Visitors can vote for their favorite artist, with the winner being announced at the show’s conclusion in September. Lowell Art Walk displays will be on exhibit for the start of the Lowell Folk Festival and conclude after Lowell Open Studios weekend on Sunday September 28th, 2008.

Lowell Art Walk is organized by the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL).

The Lowell Folk Festival will begin on Friday evening, July 25 with a kick-off parade and music and ethnic foods at two performance stages: Dutton Street Dance Pavilion and Boarding House Park

On Saturday, July 26, everything kicks off at noon until 6:00 pm with music, ethnic foods, crafts demonstrations and more throughout downtown Lowell.  At 7:00 pm, the music continues into the evening at Dutton Street Dance Pavilion and Boarding House Park

On Sunday, July 27, the final day of this year’s festival will run from noon through 6:00 pm throughout downtown Lowell.

FRIDAY, JULY 25
PARADE:
6:40 - 7:00
Parade
BOARDING HOUSE PARK:
7:15 – 8:00    Lonesome River Band
8:15 – 9:00
Henry Gray & the Cats
9:15 – 10:15    Skatalites
DANCE PAVILION:
7:15 – 8:30
Red Volkaert & Cindy Cashdollar
8:45– 10:00
Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys
SATURDAY, JULY 26
PARADES:
6:40 - 7:00    Dynasty Carnival Parade
BOARDING HOUSE PARK:
12:00 – 12:45    TREAD
1:00 – 1:45
Henry Gray & the Cats
2:00 – 2:45
Lonesome River Band
3:00 – 3:45    Helder Moutinho
4:00 – 4:45
Red Volkaert & Cindy Cashdollar
5:00 – 6:00
Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys
7:00 – 7:45    Puerto Plata
8:00 – 8:45
Red Volkaert & Cindy Cashdollar
9:00– 10:00
Mighty Sam McClain
JFK PLAZA:
12:00 – 12:45     Alex Meixner
1:00 – 1:45     Jerry Grcevich
2:00 – 2:45    Sister Marie Knight
3:00– 4:00    Pilon Batuku
4:15 – 5:00    Skordalia
5:15– 6:15    Skatalites
MARKET STREET STAGE:
12:00 – 12:45     Andrew Nemr & Rocky Mendes
1:00– 1:45    Réveillons
2:00– 3:15     Percussive Dance Traditions
3:30– 4:15     Kontiwennenha:wi Akwesasne Singers
4:30– 5:15    Sister Marie Knight
LEE STREET STAGE:
12:15 – 1:00
Don Roy Trio
1:15 – 2:00    Helder Moutinho
2:15 – 3:00    Suhas Rao Ensemble
3:15 – 4:00    Balla Kouyate
4:15 – 5:15    Keepers of Family Musical Legacy
ST. ANNE’S CHURCHYARD:
12:15 – 1:00    Whitetop Mountain Band
1:15 – 2:00    Kontiwennenha:wi Akwesasne Singers
2:15 – 3:15    World Strings Traditions
3:30– 4:15    Penpa Tsering
4:30 – 5:30    Folk Violin Traditions
DANCE PAVILION:
12:00 – 1:15    Skatalites
1:30 – 2:30    Alex Meixner
2:45 – 4:00    Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys
4:15 – 5:30    Puerto Plata
7:15 – 8:30     Henry Gray & the Cats
8:45 – 10:00    Skatalites
STREET PERFORMANCE AREA:
2:00 – 2:45    Mariachi Estampa de America
5:15 – 6:00    Mariachi Estampa de America
SUNDAY, JULY 27
BOARDING HOUSE PARK:
12:00 – 12:45    Sister Marie Knight
1:00 – 1:45    Andrew Nemr & Rocky Mendes
2:00 – 2:45    Pilon Batuku
3:00 – 3:45    Jerry Grcevich
4:00 – 4:45    Balla Kouyate
5:00 – 5:45    Henry Gray & the Cats
JFK PLAZA:
12:00 – 12:45    Lonesome River Band
1:00 – 1:45    Balla Kouyaté
2:00 – 3:00    Whitetop Mountain Band
3:15 – 4:15    Redd Volkaert and Cindy Cashdollar
4:30 – 5:15    Pilon Batuku
5:30 – 6:30    Mighty Sam McClain
MARKET STREET STAGE:
12:15 – 1:00    Penpa Tsering
1:15 – 2:00    TREAD
2:15 – 3:00    Kontiwennenha:wi Akwesasne Singers
3:15 – 4:00    Suhas Rao Ensemble
4:15 – 5:00    Andrew Nemr & Rocky Mendes
5:15 – 6:00    Réveillons!
LEE STREET STAGE:
12:00 – 12:45    Jerry Grcevich
1:00 – 1:45    Suhas Rao Ensemble
2:00 – 2:45     Don Roy Trio
3:00 – 4:00     French Fiddle Traditions
4:15 – 5:00    Helder Moutinho
5:15 – 6:00    Skordalia
ST ANNE’S CHURCHYARD:
12:15 – 1:15    Singing Traditions
1:30 – 2:30    Guitar Traditions
2:45 – 3:15    Skordalia
3:30 – 4:00    Penpa Tsering
4:15 – 5:00    Whitetop Mountain Band
5:15 – 6:00    Sister Marie Knight
DANCE PAVILION:
12:30 – 1:45    Réveillons (called dance)
2:00 – 3:15    Mighty Sam McClain
3:30 – 4:45    Puerto Plata
5:00 – 6:00    Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys
STREET PERFORMANCE AREA:
1:00 – 1:30    Gund Kwok
3:00 – 3:30    Gund Kwok

