music and progressive social change, in the Philadelphia area
Information: email polson@igc.org, or call 215-848-6246. Tickets: app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=folk
Information: email polson@igc.org, or call 215-848-6246. Tickets: app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=folk
Upcoming events (2025-2026 Season):
Thurs., Oct. 23 In Person Open Stage/Open Circle
7:30pm, $2-5* [see details below]
Sat., Oct. 25 Jamie The Optimist Concert! [see details below]
7:30pm, $9-30* (Jamie Polson)
Sat., Jan. 17 Beppe Gambetta Concert!
8:00pm, $12-50*
Thurs., Jan. 22 In Person People's Choice Open Stage/Open Circle
7:30pm, $2-5* [see details below]
Thurs., Feb. 26 In Person People's Choice Open Stage/Open Circle
7:30pm, $2-5* [see details below]
Thurs., March 26 In Person People's Choice Open Stage/Open Circle
7:30pm, $2-5* [see details below]
Thurs., April 23 In Person People's Choice Open Stage/Open Circle
7:30pm, $2-5* [see details below]
Sat., June 6 People's Choice Concert! [top vote-getters for this year's People's Choice Open Stages]
8:00pm, $7-20 [tentative date]
* For all in-person Folk Factory events, low and no-wage folks can pay as little as half the bottom end of the sliding scale (or whatever they can afford) at the door. Kids under 12 are free, except for family concerts. The sliding scale is simply an opportunity for you to give an extra contribution donation to the Folk Factory without having to do a separate transaction. There is no intention to put any pressure for anyone to give any more than they can wholeheartedly feel good about. Think about how much you anticipate the event is likely to be worth to you, and give that amount, or a little more if you want to support us more than that.
In-Person Open Stage/Open Circle 7:30pm, 4th Thursday of most months (except November, December, and some summer months); $2-5 in person
We start with about an hour and a half of Open Stage - everyone gets up to 10 minutes (usually up to 2 songs). Then we take a break to take down the sound system and hang out. Then in the Open Circle, everyone present is invited to sing a song, read a poem, tell a story, request a song, or pass; songs are often participatory. It's a great place to perform for the first time or try out new material!
For the People's Choice version (normally January through April), there is in-person audience voting for each Open Stage act that wants, and the highest vote-getters are invited to participate in the June People's Choice Concert. Coordinators Bruce & Linda Pollack-Johnson will be out of town from mid-February to mid-June, but some other folks are considering making sure these happen while they are gone. If you would like to help, email polson@igc.org !
Earlier this season:
Sat., Aug. 30 Concert Against Fascism by Joe Troop's Truth Machine!
8:00pm, $15-75* [see details below!]
Sat., Sept. 20 Sharon Katz & the Peace Train Concert!
8:00pm, $15-75*
Thurs., Sept. 25 In Person Open Stage/Open Circle
7:30pm, $2-5* [see details below]
Sat., Oct. 4 Charlie King & Rick Burkhart Concert!
8:00pm, $15-75*
Events in COVID-19 Limbo:
Music for the New Revolution Showcase Concert (originally scheduled for March 14, 2020) - CANCELED/POSTPONED! Stay tuned for details
Alastair Moock and Two of a Kind - originally scheduled for May 8, 2020 - postponed
8:00pm $12-40* (David & Jenny Heitler-Klevans, doing grownup material)
past events
Thurs., Oct. 23 In Person Open Stage/Open Circle
7:30pm, $2-5* [see details below]
Sat., Oct. 25 Jamie The Optimist Concert! [see details below]
7:30pm, $9-30* (Jamie Polson)
Sat., Jan. 17 Beppe Gambetta Concert!
8:00pm, $12-50*
Thurs., Jan. 22 In Person People's Choice Open Stage/Open Circle
7:30pm, $2-5* [see details below]
Thurs., Feb. 26 In Person People's Choice Open Stage/Open Circle
7:30pm, $2-5* [see details below]
Thurs., March 26 In Person People's Choice Open Stage/Open Circle
7:30pm, $2-5* [see details below]
Thurs., April 23 In Person People's Choice Open Stage/Open Circle
7:30pm, $2-5* [see details below]
Sat., June 6 People's Choice Concert! [top vote-getters for this year's People's Choice Open Stages]
8:00pm, $7-20 [tentative date]
* For all in-person Folk Factory events, low and no-wage folks can pay as little as half the bottom end of the sliding scale (or whatever they can afford) at the door. Kids under 12 are free, except for family concerts. The sliding scale is simply an opportunity for you to give an extra contribution donation to the Folk Factory without having to do a separate transaction. There is no intention to put any pressure for anyone to give any more than they can wholeheartedly feel good about. Think about how much you anticipate the event is likely to be worth to you, and give that amount, or a little more if you want to support us more than that.
