Learn how to transform short stories into compelling songs, exploring storytelling, melody, and lyrical adaptation.

Easy dance sequences for dancers of any experience level. We'll get you moving to the music and smiling in no time!

Many dances - old and new - have been written in honor of persons or events. In this session, we'll explore a variety of tributes from throughout the years.

The Klines take audiences on a journey through the soul of Appalachia, but also blend in love songs and music of people in nature, evoking family memories.

We’ll share stories of the older generation Michael Kline knew in West Virginia and get everyone breathing new life into these powerful old songs, singing together!

We will lead classic Argentine tangos as they are played for dancing. We will have sheet music.

We’ll break apart a few harmony arrangements and turn the floor over to you for some low-stakes harmony practice. Bring a song or just practice harmonizing with the room.

There's nothing like singing around a campfire in Newfoundland or the Maritimes, and here's your chance for a chinwag and a mug-up. We'll have English, French, Gaelic, and some cracking tunes, so bring your fiddles and strings for a Downeast celiidh jam! No, we won't make you kiss a codfish.

Come dance Breton line dances with Bagad New York! The only Breton bagpipe/bombarde ensemble in North America, Bagad New York is dedicated to promoting Breton culture through performance of Breton dance music including the Gavotte Montagne, An Dro, Hanter Dro, and more!

Come share your favorite Balfolk tunes.

Curious about balfolk? Come learn some of the more commonly done balfolk dances. Balfolk includes couple dances, line, and circle dances.

Balkan and International dancing with music by Sladka.

Join Meraki Caravan for some folk dancing to live music from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary, Greece, Turkey, and the Romani diaspora.

Come listen to brass band music from Serbia, Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Whether you want to join the circle dance or just move to the rhythm, this event will be groovin'

cocekberancheusestdevtorka and more

Orkestar Banitsa will play dances from Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Serbia

Lovely dances done to exquisite Balkan music (much of which is a Capella) which just takes your breath away.

Inspiring pan-Balkan dance tunes by Balkan Fields. Dean Brown, electric guitar, Melinda Fields, accordion, Mel Fitzhugh, electric bass, Henry Goldberg, percussion & vocals, Melinda Hunt, vocals, Ralph Iverson, gadulka, violin, sax, viola.

Come sing along (or just enjoy listening) to "old citysongs" and/or dance songs from Macedonia and surrounding areas, evoking the pleasure ("kef") of singing with old friends around the table at a celebration, or in the village tavern or coffeehouse.

Will he marry her or just hang out at the tavern. Will the village make a banquet for the desperados? Come find out ...

A highly entertaining session of songs, stories, instrumentals, and humor.

Beginner-friendly banjo instruction for accompanying folk singing in the Seeger "up-picking" style.

Join us as we sing one of our all-time favorite albums, Rubber Soul.

Bourrées are traditional dances from Central France, and are very popular on the contemporary Balfolk dance floor. We’ll dance several bourrées in different configurations and time signatures (2-time and 3-time).

A potpourri of waltzes for your dancing and listening pleasure.

Come hear tips from a seasoned pub sing leader, experiences of a newcomer, and examples that will help you find your place in community music making.

A few 19th C American songs as originally composed and published paired with the versions of them that were more popularly sung or parodied. (Sing along with the well known choruses)

Come join a beginner-friendly jam. We'll sing and play some bluegrass favorites at a stress-free pace. All are welcome!

Learn the basic motions and steps of Flatfooting and Buck Dancing. The session is taught using the Appalachian Step Percussion Services system. Everyone will be a happy flatfooter by the end!

For these fractious times, what's your most relevant and inspiring song that's also so singable, it will get a crowd of strangers singing along?

How do people absorb good dance skills? Who are your community’s dance models? What strategies can improve dancing in groups of different ages, experience levels, and physical abilities? Join us for lively conversation about success stories, best practices, and strategies to help your group thrive.

Breathwork is an important tool for reducing tension. We'll focus on using breath to free the natural voice, good for anyone who would like to use their voice with greater ease.

We'll play dance tunes from Bretagne including Hanter Dro, Andro, Laridee, Ridee, Gavottes, Avant Deux, and more. Notation will be provided for most tunes, learning by ear is encouraged.

Join us for rousing a cappella folk songs from both sides of the pond—tight harmonies, hearty choruses, and spirited camaraderie which celebrates the folk tradition with modern sensibilities.

Enjoy traditional Bulgarian line dances done to the vibrant singing of the "wild women" chorus Divi Zheni. Easy to pick up if new to you and fun to dance to the live energetic music.

Campy, Singing, all the hits from your childhood. Come share a song or sing and dance along. Kid friendly!

Camp Woodland was a progressive summer camp, well-known for collecting and preserving the folk music of New York’s Catskill Mountains. In this multi-media presentation, former campers tell the story of Camp Woodland through its people, songs and stories.

Scottish traditional music from Cape Breton Island featuring lively sets of strathspeys, jigs and reels played on fiddle, small pipes and piano, as well as songs sung in Gaelic.