A hot, new band has made its appearance on Southwest Louisiana’s zydeco scene, delivering great, pack-the-floor renditions of Creole classics as well as its own brand of contemporary zydeco. Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys features the masterful accordion and singing of front man Jeffery Broussard and the exciting Creole fiddle of D’Jalma Garnier III. Drawing inspiration from earlier Creole music legends like fiddler Canray Fontenot and Jeffery’s father, accordion player Delton Broussard, Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys are interpreting this musical legacy for a new generation, and presenting it with contemporary flair.

An accordion-led dance style that fused older Creole music with blues and R&B, zydeco emerged during the post-WWII years. Its development and popularity can largely be credited to Clifton Chenier (1925-1987). Delton Broussard and the Lawtell Playboys, Jeffrey’s father’s band, was one of the pioneering zydeco ensembles and in addition to Delton’s driving accordion, featured the legendary Creole fiddler Calvin Carriere.

If you are going to be in Lowell, Massachusetts for the Lowell Folk Festival, you don’t want to miss the performance of Jeffrey Broussard & The Creole Cowboys.

The film is due to be released sometime in 2009.

“Where, after all, does respect for human rights begin? In small places, close to home; in the everyday world of human beings-the neighborhoods they live in, the schools or colleges they attend, the factories, farms or offices where they work, where every man, woman, and child seeks to have equal justice and opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”

-Adapted from a speech by Mrs. Roosevelt in 1958 at the United Nations

Eleanor Roosevelt, whose life and influence have spanned the greater part of the 20th century, is brought to life by Elena Dodd, in a one-woman theater performance. In Elena Dodd’s portrayal, Mrs. Roosevelt’s distinctive speech and dynamic personality enliven this interactive program for audiences. Ms. Dodd graduated from Wellesley College; she holds an M.A. in American Literature from Boston University and an M.F.A. in Writing from Vermont College of Union Institute and University.

This FREE one hour program, as part of this summer’s Lowell Lyceum Series, takes place at the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, 246 Market Street, Lowell, Massachusetts from 6:30pm -7:30pm on Tuesday, August 5th

For more information on this and other Lyceum Series programs, please give the park a call at (978) 970-5000, or visit the website at www.nps.gov/lowe.

Dates and event schedule for the 2008 annual Lowell Quilt Festival has just been announced, and this year promises to be more exciting than ever before!

The citywide celebration of quilts, held annually in historic Lowell, MA, features the juried Images quilt show at the Tsongas Arena with over 300 quilts and cash prizes in several categories. Visitors to the Lowell Quilt Festival can also partake in a variety of activities such as live and silent auctions, quilt appraising, lectures, gallery talks, workshops, children’s activities, and merchant malls.

2008 Lowell Quilt Festival Special Exhibits:

Four special exhibits will be on display at Tsongas Arena: Lowell Inside/Out, a series of 30 juried pieces commemorating Lowell’s rich textile and architectural history and the 20th Anniversary of the New England Quilt Museum; Cocheco Mills Remembered, a group of quilts featuring designs created by using reproduction fabrics made from the Historic New Hampshire Mill; the IQF Journal Quilts, which have traveled the country and been seen by thousands of people; and PEACEQUIILTS, a collection of exquisitely designed hand-made quilts by Haitian students between 14 and 18 years old. The sale of PEACEQUILTS project quilts enables Haitian students to earn a living through meaningful work.

NEW This Year: Gallery Night, August 7th:

Lowell area museums and galleries offer FREE admission and delicious refreshments for Gallery Night on Thursday, Aug 7, 5:30 - 8:30pm. Throughout the city, Lowell’s cultural community kicks off the festival and opens its doors wide for visitors during Lowell Gallery Night. This is your chance to see the spectacular quilt and fabric art exhibits on display in downtown’s cultural institutions. Shuttles will be available to take people to the various LQF locations. See which museums are open for Gallery night!

Space is Still Available in LQF Classes & Workshops!

For those who love to practice the art of quilt-making, a four-day program of workshops led by the country’s top quilt instructors offers instruction for beginners to advanced quilters, with everything from hand-quilting and easy ways to make scrap quilts to super machine stitching and thread painted landscapes. Space is still available in most workshops! Advanced registration is recommended, however walk-in registration is also available for last minute festival attendees.

