Media Contact: George Everett, Mainstreet Uptown Butte, (406) 565-2249
BUTTE, MT - Organizers today announced the second wave of performers coming to the Montana Folk Festival in Butte, Montana this July 11-13.
“It’s shaping up to be a strong lineup for this July's Montana Folk Festival packed with master musicians and dancers” says Festival Director George Everett. "You can expect to find plenty that's familiar but also to be amazed at the variety and diversity of the event. “
There is no admission for any performances on all three days of the festival although festival organizers are asking that attendees "Kick In" a minimum of $25 each day for individuals and $35 each day for families to help sustain the festival in coming years.
Anyone wishing to Kick In before the festival can send a contribution to help sustain the festival for this year and for years to come to Montana Folk Festival, P.O. Box 696, Butte, MT 59703. Or, they can contribute online at paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/1876197.
More than 200 artists representing a broad diversity of musical, cultural and culinary traditions will present more than 60 performances on six stages in Uptown Butte.
The latest performing groups coming to the 2025 Montana Folk Festival are:
Solas
Irish Traditional
New York, NY
https://solastheband.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chJIlgykQM0
Solas is lighting up stages across the globe as they celebrate three decades of pushing boundaries and honoring traditions in Irish music! Hailed by The Boston Globe as “the finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced,” and by The Wall Street Journal as “an Irish traditional band bearing all the marks of greatness,” Solas has captivated audiences since their formation in New York City in 1995.
With 12 critically acclaimed albums and a reputation for dynamic live performances, Solas has set new standards for musicianship, repertoire, and intensity. Their unique blend of respect for Irish musical traditions with adventurous melodies and instrumentation has made them a cornerstone of the genre.
At the 2025 Montana Folk Festival, founding Solas members Seamus Egan, Winifred Horan, and John Williams will be joined by multi-instrumentalist and singer, Moira Smiley, and Alan Murray on guitar! Fans can look forward to an unforgettable musical journey as the band showcases their signature sound while continuing to innovate and inspire.
Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band
Zydeco
Soileau, LA
https://keithfrank.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDneWHSnZrE
Keith Frank, born on October 9, 1972, in the community of Soileau, Louisiana, is an American singer, accordion player, and producer. Dubbed the "Zydeco Boss," Frank is one of the most well-known figures in zydeco music, especially in the nouveau zydeco sound, which was influenced by other genres such as R&B and hip hop. He is most known for his work with the Soileau Zydeco Band, which was established in 1990.
The son of zydeco musician Preston Frank, he started playing the drums in his father's Preston Frank Swallow Band when he was four years old, with him first playing the accordion at six years old.
By age nine, he took over the full-time drumming duties in his dad's band. Despite his involvement, Frank was initially not fond of zydeco, saying in an interview:
I hated it. I swear, I hated it. I could not stand playing music. I hated zydeco, I hated the whole thing. My old man would make me practice, and I could always find something better to be doing.
However, as his father's employment at a plywood plant became less flexible, Frank assumed more and more responsibility within the band. As his father became less available as a result, Frank said that "I realized [zydeco]'s a part of my life, and I couldn't stand being without it."
While attending high school in 1990, he formed his own group, Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band, with his sister Jennifer on bass and his brother Brad on drums. In 1991, the group performed at the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance in Trumansburg, New York, an event they would headline for several years following that. The debut release for the group came in 1992, with On the Bandstand.
The following year, the group released Get on Boy! Frank was active in every stage of production of the album, which led to him earning the moniker "The Zydeco Boss," which has stuck with him for the rest of his career.
Mariachis Mariposas
Texas Mariachi
Rio Grande Valley, TX
https://www.mariachimariposas.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVxE-k2hFxo
If you are a fan of mariachi music, you will fall in love with the sounds of the all-female mariachi, Mariachi Mariposas.
Mariachi Mariposas began their musical journey in the summer of 2012 in the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas, as a 12-member mariachi. The group launched to provide musical opportunities to talented female musicians who shared the same common goal of supporting, promoting and safeguarding the art of mariachi music. Without sacrificing musicianship or tradition, Mariachi Mariposas offers a unique brand of entertainment that fuses power, grace and elegance through the sounds of talented women.
Mariachi Mariposas has quickly received public acceptance as being one of the best all female-mariachis in the state of Texas and the United States. In 2014 Mariachi Mariposas hailed as “Texas Mariachi Champions” by winning first place at the only competition for professional mariachis in Texas, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo “Mariachi Invitational” performing for over 75,000 people in attendance. In March of 2015, Mariachi Mariposas traveled to Los Angeles and San Diego, California as guest artists for the 2nd Annual Mariachi Women’s Festival. In 2018 they shared the stage with Alicia Villarreal, and Lupillo Rivera at the Santa Barbara Mariachi Festival in Santa Barbara, California. In 2021 they were featured on the Confab Women’s History Month “Queens of Mariachi Royalty.”