Fried de Metz Herman, one of the most creative ECD choreographers of the modern era, would have turned 100 this year. In this session, we will dance some favorites from her repertoire.

An open sing of sea chanteys, forebitters, and other maritime-related songs, old and new. Bring one with a chorus, or just follow along.

Crowd participation of folk music and sea chanteys. Come sing along or sing a chantey of your own, no experience necessary.

Songs with choruses that everyone can sing along on.

We will lead a class in Georgian dancing, based on the traditional techniques seen in Georgian Dance Performances. Our instructors are professional Georgian dancers who lead our Legends Ensemble.

We'll dance some of our longtime favorite squares, channeling Tony Parkes, Ted Sannella, and others. The session will include a warm-up for Sunday's Merry-Go-Round.

End the festival with open song-sharing, all voices and instruments welcome, choruses preferred but not required, diversity, equity and inclusion! Allen has led the closing sing-around for more than 25 years.

Come enjoy dancing as a community! All ages welcome, all dances taught, no prior experience required.

Lively and accessible dances for all ages including circles, longways sets and scatter mixers.

Join Becky and Nicole for a concert of songs that contradict or complement each other — from love and loss to icebergs and airplanes. There will be plenty of opportunities to sing, laugh, and maybe cry along (in a good way).

Harp and vocal folk music performance.

Travel back in time and experience the dances that gave birth to modern contras.

The New Haven Jammers will run a slow jam. Tunes are preselected and music is passed out. Beginning musician friendly. Emphasis is on learning tunes and playing slowly.

Lively contras for dancers (new and old) who just can't get enough!

A participatory jam led by Roundtuit (Rebecca Weiss and Charlie Pilzer) featuring tunes written in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts.

Great contra dances written by great choreographers (and maybe one by me).

A collection of American-style contra dances by choreographers from Canada, Europe, and Australia.

Contras featuring smooth and unique transitions into and out of stars.

Play and/or sing Balkan music in 9, 11, 12, 13, 22, mixed meters and beyond! There will be a core group of folks to follow; paper/digital music/lyrics provided. Some minimal instruction on rhythm/lyrics.

Innovative interpretations for arranging traditional music; turn pop tunes into folk songs; break away from first position chords with easy, inventive figures up and down the neck; alternative tunings; loosen up your playing through syncopation and musical phrasing. Focus is on fingerpicking but technics are adaptable to flat pickers.

Join us for a non-taught but accessible session full of traditional Croatian dances!

Introduction to cross-step waltz, a beautiful, flowing modern waltz form with many variations that works best with slow waltz music.

Novel and known dances that let you enjoy the tunes as you travel.

Join in the fun of singing sea chanteys! All are welcome to listen, sing along with, and/or lead a song. Easy choruses, high energy, nautical spirit!

There are so many great D tunes so it’ll be easy to spend our time together in this key. Fiddles come tuned ADAE for best results. All stringed instruments welcome. Bring a tune you can lead or follow along as we jam away.

Dance to some of our favorite tunes, from the Balkans and beyond.

We play music and lead people of all ages (2 to 102), especially those who have not danced before, in easy-to-learn American barn-dance and play party favorites: circles, longways, scattered formations, as well as international (European, Latin American, African, and Asian) folk dances.

Dances from this region are primary done in lines or circles. The steps are generally easy and the dances are lots of fun. The dances taught will also be done in a separate dance party with music by Pajdashi, where there will not be any teaching.

Come join in dances that express the heart and soul of cultures usually underrepresented in international folk dance circles. We’ll teach dances from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America and more—dances of joy, sorrow, everyday life, and fun!

Beautiful music and dances from the Balkans and beyond in unusual meters!

Easy, adorable couple sequence dances with very loose historical/traditional roots and a great circle mixer from the Bridgerton TV shows.

For instrumentalists interested in exploring the manouche jazz tradition as exemplified by the music of Django Reinhardt.

Favorites from the ECD repertoire, including some modern dances with excellent tunes. Positional (gender-free) calling.

Come dance some ECD classics! ECD musicians are welcome to sit in with the Open Band (and can practice the tunes earlier at xxx in xxx.

Many English Country Dance titles include the word “maggot” because one definition of maggot is a whimsical thought, or a flight of fancy. Come and discover what quirky thoughts might emerge as we explore a few of these fun and lively dances.

A variety of dances to enhance our sensibilities and bring us collectively to a dancer’s high! Exceptional ECD for experienced and attentive dancers with challenging figures taught succinctly to exquisite music.

A selection of English and Contra dances that illuminate connections and contrasts between the two forms, how they are connected by history and how they still interweave.

A relaxing space in which to learn a few English folk tunes from across the centuries. Everyone welcome!

English country dances called in succession, no teaching! Dancers are expected to know all of the usual calls and be able to respond quickly. Teaching session available beforehand!

Bring your favorite git fiddle. Learn the basics of the Travis pick and insights into expanding its use in your performance.

