photos)
Kids & Activities (39 photos)
Craft and Food Vendors (89 photos)
Panoramic Audience Views (7 photos)
2005 Performers
- Donovan
- Greg Brown
- Iris Dement
- Richard Thompson
- Karla Bonoff w/ Kenny Edwards, Nina Gerber & Scott Babcock
- David Lindley
- Linda Tillery
- Nina Gerber
- Rosalie Sorrels
- David Grisman Bluegrass Experience
- Robert Earl Keen
- Campbell Brothers w/Eric Bibb
- Garnet Rogers
- John McCutcheon
- James Keelaghan & Jez Lowe
- Cris Williamson w/Barbara Higbie & Teresa Trull
- Sisters Morales
- The Duhks
- City Folk w/Kimball Hurd, Keith Greeninger & Roger Feuer
- Caroline Herring
- Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald
- Alisa Fineman
Additional 2005 festival photos by Max Wolf are available at www.katewolf.com/festival
The 2004 Kate Wolf festival gallery of Nicholas Wilson's photos is on the official Kate Wolf website at www.katewolf.com (opens in a new browser window).
2004 Performers
- Joan Baez
- Jackson Browne (unadvertised)
- Steve Earle & The Bluegrass Dukes
- David Bromberg Quintet
- Tom Paxton and Anne Hills
- Maura O'Connell
- Peter Rowan & Tony Rice
- Peter Rowan & The Rowan Brothers
- Greg Brown with Nina Gerber
- Nina Gerber
- Eliza Gilkyson
- Chris Smither
- Ruthie Foster with Cyd Cassone
- Rosalie Sorrels
- The Waybacks
- Christine Kane
- Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald
- Mary McCaslin
- Jimmy LaFave
- Jennifer Berezan
- Joel Rafael Band
- Banana Slug String Band
- Wavy Gravy
- Love Choir
- Peter "Madcat" Ruth
Prints available:
Archival Art prints of selected festival photos are available by special order. Audience and children photos are available only to people in the pictures and family members. Please contact mail@nwilsonphoto.com to ask about prints, and please include the file numbers of any image(s) you're interested in. More information about prints.
Special note to performers:
If your photo is included in the online photo galleries on this site, it's easy to get permission to use it on your own website and other uses under terms detailed on the Notes for Musicians and Performers page.
Publications interested in editorial use of photos please write to mail@nwilsonphoto.com or call the numbers listed on the contact page.
For more about
visit: www.katewolf.com
For more about the Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival see: www.katewolf.com/festival/
For information about the next festival see: www.cumuluspresents.com/kate/
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Last updated 6/26/2008
