2024 Turtle Hill Folk Festival

At Turtle Hill, the audience not only gets to see these performers on stage, but also interact with them during workshops and small presentations during the day on Saturday, with many informal opportunities to sing and play music together. The festival is excited to have members of The Submarine School of Music participating in a workshop on Saturday from noon to 1:30 pm. The festival will include a grand finale Saturday night with all of the performers. There will also be late-night singing and jamming. Rough camping is available for a small fee, and you can also reserve a bed in the rustic, heated bunkhouses. 

Friday, September 6, 7:00–10:00 pm—Concert features (in performance order):       

Celtic Confusion: Aoife Clancy & Bill Elliott bring a vocal acoustic blend to the stage, combining elements of Celtic, Folk, Jazz and spoken word. Aoife is the daughter Bobby Clancy of the legendary Clancy Brothers, he placed a guitar in her hands at age ten, and by age fourteen she was playing with her father in nearby pubs.

Since these early beginnings Aoife has become a recognized artist in her own right. She has been a featured soloist with orchestras such as the Boston Pops and Cincinnati Pops and -while touring with Cherish the Ladies-collaborated with the Boston Pops on their Grammy nominated Celtic album. In addition, Aoife has performed at the Atlanta Olympics, as well as intimate private shows for audiences such as the Kennedy family at the Kennedy Library. Bill Elliott began playing guitar at the age of twelve, initially learning folk, then bluegrass, while transitioning into more contemporary music as a teenager. Today his repertoire and appreciation for music has extended into many musical genre’s both old and new.

Brendan Taaffe & Stefan Amidon: Brendan Taafe offers an absorbing mixture of American and African musical styles with Stefan Amidon adding percussion and vocals. Deeply versed in Irish and American traditions, it is on the mbira that Brendan Taaffe has found a truly distinctive voice, blending old-time ballads with traditional Zimbabwean rhythms. A multi-instrumentalist on guitar, fiddle, banjo, and mbira, Brendan has toured with many different groups, including nationally acclaimed dance band Magic Foot and the internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble Northern Harmony. In addition to performing solo, he currently directs The Bright Wings Chorus, a vocal ensemble, and is the frontman of The New Line, a band that blends mbira with banjo, electric guitar, and percussion, creating a bridge between American and African traditions. Stefan is percussionist, singer and founding member of the Sweetback Sisters. He is also a gifted singer and singing leader, and leads shape note singing at the Old Songs Festival.

Saturday, September 7, 7:00–10:00 pm—Concert features (in performance order):

The Rough & Tumble: The duo comprised of Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler, have been captivating audiences with their unique blend of dumpster-folk and thrift store-Americana for over a decade. The Pennsylvania-born Graham and Central California's Tyler have a knack for weaving together elements of joy, sorrow, comedy, and drama in their music, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats. With a smorgasbord of eclectic instruments and a stunning blend of harmonious vocals, the band crafts a work of profound emotional depth. The songs are raw, unbridled emotion with a touch that could only be crafted by two songwriters who have quite literally lived on the road for the better part of a decade. It’s a true testament to the band's unwavering dedication to their craft.

Kray VanKirk: A fine finger-style guitarist with a precise baritone, Van Kirk has a Ph.D. from the University of Alaska. After five years of living in his van and playing music across the US and Canada, he thought that a career in the sciences might be a bit more secure than playing music for a living, especially as a single parent. Eventually, however, he realized that he liked writing songs more than statistical models, and he put aside his computer, picked up his guitar, and set out again.

Festival Site, Camping, and Food: Golden Link’s Turtle Hill Folk Festival will be held at the Rotary Sunshine Campus, 809 Five Points Road, Rush, NY, a short drive south of Rochester. Rough camping (tents or RVs; no hook-ups) is available for $20 per site for the weekend. For a small fee, you can reserve a bunkhouse bed for one or both nights. Showers are available for campers. All facilities are wheelchair accessible. The Rotary Sunshine Campus is an alcohol-free, non-smoking, pet-free campus (except for service animals). Food provided on Friday and Saturday by Diner on the Run Food Truck. You may bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Tickets: Tickets are available at www.goldenlink.org, with a discount for Golden Link members. Online registration runs until September 5. Tickets will be sold online, and also at the gate.

Ticket Prices

Founded in 1971, the Golden Link Folk Singing Society is dedicated to presenting, promoting, and preserving folk music in the Rochester area. Golden Link is a volunteer-operated and member-supported 501(c)3 not-for-profit arts, cultural, and educational organization.

Calendar Listing

Turtle Hill Folk Festival

Rotary Sunshine Campus, 809 Five Points Rd., Rush, New York

Advance tickets on sale until September 5 at www.goldenlink.org. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate.

Friday, September 6, 2024

Gate opens 5:30 pm

Concert, 7:00–10:00 pm:

Celtic Confusion (Aoife Clancy & Bill Elliott)

Brendan Taaffe & Stefan Amidon

Evening concert followed by an indoor fireplace singaround and informal jamming.

Saturday, September 7, 2024 

Gate opens 9:30 am

Daytime workshops, round-robins, and jamming on three stages: 10:00 am–6:00 pm.

Daytime singaround and member showcase concerts all day.

Concert, 7:00–10:00 pm:

The Rough & Tumble

Kray VanKirk

Evening concert followed by an indoor fireplace singaround and informal jamming.