Two of Boston’s loudest pub singers have picked out a selection of their favorite songs, and invite you to come sing along with them!

Contras featuring fun moments to connect via non-physical connection and eye contact with other dancers.

Dance with your family and mine! Try simple circle, longways set, and mixer dances. All dances will be taught in a kid-friendly manner and we will dance to a multigenerational family band.

Family dancing for all with music provided by a multi-family band.

International dances for all ages; family-friendly

SCD is a fun, social, energetic style of group dancing. All ages and abilities welcome for this introductory session.

Family friendly singalong of traditional folk songs led by Green Mountain Radish Revival. GMRR is Merry Trudeau and Jason Baker.

English country dances and contras that you love. The English dances will be called positionally; no role or gender terms used.

Close out the Festival with a big, open-band finale. We'll dance fun contras and squares, including the classic Merry Go Round square, to the joyful sounds of the Festival Orchestra.

A stylish blend of English country dances: from elegant to energetic, flowing to frolicking, playful to peaceful, and always festive!

Folks from the long running Berlin MA Old Time Jam welcome you to join a session of best known tunes played at 'Back Porch' tempo (under 100bpm) . .

This class teaches the basic waltz step along with simple percussive steps based on natural motions that can be added while dancing with your partner.

Contra dances that have a good story line and flow between the figures.

Enjoy contras where one move soars into the next? This contra session features dances where you can get in the groove and flow through the lines!

Foc'sle songs and street ballads sung in chorus with the maritime group ShinBone Alley - and stories of the sea to float.

International folk dances with live music on accordion and percussion.

We offer sets with classic, singalong folk covers.

Balfolk guided jam. Traditional and contemporary dance tunes from Brittany and France. Music provided. All instruments welcome.

A NEFFA tradition for experienced dancers. This is a 20 minute series of no-walk through dances. It's a blast!

Join the Folk Song Society of Greater Boston for an Open Sing - and bring your song(s) to sing! Accompanied, unaccompanied, folk songs, traditional songs, songs with choruses and with no chorus - everyone is welcome to lead a song, sing along, or just listen!

A mixture of slightly skewed original songs and rockin’ arrangements of jigs, reels, and other melodies from the British Isles and beyond.

Fusion is a partner dance trend done to a variety of music that borrows elements from many forms (blues, contact improv, ecstatic, swing, tango, etc.) and spans several aesthetics. Lesson at the beginning.

Georgian songs are both ancient and contemporary. Our children's group performs songs significant to Georgian families. The Dancing Crane Georgian Cultural Center presents a concert of Georgian songs by the Iberia Children's Song Group led by Eka Chichua.

Groovy contras with good flow, connection, and balance. Groovy good times!

The Klemer Trio features clarinet, harp, and double bass, blending world traditions with Middle Eastern melodies and jazz. Formed at Berklee College of Music, they weave personal and cultural stories in themes of resilience and hope amid conflict. They connect audiences across cultures through their unique, improvisational sound.

Tired of doing the same dance every time the band plays trite pati, rachenica or daichvo? This session is designed to introduce dancers to some of the many variations of dances that are commonly done in one way in the folk dance community.

A selection of traditional Greek island dance music from the island of Lesvos featuring a brass & strings ensemble with sandouri (hammered dulcimer), violin, trumpet, helicon (tuba), and percussion.

Hammered Dulcimer Potpourri - where we will perform a couple tunes together and each share a tune or song with an explanation of why it feels special. The group is made up of 4-6 experienced HD players and will share various styles of playing.

A musical introduction to the versatility of the Hardanger d'Amore, featuring Scandinavian, Celtic, self-composed tunes. Also, the story of these unique instruments made by band member Dev!

Sing along to honky tonk country songs from the heyday of country music by the likes of Hank Williams and Loretta Lynn. Led by Planet Banjo country band. All words provided.

Basic instruction on how to play the bones, starting with the very basics and moving up to more complicated technique.

Introduction to Irish Bodhran; a demonstration of handling technique. Explore Irish music rhythms. We'll consider seisún (session) etiquette, play some tunes (with Dave Miller on fiddle), explore ornamentation. Bring a bodhran.

I started a contra dance at Cornell in 2009. Made many mistakes, but by year 2 it was a rousing success. Took a while for it to restart post-Covid (after I graduated and left). Here's what I did right & wrong, and how you can start one at your college.

A concert of English folk tunes and songs

Balkan and International line dances for all

Intro to Balkan Dancing featuring live music with the NEFFArious Goats. Dance to Balkan rhythms showcasing the magnificent Gadja (Macedonian bagpipe).

Casino Rueda is a called partner dance akin to a circle mixer, that originated in 1950's Cuba. Danced to salsa or timba music, Rueda is spirited, yet laid back and fun, and features frequent and creative partner changes.

The dances of the American colonial period lay the foundation for our dancing today. Come learn how contradances used to be done, with some of the period steps and styling.

New to Contra? Feeling a little rusty? Set yourself up for success this weekend with a crash course in the basics of contra dance figures and techniques.

