Salisbury University Locals Stage to Bring Together Area Artists for 2023 Maryland Folk Festival

Area musicians will entertain an expected audience of thousands during the 2023 Maryland Folk Festival, thanks in part to support from Salisbury University and its Charles R. and Martha N. Fulton School of Liberal Arts.

SU and the Fulton School have been announced as the sponsors of the Salisbury University Locals Stage at this year’s inaugural event, Sept. 22-24 in downtown Salisbury.

“Salisbury University is proud to partner with the Maryland Folk Festival to unite the community and the State of Maryland around the arts,” said SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre. “The Folk Festival is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate how important folk and traditional arts are, and I am excited SU will help to showcase this for thousands of people.”

A couple of the Salisbury University Locals Stage artists also have connections to SU.

“The Fulton School recognizes and celebrates the importance of the humanities every day,” said Dr. Maarten Pereboom, the school’s dean. “This opportunity will allow us to share our love of performing arts with guests from across Maryland and the U.S. while also providing exposure for our students, some of whom may one day find themselves performing on the SU Locals Stage.”

The space also will feature tents with information and presentations by SU and the Fulton School. Performers announced for the stage include:

C-Mack (Salisbury) – hip-hop

C-Mack delivers a fusion of raw lyrics and beats with a unique style and stage presence.

Callum (Ocean City, MD) – singer-songwriter

Callum’s soulful vocals help capture a unique sound and essence.

Chris English (Salisbury) – blues

Chris English is a veteran blues artist and an adjunct faculty member in SU’s Music, Theatre and Dance Department. He is dedicated to his craft and the spirit of the blues, and is what some call “old school” in his approach to his music. His material selection and the vintage instruments used set him apart from many other blues musicians.

Jerome Kelly and Band (Salisbury) – rock, soul, rhythm and blues

Jerome “Romeo” Kelly and a unique group of performers present a blend of original sound and soulful lyrics.

Lauren Glick (Ocean City, MD, and Salisbury) – blues

Singer/songwriter Lauren Glick has attracted many fans through her bluesy, soulful style and bass guitar.

Lower Case Blues (Rehoboth Beach, DE) – blues/jam

Hailing from the Mid-Atlantic, Lower Case Blues has been on the scene since 2003, playing a mix of traditional blues with a modern, funky style full of improvisation and organic instrumentation.

Marlee (Salisbury) – contemporary rhythm and blues/pop

Influenced by gospel and Motown, as well as contemporary artists from Eminem and Jay-Z to John Mayer and RHCP, Marlee has expanded his fanbase nationally while gaining acclaim in the local music scene.

Red Letter Day (Salisbury, Maryland) – folk rock

Comprised of SU faculty, staff and alumni, Red Letter Day has been writing and performing for 30-plus years on national and local stages with artists including Little Feat and Edwin McCain, and at events with the Indigo Girls and Elton John.

After more than five years as the host of the National Folk Festival, produced in collaboration with the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of Salisbury’s Arts, Business and Culture Department is launching the Maryland Folk Festival as a legacy event.

The large-scale, multi-day, outdoor celebration will feature hundreds of the nation’s most renowned musicians, dancers, craftspeople and other keepers of culture in performances, workshops and demonstrations, along with children’s activities, participatory dancing, storytelling and more.

For information on the festival, including a full list of performers and participants as announced, visit https://mdfolkfest.com.

Performer photos, bios and audio clips may be downloaded at https://bit.ly/23mdff-artist-bios. Photo credits should be listed and can be found in the file names.

Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at www.salisbury.edu.