In-Person Open Stage/Open Circle 7:30pm, 4th Thursday of most months (except November, December, and some summer months); $2-5 in person
We start with about an hour and a half of Open Stage - everyone gets up to 10 minutes (usually up to 2 songs). Then we take a break to take down the sound system and hang out. Then in the Open Circle, everyone present is invited to sing a song, read a poem, tell a story, request a song, or pass; songs are often participatory. It's a great place to perform for the first time or try out new material!
For the People's Choice version (normally January through April), there is in-person audience voting for each Open Stage act that wants, and the highest vote-getters are invited to participate in the June People's Choice Concert. Coordinators Bruce & Linda Pollack-Johnson will be out of town from mid-February to mid-June, but some other folks are considering making sure these happen while they are gone. If you would like to help, email polson@igc.org !
Earlier this season:
Sat., Aug. 30 Concert Against Fascism by Joe Troop's Truth Machine!
8:00pm, $15-75* [see details below!]
Sat., Sept. 20 Sharon Katz & the Peace Train Concert!
8:00pm, $15-75*
Thurs., Sept. 25 In Person Open Stage/Open Circle
7:30pm, $2-5* [see details below]
Sat., Oct. 4 Charlie King & Rick Burkhart Concert!
8:00pm, $15-75*
Events in COVID-19 Limbo:
Music for the New Revolution Showcase Concert (originally scheduled for March 14, 2020) - CANCELED/POSTPONED! Stay tuned for details
Alastair Moock and Two of a Kind - originally scheduled for May 8, 2020 - postponed
8:00pm $12-40* (David & Jenny Heitler-Klevans, doing grownup material)
past events
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SATURDAY, October 25, 8:00pm Concert by Jamie the Optimist (Jamie Polson)! Tickets: app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=folk Jamie the Optimist (Jamie Polson) is a singer-songwriter, rapper, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, and producer, hailing from Northwest Philadelphia. He started writing songs when he was 8 years old on his ukulele, but didn’t release anything until 2018. He was a double major in Music and communications at Ursinus college, where he released two albums (“A good Place to Start” & “Lost and Found”). Over the summer Jamie released his fifth album entitled “Only One Home” a passion project he has been working on for over 3 years. The album is all about climate change, and is a call to action to take steps to minimize the damage of climate change so that we don’t have a future that we are going to regret. You will hear many songs off this album on October 25th! Jamie draws inspiration from all kinds of places. He grew up listening to many of the folk and protest music of the 60s and 70’s like: Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Phil Oches, Harry Belefonte, Joan Baez, Woody and Arlo Guthrie, and Stan Rogers. In recent years Jamie’s inspirations are much broader, now including artists like: Flight of the Conchords, Marc Rebillet, Lawrence, Vulfpeck, Felly, Reggie Watts, Jacob Collier, The Decemberists, The Mountain Goats, Sufjan Stevens, and Louis Cole. Since Jamie graduated college he has gotten to collaborate and perform with many high profile artists within the folk music scene such as: David Roth, Reggie Harris, Emma’s Revolution, and Sharon Katz & the Peace Train, to name a few. |
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About the Folk Factory
The Folk Factory, based at Unitarian Universalists of Mt. Airy (formerly Restoration), is a forum for people interested in music of all kinds and progressive social change. Unless otherwise indicated, all events are held at the church, located at 6900 Stenton Ave. (at Gorgas Lane) - see the map at right. Facilitated announcements of progressive events (marches, boycotts, etc.) can be made before the start of each event. All Folk Factory events are wheelchair accessible. The Folk Factory is a kindred spirit of the People's Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle, co-founded by Charlie King and Pete Seeger. Regular concerts are normally on the first or second weekend of most months during the academic year, and an Open Stage/Open Circle is held on the fourth Thursday of most months. To volunteer or for more information, call (215) 848-6246.
If you have snail mail and/or email address changes, deletions, or additions (such as if you want to add your name to the email notice list), you can call us at 215-848-6246 or email us at polson@igc.org. You can send any financial contributions (we suggest $5/yr or $15 for 5 yrs to help cover our copying and postage costs for snail mail, and other donations are gratefully appreciated!) to The Folk Factory, 6900 Stenton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19150. * For all Folk Factory events, low and no-wage folks who come in person can pay as little as half the bottom end of the sliding scale (or whatever they can afford) at the door. Kids under 12 are free except for family concerts. |
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More information about the Folk Factory: polson@igc.org , or call 215-848-6246, or see our Facebook page: "The Folk Factory"