Learn the basics or try a role you haven't danced before. Beginners and experienced dancers are all welcome!

Learn the basic steps and figures of English Country Dance while dancing to beautiful music.

Discover ECD's beautiful, varied music and blissful movements that have delighted dancers for centuries.

This workshop introduces hand drumming basics, including technique for common drums, rhythmic patterns, and ensemble playing. No experience is necessary; bring a drum or borrow one of ours. All ages are welcome, though young people require adult supervision. Join us to find your sound and play together as a group.

An introduction to the basics of French Canadian step dancing (la gigue).

Come explore the interplay of follow and lead in Swedish couple turning dances, with our main focus on the Swedish polska and its 3/4-time pulse. Work on your balance, the challenges of weight change, and the essential concept we call svikt. Perfect your pivots!

Discussion and practical application of international folk dance teaching techniques; sharing of resources, working with mentors and mentees.

Get these scales in your fingers, and difficult tunes become easy. We'll start with an easy tune, and look at the scale and related scales. All instruments. Paper music in all keys.

Learn the basics of Balkan and other international folk dance styles. Enjoy efficient, cheerful teaching and fabulous live music!

Traditional Irish tunes at slow and moderate tempos, playing by ear (the traditional way), starting with more common session tunes. Tunes include jigs, reels, waltzes, hornpipes, polkas, slip jigs, and more.

No partners needed for these easy-to-learn Israeli folk dances which will be taught and cued so all dancers can participate. Join us when you arrive for a rousing beginning to your NEFFA festival.

Come dance Israeli dances from 1948-1989

We will share songs and stories about animals of all kinds, and play some simple circle games. Puppets, scarves and storybooks will all make an appearance.

From 1651 to the present, ECD tunes delight us with their variety. Let’s play melodies from the spritely to the sumptuous. Requests welcome! If you have them: bring Barnes books and music stands to share.

Jane Austen was snooty about how the squares of her youth (cotillions) were better than the newfangled squares (quadrilles) of the early 19th century. Learn to dance the steps and figures of squares just like a young Jane! Steps will be energetic (hops and skips)!

Join in on the fun as you peek into childhood in Japan. Listen to the folk tales that give the songs context, play some games, and sing along. No knowledge of Japanese necessary.

Guitar/Uke/Vocals performance, featuring a memorable mix of playful jazz, Americana and originals, with blazing fingerpicking and soulful vocals. Mark won a Grammy in '05; Greta was Young Audiences' Nat'l Artist of the Year in '09, the same year they played for President Obama!

Jim Kitch, from Philadelphia, was a prolific writer of contra dances and some English dances. We'll present some well known and some little known dances that he wrote.

Rather than “longways for as many as will,” we'll enjoy English country dances choreographed for 2, 3, or 4 couple sets.

Relax to ice-cream-powered, fireworks-interrupted, and cricket-witnessed New England-style fiddle tunes and songs, many of which we’ve written and are excited to share with you

Join us in sharing joy and harmony as we sing graceful, flowing rounds together. We’ll bring some rounds printed out and available online. Requests are also welcome.

Come dance your heart out to Outrageous Fortune's rootsy jug band stylings of classic '20s and '30s blues and jazz. Stationary listeners are also welcome!

In honor of the late Tom Lehrer, let’s get together and sing some of our favorite Tom Lehrer songs.

Some useful movements to incorporate into our lives so that our bodies are more comfortable and can continue to dance and make music. Suitable for all bodies of any age and ability!

Fun for all ages! These traditional figures were described by Patrick Napier in his book Kentucky Mountain Square Dancing, 1975. No fancy footwork required, but lots of spinning!

A jam session aimed at kids, but everyone is welcome. We will be playing easy tunes from the modern contra dance repertoire. Tunes and chords at lilywise.com/kidsjam Bring your instrument!

Klezmer jam session

Leanbh (‘LYANuv’) is Irish for ‘child.’ Come share children’s songs, singing games, lullabies from Ireland.

Cajun tunes are sprightly, haunting and sometimes quirky, but always engaging and fun. Cathy will teach a popular 2-Step or waltz, starting with the basic tune and adding additional layers of ornaments and rhythmic variations to give it that irresistible Cajun swing.

Join Bagad New York for a learning/jam session about playing Breton tunes. No previous experience of Breton music is necessary. We will share sheet music and instruction for several different types of dance tunes from Bretagne, France. Instruments in Bflat, G, or A will be best for playing together.

Learn all of the dances for this year's English dance medley. Includes tips for expeditious recoveries. There's no obligation to participate in the actual medley!

New to contra dancing or need a refresher? This fun and easy instruction session will get you ready for contra dance sessions at NEFFA or your local dance. Everyone welcome!

We will teach a simple version of the hornpipe dance with live accompaniment and talk a little about the history of the dance in seafaring traditions and popular culture. All levels, ages appropriate.

Reluctant and perplexed? "If they just gave sheet music, I could play along right away!" Maybe. Let’s explore ideas, playful approaches, and exercises, moving joyously together toward learning by ear.