Mariachi Mariposas have participated in many concerts and events across the Rio Grande Valley and Texas. They have continued their success by winning the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo a second time (2018), participating as a guest mariachi in the Los Angeles based, Mariachi USA YouTube Special and recording their very first album “Primer Vuelo.” Mariachi Mariposas have attracted more than 60,000 social media followers and have been performing together for over 10 years. "These talented women are bringing together a new generation of Mariachi music with their angelic voices and strumming their way into the hearts of thousands with the stroke of each cord in their instruments." - Sonia Ramirez, Texas Hill Country
Mariachi Mariposas members are currently living in the Rio Grande Valley. The group is comprised of successful women dedicated to their families, careers and the constant pursuit of education. Together, the group holds various bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education, business and engineering to name a few. They continue to devote their time and efforts to being prominent role models for their families and community as mothers, teachers, friends and sisters in music.
Mariachi Mariposas was founded and is directed by Mayra Garcia-Adame. Garcia holds a bachelors in music education and a masters in music pedagogy with a concentration on “South of the Border” music from the University of Texas Pan-American now, UTRGV. During her studies, she was a member of the UTRGV’s Mariachi “Aztlan” and is currently mariachi director for the award winning Palmview High School Mariachi “Los Lobos” at the La Joya Independent School District in Mission, Texas.
Khumaniyaan
Pakistani traditional folk
Peshawar, Pakistan
https://khumariyaan.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7uNG0CcQ4w&t=22s
Khumariyaan, a renowned music band from Pakistan, is celebrated for blending traditional folk music with modern styles. The band's name, translating to "the state of intoxication from music," captures the essence of their music, mesmerizing and captivating listeners.Formed in 2009 in Peshawar, Pakistan, Khumariyaan emerged during a tumultuous period marked by Talibanization, sectarian violence, military operations, and neo-imperialist expansions.
In such a climate, art, including music, served as a form of resistance. The band's mission is to use native music, infused with elements from other world music traditions, to enlighten and inspire the educated youth of Pakistan.
Focused on elevating music as a medium of peace and breaking away from the South Asian tradition of vocal-based music, Khumariyaan composes with minimal vocal fragments to enhance the overall harmony.
The group of musicians shares a vision of experiencing the trance of live, acoustic music, believing it is the highest form of art, leaving its interpretation to the audience. Their journey aims to evoke musical ‘goose bumps’ and provide a moving philosophical experience.
Bamba Wassoulou Groove
Mali Dance music
Bamako, Mali
https://www.facebook.com/bambawassoulougroove/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BlkYmluPsQ&t=1s
The Bamba Wassoulou Groove was born in Bamako in 2013 on the initiative of Bamba Dembélé, (who passed in 2018) percussionist and co-founder of the Super Djata Band, mythical group of Zani Diabaté, the most original and funky guitarist of music of Mali after independence. The Bamba Wassoulou Groove is composed of six musicians (three guitars, one bass, a drum and a singer) and is here to create a real wall of sound. Solis with Hendrixian virtuosos, trance voice, evil bass and drum sections, the band is a heavy dance machine who electrifies the Malian music and recreates the excitement of the hot nights in Bamako.
Philippe Conrath (creator of Festival Africolor) explains : “To create the Bamba Wassoulou Groove a connoisseur was needed, a man of confidence who would also ensure human and musical unity. Who better than Bamba Dembélé to build such a band? Bamba, the indispensable, the fixer, the invincible. Former member of Zani Diabatatés legendary Super Djata Band, he had all the contacts in Bamako to set up the Wassoulou Groove. He launched a formidable machine with an unrelenting rhythm, that allowed the three fierce guitars of the group to soar, carrying Ousmane Diakité’s voice into a trance. funk, rock, the Bamba Wassoulou Groove is a new virus that will contaminate the world’s dance floors.”
Yamini Kalluri & The Kritya Ensemble
Lansing, MI
Kuchipudi Dance
https://www.yaminikalluri.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlktsdM9UzI&t=103s
Yamini Kalluri, a celebrated Kuchipudi dancer, choreographer, and educator, represents the future of classical dance with her innovative blend of tradition and contemporary influence. Based in the US and India, her journey began under the tutelage of Padmasri Dr. Sobha Naidu in Hyderabad, where she displayed exceptional talent early on. Furthering her dance education with a Bachelor's degree in Humanities & Social Sciences from Indira Gandhi National Open University, she also trained in ballet and modern dance at the prestigious Martha Graham School.
