The Philadelphia Folksong Society staged the 9th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival at Old Poole Farm in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania from August 28 – 30, 1970. An impressive lineup that didn’t stick fully to folk included Fairport Convention, Doc Watson, David Bromberg, Bonnie Raitt, John Hartford, “Mississippi” Fred McDowell, John Denver, Steve Goodman and many others. Footage of the three-day event was filmed by Pennsylvania PBS channel WITF for a series of three broadcasts. A two-hour compilation surfaced on YouTube this week thanks to Clark Santee Video Productions and can be viewed below.
Many of the artists who performed at Philadelphia Folk 1970 were in the early days of their careers. Goodman and Bromberg had yet to release their debut albums while Denver and Hartford has only put out a few records each. Highlights include Goodman performing a raw version of “City Of New Orleans,” which would score Arlo Guthrie a hit two years later, Bromberg teaming with Hartford, Tom Paxton and Eric Fransden for the traditional “Sitting On Top Of The World” and Doc Watson joined by his son Merle Watson on a “Brown’s Ferry Blues” dedicated to the guitar pickers in the audience.
Blues great “Mississippi” Fred McDowell brought the hill country blues to Philadelphia Folk a mere two years before he died at age 68. Additionally, cult heroes Fairport Convention’s “The Mason’s Apron” closer is included in the special as is Dave Van Ronk’s “Candy Man.” Van Ronk, aka the “Mayor of MacDougal Street” is purportedly the inspiration for the main character in the Coen Brothers film Inside Llewyn Davis. The 1970 Philadelphia Folk Festival film also features footage from workshops held over the weekend such as Oscar Brand leading a troupe of children and Arthur Hall fronting an African Dance Workshop.
1970 Philadelphia Folk Festival puts viewers center stage and among the crowd during a tumultuous period in which the Vietnam War raged and four protestors were murdered at Kent State University. Much appreciation to organizers for letting WITF film and Clark Santee Video Productions for compiling the footage and posting it for all to see.
Watch the 1970 Philadelphia Folk Festival series below:
1970 Philadelphia Folk Festival Songlist
- John Hartford – Skippin’ In The Mississippi Dew
- Patrick Sky – Jimmy Clay
- Oscar Brand – Children’s Workshop
- Anne Byrne – The Patriot Game
- John Roberts & Tony Barran – I Am An Old Cow Puncher
- Folk Dancing Workshop
- African Dance Workshop
- Jean Redpath – My Bonny Coo Coo (Audio)
- Dave Van Ronk – Candy Man
- The Beers Family – Fiddler’s Dream
- Bruce “Utah” Phillips – The Golden Voice Of The Great Southwest
- Fairport Convention – The Mason’s Apron
- Sara Grey – Goodby Fair Thee Well
- Hedy West – What We Need For The People Is Harnoy / German Song
- Afro-American Dance Ensemble
- David Bromberg (w/ John Hartford, Tom Paxton & Eric Fransden) – Sitting On Top Of The World
- Doc & Merle Watson – Brown’s Ferry Blues
- Michael Cooney – Garbage
- Rosalie Sorrels with David Bromberg – Rock Salt & Nails
- A Keleigh Workshop – Dave Cooper – Weigh Haul Away
- Norman Kennedy
- Kate McGarrigle & Roma Baran – Circle Goes Round
- Happy & Artie Traum – The Hungry Dogs Of New Mexico
- Mississippi Fred McDowell – Blues
- Allan Frazer & Daisy Debolt – Gypsy Solitair
- Hedge Capers & Donna Carson – Singing In The Sewer
- Steve Goodman – City Of New Orleans
- John Denver – Sail Away Home