Celebrate Pete Seeger through hearing stories about his life and singing along to songs he popularized or wrote himself.

Do you like instrumental music but really want to sing it on nonsense syllables? Always wanted to use your voice like a fiddle? Come sing with us - we invite you to have a tune in mind that you'd like to teach. Beginners welcome.

Slow to moderate tempos. Possibly faster, if we feel like it.

Longsword is an English tradition dating back to 1600’s. This will be a fun workshop for ages 5 and up, learning how to dance together and make sword locks.

Irish song tradition is strongly linked to place; come share songs of villages, mountains, cities and shores.

The celibate, communal United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing are famed not only for their furniture, but for their often boisterous religious services. Sing and dance along with Boston Area Shaker Study Group member E. J. Barnes. Lyric sheets provided.

We will dim the lights, make room for lying down on the floor and for prams and carriers as we sing quiet gentle songs and lullabies to help children and grownups unwind, relax and get ready for sleep after a busy day.

Popular music and song from the Renaissance to today with voices, lutes, viola da gamba, violin, and mandolin.

Slow jam session for some of the many wonderfully danceable tunes composed during the first quarter century of our young millennium and having the potential to define a next generation of classics.

A concert of folk songs from Eastern and Western Europe, Great Britain, Middle East, and the Americas.

An introduction to Cotswold Morris dancing, open to everyone from those who’ve never tried it to experts looking for an opportunity to hop into a morris set.

We will play a lively selection of our favorite hambos, schottisches, snoas, waltzes, and polkas for dancing.

Topical songs about current issues, events and social justice - in the tradition of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. Most are new and many to sing along with.

We will be hosting a jam of our favorite Swedish tunes. We will supply sheet music for those who are new to the tunes.

In the spirit of Philadelphia's popular "Mostly Waltz" series, a variety of waltzes and other couple dances such as schottische, tango, swing, hambo, or polka.

Let's play music from various folk traditions - sheet music provided - Celtic, ECD, Balkan, Klezmer, Scandi... Let's break boundaries!

This concert of music by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), a blind Irish harper, will be performed on fiddle, piano, hammered dulcimer and others.

We will play arrangements of traditional music from Scotland and Cape Breton with a big fiddle sound. Our group includes fiddles, flutes, whistle, guitars, mandolins, accordions, cellos and piano.

Enjoy folk songs from different regions of the Middle East, Levant, North Africa, Andalusia, Turkey, and Greece by Meraki Caravan ensemble, with special featured guest Fateh Azzam, our amazing Lebanese oud player. Experience the magic of raqs sharqi (belly dance).

Duo weaving the gorgeous tones of the Native American Style Flute with guitar, voice, and percussion to create a blend of soothing songs and contemporary Native American flute music.

I'll be leading songs about pirate cats, rodent mariners, and other nautical critters. The audience can join in on the refrain or chorus.

Vote in our annual election, and get the results at our annual meeting. This is our annual meeting, at which we will present an update on the organization and our financial status. Meet the board, and ask questions!

Members of the NEFFA Board will present and discuss some of the results and analysis of the data from our 2024 community survey. We'll dive into issues of inclusion, diversity, and organizational culture, and we'd love to have you join us for the conversation!

Funny songs, silly songs, and other songs to make you laugh. Audience participation is encouraged.

Dave will lead commonly played New England tunes at a slow tempo, then speed up a little. Attendees will be welcome to suggest tunes.

Open session for singer/songwriters in the round for each to play a few songs

Come and sing the folk songs that became so famous that they don't get sung much these days. We're talking "Sweet Betsy from Pike." I'll hand out lyric sheets and focus on chorus songs.

Join us for singing old and new shape-note music from our tunebook, "The Norumbega Harmony."

Help us celebrate World Nyckelharpa Day (Sun, 4/26/26) by playing or requesting some of your favorite nyckelharpa tunes.

These dances are easy to learn, and fun to dance. Some examples are The Teton Mountain Stomp, The Boston Two Step, St. Barnard's Waltz, and the ever popular Salty Dog Rag. No need to bring a partner.

Let's spend an hour exploring tunes that have that extra skip or hop that makes them crooked. We'll break down what makes them tick and learn how to groove on them.

Bring your voices to an Old Time Gospel Sing where we'll sing songs and hymns from the old time tradition, including songs sung by the Carter Family, EC & Orna Ball, and others.

Tune your fiddles to cross-A (AEAE) and come ready to get into the zone with a selection of A tunes sure to make you want to keep playing all day and night. Banjos, guitars, and other string instruments are welcome.

Songs from the sea, lake, river, or maybe the swimming pool: traditional songs, covers, and home-grown songs that take place on or by the water. Sing along if you know the song!

Come learn the dance that created the dance craze of the early twentieth century. We will start with the one-step and its many variations and then explore the foxtrot. Though originally done to ragtime music (1911-1915) we will also do these dances to music of this century.

