The Old Town School of Folk Music heads outside this weekend for the tenth annual Chicago Folk & Roots Festival, which features two days of music in Welles Park, 2333 W. Sunnyside. Old Town’s typically eclectic programming style is again on full display, with anything that’s not overtly rock, jazz, or classical considered fair game. National and international touring acts predominate on the main stage, while locals command the other spots: one stage is reserved for the school’s crew of instructors, another is dedicated to dancing, a third focuses on kids’ music, and at the gazebo stage attendees are invited to take part in a series of jam sessions. Most of the main-stage artists have played Chicago in the recent past, many at Old Town itself, but a few promising acts are making their local debuts–most notably New York’s Forro in the Dark and Mali’s Vieux Farka Toure (who, to be technical, also played a few days ago at Millennium Park). A $5 donation is requested. Call 773-728-6000 or visit oldtownschool.org for more. –Peter Margasak
Noon Kani Ka Pila with Lanialoha Lee
Staff Stage
2:00 Hypnic Jerks with Ari Frede
4:30 Old Town School Songwriters with Steve Dawson
7:00 Scott Besaw & friends
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3:30 Kids guitar performance with Andrea