Special Group Rates and Carpooling Discounts Available!

Admission is $12 (Adult) for a multi-day ticket grants access to the Images Quilt Show and Merchant Malls at the Tsongas Arena, and The New England Quilt Museum. Carpool discount: Get $2 off a one day ticket when 5 or more travel together. Discounted rates are available for both small and large groups. A special all-day rate of $5 is offered at the city garages with parking tickets validated at the Festival and/or at NEQM. Visit www.lowellquiltfestival.org, for class information and registration rates and event description detail.

August 7-10, 2008 LQF 2008, featuring:
Nancy Brenan Daniel ~ Libby Lehman ~ Joanie Zeier Poole ~ Nancy Prince ~ Judy Simmons ~ Judy Sisneros
Sarah Ann Smith ~ Karen K. Stone ~ Deborah Tucker ~ Holice Turnbow ~ Mary Lou Weidman ~ Ann Zemke

In addition to meeting and greeting you on the street or on the trolley, half-hour formal performances are scheduled at Boarding House Park for Wednesday, July 16th and Thursday, July 17th after the Children’s Concert (approximately at noon). As part of this summer’s Youth Theater Program ten students have researched or created their own composite characters from Lowell’s heyday. Staged by Marianne Corcoran, an educator at Lowell High School, this program serves as a complement to the park’s newly re-invigorated costumed interpreter’s program, which is back by popular demand. This summer you will also see costumed park staff at sites such as the Francis Gate complex and other locations.

From Noon to 2:30 pm the Youth Theater Program will be in the park on the following dates: July 16, 17, 19, 21, and 23. During the Lowell Folk Festival they are scheduled to appear downtown on Saturday, July 26 and Wednesday July 30th from 1:00-4:00 pm. There is a special evening performance on Friday August 1st in the Boott Mills Courtyard at 7:00 pm preceding the Summer Music Series Concert. All performances are free.

For more information on this and other park programs, please give the park a call at (978) 970-5000, or visit the website at www.nps.gov/lowe. Photos available.

The role of New England mill towns in the industrial revolution — an absorbing and sometimes heartbreaking story — is explained at the Lowell National Historical Park (www.nps.gov/lowe; 978-970-5000). Travel through a large, now-picturesque brick mill complex from the 1830s, either by boat on the canals that once supplied power to the mills or by hopping on and off trolleys that run year round.

Lowell has become a destination city, boasting great tourist attractions, a vibrant arts scene, first class restaurants, wonderful architecture, and a welcoming community eager to please visitors. Lowell is also host to a multitude of conferences and conventions, including the recently concluded Massachusetts Democratic Convention and the 2008 NAHSL conference in October.

Visit Lowell, Massachusetts this summer and see why this isn’t your grandmother’s Lowell.

Linda Myer has portrayed Amelia Earhart for both children and adults in New England, New York, Chicago and California. She captures Amelia’s courage, compassion, humor, and zest for life.

This FREE one hour program, as part of this summer’s Lowell Lyceum Series, takes place at the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, 246 Market Street, Lowell, Massachusetts from 6:30pm -7:30pm on July 8th.

For more information on this and other Lyceum Series programs, please give the park a call at (978) 970-5000, or visit the website at www.nps.gov/lowe.

The first concert will be held on Saturday, June 28th with a performance by Richard Thompson. Advance tickets are $21, which will increase to $25 at the gate.

For advance booking of tickets visit: www.lowellsummermusic.org. Tickets are also available at all F.Y.E. Stores in New England. For more info. please contact: Peter Aucella (978-275-1722) peter_aucella@nps.gov or Nathan Potter (978-275-1829) nate_potter@nps.gov.

2008 Lowell Summer Music Series Schedule (Subject to Change):

Jun 28 Richard Thompson
Jul 3 Daryl Hall
Jul 5 Assembly of Dust
Jul 11 Indigo Girls
Jul 12 Lucinda Williams
Jul 17 Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn’s Sparrow Quartet
Jul 18 The Wailers
Jul 19 Jimmie Vaughan with Lou Ann Barton
Jul 20 Jerry Douglas Band
Jul 25-27 22nd Annual Lowell Folk Festival
Aug 1 Brandi Carlile
Aug 7 The Saw Doctors
Aug 8 Neville Brothers
Aug 9 Martin Sexton
Aug 14 Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers
Aug 15 Hothouse Flowers
Aug 16 Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”
Aug 22 John Hiatt and The Ageless Beauties
Aug 23 Arlo Guthrie
Aug 28 Dan Hicks and The Hot Licks
Aug 29 Keb’ Mo’ & Band
Aug 30 Robert Cray Band
Sep 4 Levon Helm-NEW DATE
Sep 5 Taj Mahal
Sep 6 29th Annual Banjo and Fiddle Contests
Sep 12 Marc Broussard