The Groton Session Players will be hosting a Celtic session, open to all attendees to participate (Instrumental only; no singing). Tunes can include jigs, reels, mazurkas, slides, polkas, waltzes. For those who wish to prepare in advance, visit our web site thegrotonsession.com for our NEFFA set list, and downloadable/printable music.

This open drum circle jam welcomes all ages and skill levels to create rhythms together in a casual environment. Bring your own drum or percussion instrument, or borrow one of our extras. Other instruments are also welcome to join the jam. Adult supervision is required for younger participants.

Open song circle with opportunities for everyone to lead, sing, play, or jam along - pass the songs around - bring instruments, voices, and friends to share folk music, originals, or whatever music the group chooses. My gggf and ggm were noted songwriters in their eras (1800s).

All morris dancers welcome, with or without team or kit.

Raise the black flag and rouse your inner pirate in song with the pirate band, Shank Painters! Featuring sea shanties, drinking songs, traditional Irish songs, and originals. Participation encouraged.

We may not have a pub, but we can still raise the rafters! A traditional English-style pub sing, emphasizing chorus songs. Bring one to share, or just follow along.

Pub style sing, bring a song with a chorus! Led by members of Jack in the Green Morris

In historical record and the modern community, queerness is threaded through sea songs from Sweet Mary Starbuck to the Handsome Cabin Boy. Learn about sailors, singers, and the queer sea.

Join an all-Romanian dance party with music by the Romaniacs: accordion (Melinda Fields), bass (Mel Fitzhugh), caval and flute (Lucy Vandevegte), cimbal (Aubrey Jaffer), violin (Ralph Iverson)

This is an opportunity to prepare for the repertoire we'll use in the Saturday evening ECD session with music by the Open Band.

One of us grew up with the "Fireside Book of Folk Songs" on the family piano. The other grew up folk dancing and playing tunes. We will feature some of the favorites from "Fireside" as well as songs/tunes that give us that sense of nostalgia, re-imagined in surprising ways.

One of us grew up with the "Fireside Book of Folk Songs" on the family piano. The other grew up folk dancing and playing tunes. We will feature some of the favorites from "Fireside" as well as songs/tunes that give us that sense of nostalgia, re-imagined in surprising ways.

Structured jam session for Renaissance music—English and French dance tunes, polyphonic vocal and instrumental pieces, and whatever else tickles our fancy! All instruments (and voices) and skill levels welcome.

Resuming Dan Pearl's longtime series! Come share your caller and musician gig horror stories with sympathetic listeners. We'll award a prize and bragging rights to the finest story, but remember: all stories must be true! Gawkers welcome.

Lively original recitations by a seasoned storyteller/recitationist who has been composing and performing crowd-pleasing rhymes for nearly four decades.

Folk music that references trains. We encourage the audience to sing along to familiar songs.

This session showcases six of the best rising callers from Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia: Rebecca Anger, Alex Burka, Karen, Justin, Justin Kauker, Stephan Rochefort, and Luke Schoppert.

Enjoy exciting and challenging dances of Russia. Each dance is accompanied by the beautiful and thrilling (live!) choral music from the region. Music provided by the Bjelalitsa Chorus, directed by Julia Poirier.

Robert (Bobbie) Burns was a Scottish poet whose poems were transformed into several traditional Scottish folk tunes. Learn about the history behind the poems, the man himself, and the songs his work inspired.

Bring your string instruments and tunes and get ready to lock in, bust down and have a blast jamming!

The Romaniacs present a concert featuring Romanian music.

Dansefest = dance party! We play dance tunes from the Røros region of Norway for your dancing pleasure - vals, reinlander, hoppvals (polka), and of course lots of Rørospols.

Join us for shape-note singing from the Sacred Harp, in the traditional "hollow square."

A NEFFA tradition for experienced dancers. This is a 20 minute series of no-walk through dances. It's a blast!

A variety of ancient, traditional, and contemporary folk songs from Scandinavian and other northern cultures, some in their original languages and some in English.

We will play standard Scottish Country Dance tunes (jigs, reels, hornpipes, marches, and strathspeys) in sets suitable for dancing. We aim to play at a moderate tempo and maybe discuss some concerns unique to SCD music. Sheet music will be available; the emphasis will be on playing tunes.

Fun Scottish country dance figures and great tunes

Scottish country dancing is a fun activity enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds in Scotland and across the world. If you haven't done it before, come and give it a try. We will teach a few fun dances to help you get started!

Join in an open Scottish session featuring classic reels, jigs, and strathspeys. While the tradition begins in Scotland, it has long found new life in Cape Breton, the Boston States, and greater New England’s vibrant fiddle communities. Gather, swap favorites, and experience how Scottish music thrives in the diaspora.

Seated square dancing is just like traditional square dancing, except you are sitting down. Great fun for everyone, but may be particularly appealing to people with mobility issues.

Contras with a variety of neat, lovely shadow interactions!

One day in the life of space sailors and engineers just trying to keep Hilo Station functioning, as told through traditional (ancient to us!) work songs and some shtick.

Join us for a singing school to learn and practice shape note. This step by step approach will have you singing the rich and powerful 4-part harmonies that brought generations together and is widely popular today. No experience necessary, just enthusiasm to sing and to learn the shape note system.

This workshop will introduce players to one or two Shetland tunes. We’ll learn by ear and focus on the basics of Shetland bowing patterns and left hand ornamentation. Open to all string players, but particularly fiddlers and cellists.

Group participation of singing Rounds

Join in traditional Yiddish dances such as the Freilach, Bulgar, Hora, and Khosidl - follow the leader, improvise, and dance in circles, lines, pairs, and individually - to live klezmer music.

Dad/daughter Jackson and Jillian Estelle Gillman teaming up again for a 3rd annual session, offering a bouquet of songs with a flower theme this time.

Participatory singing from The Shenandoah Harmony, a collection of new & old shape-note tunes.

Traditional squares to singing calls in the style of Tony Parkes, Ralph Sweet, and other greats!

Tunes from New England, Celtic, Scandinavian traditions on fiddles, hardanger d'Amore, piano. All instruments and abilities welcome as we play traditional tunes and more recently composed tunes in a "slow jam" to encourage learning tunes by ear.

When playing in a group, can we do more than the usual “wall of sound”? Using a few simple tunes, we will learn to listen, meld, add simple rhythms and harmonies, and create excitement through tension and resolution. We'll engage in a musical conversation that enriches players and dancers alike.

Participants will play traditional New England dance tunes at a slow speed. All instruments welcome.

English dances with good flow, great music, and minimal teaching. Let's dance!

Jason Baker performs social justice music, including old favorites and contemporary songs in the tradition, on banjo, 6 and 12-string guitar, ukulele and harmonica.

Social Media and Visual Marketing have become essential for folk artists to promote their music in 2026. Serena Kilsmith will describe her use of social media and James Cooke will describe how musicians have turned to visual clips on TikTok, Instagram, and Reels to promote their music, followed by discussion.

Have fun singing songs that are interactive and promote hugs, kindness and joy. Learn sign language for songs! Instruments and props will be handed out!

Cantare! Chantez-y! Seinn-o! Zingen! Music is the common tongue, and the human voice is an instrument of this lingua franca. Bring your most obscure songs not in English, and we will see how many languages we can fit in a NEFFA hour (that's 50 minutes!).

Original, uplifting songs of substance (and fun!), with bass guitar accompaniment. Group participation will be enthusiastically encouraged!

Join Sarah Godwin Murdoch for a concert of traditional and trad-adjacent songs about lovers, broken promises, wishes fulfilled, and crimes of the heart.

The Grunya ensemble will perform a program of authentic East Slavic village music from various regions of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Lemko-Rusyn region in southeastern Poland. The songs represent a variety of traditional genres and some feature accompaniment on traditional instruments.

Often described as the chanteymen of the rivers, the French-Canadian voyageurs left a rich trove of uniquely North American song. This illustrated presentation will explore the life of a voyageur through songs learned in the field and from newly discovered collections as well as famous paintings of the fur trade.

Harbortown sings songs with stories that revolve around the Atlantic Ocean including songs from Bob Wright's illustrated book Ginger Sea 'Neath The Celtic Moon.

It’s what it says on the tin. Come sing all the best boisterous songs with us at full tilt! Claps, stomps, shouts, callbacks, and overflowing JOY!! Bring a rousing song to share and raise the rafters with us!

You'll be invited to sing/move-along throughout this rollicking mix of fun, funny and family-friendly songs.

Creative arrangements of tunes from Quebec, Ireland, Canada and more, plus many originals. Includes "driving" tunes and silky lyrical ones. The foot percussion strongly intensifies the rhythmic tunes.

Contra dances with emphasis and energy from balances, ricochets and changes in momentum!

These songs lure us into a past where we see mysterious tales unfold. A place of beauty, danger, misfortune and sometimes true love.

Non-stop, no walkthrough, continuously changing contra dance medley!

Learn to sing with a loud, clear voice without harming your throat. Improve your range and increase your vocal stamina. Centered breathing and vocal technique enables you to sing for hours without pain.

Folktales from around the world, about women doing the unexpected. The stories are full of humor and twists and turns, and the show is appropriate for children or adults (there's some fairytale-level violence and slight rude humor).

A NEFFA tradition for experienced dancers. This is a 20 minute series of no-walk through dances. It's a blast!

Come warm up for your Festival Sunday with some fun, easy contra dances.

A session of Swedish couple turning dances -- regional polskas along with hambo, schottis, waltz, and more.

Contra dances that feature interesting opportunities for switching roles with your partner. (Switching roles is 100 percent optional!)

Popular dance music and songs of the ragtime era (1890's - 1920's), played by a ragtime orchestra.

High energy, dynamic guitar fingerpicking performance that blends melody, rhythm, and percussion. Foot tapping bluegrass, impactful melodies, mixed with old fashioned country thumbpicking.

Rogues, Maidens, and Swains: madrigals and more that trace the arc of a relationship—from first spark to dying ember - and the myriad emotional turns along the journey of love.

We will be singing traditional Irish Songs, American Ballads, and playing Irish fiddle tunes on the fiddle and flute.

Duo playing wide variety of Irish, Scottish, English Country Dance, Klezmer, Scandinavian, Brazilian Choro, Balkan, American/old-timey, contradance -- even the odd excursion into funk/soul.

We will play and teach fun tunes ('Dots' provided) from two notable women fiddlers of the early 20th C who deserve to be better known. Sarah Armstrong's repertoire was recorded in PA by Sam Bayard. Viola Ruth was an AZ tune collector, dance fiddler and caller nationally famous in the 1940s.

The Star Charters will perform modern, original compositions written by contemporary members of the folk community!

You can play a song, or sing along/listen to a song played on the ukulele. You can also play along, we'll tell you the chords, but songs will not be taught. This is a jam. All ukulele players are welcome.

Have you been an ukulele player who is always asking, "Where's the songsheet?" This is your chance to get off the page! There will be no handouts, and this will help players practice hearing chord changes and playing along.

Take a tune everyone knows. Write new words. Make it fun and easy to sing and share it with everybody at NEFFA. It's the Ultimate Parody Jam!

Come and plan to lift your voices! As Power Harmonies, Lynn Noel and Ken Mattsson sing with depth, power, and passionate attention to the spirit in the song. Their duo sound can be described as "ballroom dancing for the voice."

Join us for a program featuring the captivating melodies and complex rhythms of Western Armenia, the Middle East and North Africa with influences from jazz, rock, and western classical music.

Chris will present Ballads, Songs and Stories collected from New York State and New England. Songs will be from those collected by some of the cornerstones of folk collecting in the 19th and 20th Centuries, and some of the singers who carried on the traditions with their own songs.

Join "Three Quarter Time" an acoustic folk instrumental group playing Traditional 3/4-Time Folk Waltz Melodies. This "Open-to-all-Instruments-and-Levels" jam has been a NEFFA tradition since 2001. Play by ear or use music notation that you bring with you. Dancers and listeners are welcome.

Sumptuous and captivating waltzes from stages and screens, smoky clubs and symphony halls, interspersed with all the best couple dances - polkas, schottisches, tangos, and beloved "specials" like Gay Gordons, Road to the Isles -- and of course The Salty Dog

Whirl and swirl to waltzes of every flavor, from spicy to umami to sweet. Trenchcoats welcome but not required.

The Watertonics perform each Sunday afternoon from their front porch in Watertown Square, offering a broad World Music repertoire ranging from Klezmer favorites to Italian Restaurant music to traditional Irish songs to New England contradance tunes (and more)- and soliciting requests from passersby at the nearby Watertown Free Public Library.

If you have a tragic traditional ballad, bring it! We will be sharing the sad and tragic story songs of long ago that still haunt us today. Expect adult themes, bloodshed, death, and things that don't go well.

Sing and play music from rural English churches, from the time of Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, and King George III. For all voices and melodic instruments.

An overview of whaling through song and image during the 19th C. in New England and New York.

This workshop will explore the sweeping beauty, joy and variety of music used in English Country Dance, both traditional and contemporary. Players of all levels are welcome. Bring your Barnes Collection books!

Techniques for whistling with the lips, with special focus on whistling for dance music, as well as considerations for performance in general.

Come learn some wonderful Balkan dances done to fabulous live music! These will be village-style dances—repetitive, so you can get in a groove, but not boring. Some of them have tricky rhythms and patterns, but they should be fairly accessible, even to novice dancers.

Sing, share, listen-- work songs, songs about workers... let's include as many kinds of work as we can manage. Serious, comical, whatever.

Boston Harmony, a multigenerational community choir, will perform a variety of music including American shape-note songs and traditional songs from Corsica, Caucasus Georgia, the Balkans, and South Africa.

A discussion session on the writing of contra dance choreography.

Performing and describing my approach to writing songs in traditional styles - thinking about content, style, instrumentation and purpose - how to fit subject, lyric and music together to tell your story and carry your emotion.

At the beginning of the last century, millions of Yiddish-speaking immigrants arrived in “the Golden Land”. We’ll present songs that celebrate the triumphs (and sometimes rue) of becoming Americans.

From tavern songs to love songs, sea chanteys to rebel songs, rowdy crowd pleasers to heartbreaking acapellas, if you hear it in a pub in Dublin, you'll hear it here on this stage. You'll find the usual staples, as well as the not so well known ear-catchers.

Lively English Country Dances from around 1650-1750, with a strong sense of connection and fun. Bring your enthusiasm and stamina - be prepared to dance, and get silly!

Zwiefachers are a type of couple folk dance from southern Germany. Each zwiefacher has two rhythms that alternate during the tune. The dancing typically consists of waltzing and pivoting footwork.