Yamini's unique approach combines the rich traditions of Kuchipudi with the influences of ballet and modern dance, culminating in an artistic expression that transcends cultural boundaries. As the Founder of Kritya School of Dance, The Kritya Ensemble, and Kritya Dance Company, she is deeply committed to teaching, choreographing, and developing original musical compositions that resonate with a global audience. Her work has been showcased at renowned venues like Symphony Space and Mechanics Hall, and she has collaborated with acclaimed artists such as Vijay Gupta, Reena Esmail, and Sunny Jain.
Her career has been marked by accolades and recognition, including being interviewed by The NY Times and BBC Radio in 2016 as the youngest Kuchipudi sensation, a testament to her pioneering contributions to the field. As an educator, Yamini has been invited to teach at prestigious institutions like the Mark Morris Dance Center and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, bringing her expertise to a new generation of dancers.
Yamini's choreographic commissions with the Asian American Ballet Project and Music Worcester showcase her visionary approach to blending cultural traditions with contemporary narratives. She is also a recipient of the Pandit Jasraj Scholarship from Pt. Jasraj himself and the Katta Sarojini Devi Gold Medal from her Guru, highlighting her commitment to artistic excellence.
Her work through Kritya serves as a platform for challenging experimentation, where dancers and musicians alike can mmerse themselves in the search for their truest forms of expression. Inspired by legends like Vempati Chinnasatyam, Rukmini Devi Arundale, Akram Khan, and Bijayini Satpathy, Yamini remains a dynamic force in redefining Kuchipudi for the modern world while preserving its core essence.
Yamini has recently deepened her immersion in Carnatic music, training in vocal music under Asha Ramesh in the Bay Area. As the head of the Kritya Music Orchestra, she actively engages in music arrangement and composition for dance. In her pursuit of rhythmic mastery, she is also undergoing intensive training in Carnatic Mridangam under Harsha Mandayam Bharathi, recognizing rhythm as the heartbeat of dance. Inspired by the legendary T. Balasaraswati, Yamini aspires to refine her musical expertise to enrich her dance practice.
Tessa McCoy and the Whistle Pig Rodeo
Appalachian Old Time
Greenville, WV
https://tessamccoy.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l3CLJK0qrc&t=9s
As a seven-time West Virginia state fiddle champion and current Grand Master Traditional Fiddle Champion, Tessa McCoy’s mastery of her unique and technical old-time fiddling style has positioned her as one of the most significant fiddlers living in Appalachia today.
Born and raised in Saint Albans, WV, Tessa spent much of her youth in the Kanawha Valley, ripening into the next link in an unbroken chain of traditional music and culture in the region. Her driving and specific old-time fiddling style pays homage to her early mentors, Jake Krack and Bobby Taylor, while showcasing her own take on standards, arrangements and festival favorites. She was featured in Fiddler Magazine in Winter 2021, WV Public Broadcasting’s one half hour Cliftop documentary at the age of 12, and more recently, a documentary on old-time fiddling from Clay County, West Virginia. Tessa made her debut at The Grand Ole Opry in summer 2024, where she payed homage to her home town, playing the tune Durang’s Hornpipe.”
With a passion for teaching, Tessa gives private lessons both in-person and online and regularly teaches at many old-time camps such as Allegheny Echoes, The Augusta Heritage Center, Swannanoa and The Floyd Country Store. Her adaptive and intuitive teaching style allows her versatility in working on tunes, technique and musicianship with her students.
In addition to her solo endeavors, Tessa has recently been performing with The State Birds a local old-time project which is comprised of some of West Virginia’s finest old-time musicians (The State Birds released their debut single, West Virginia Hornpipe, in 2024.
She released her first old-time fiddle album in 2018, titled “It’s Hard to Love”, flanked by fellow West Virginia musicians Jesse Milnes and Kim Johnson. That same year, Tessa won 1st place in the traditional band contest at the Appalachian Stringband Festival (Clifftop) with her band, Big Possum Stringband. They went on to release a self-titled album in 2019, were featured on NPR’s Mountain Stage, and toured across both the US and Australia that summer.
Tessa has recently formed the Whistle Pig Rodeo with like-minded friends to bring Appalachian Old Time music to the stages of the 2025 Montana Folk Festival.
2025 Performers previously announced --
Michael Cleveland (Bluegrass)
Shemekia Copeland (Blues)
Yeison Landero (Cumbia)
Fabiola Mendez (Puerto Rican Cuatro)
Zahra Alzabaidi (Arabic)
Elizabeth King (Gospel)
Paul Beaubrun (Haitian Creole)
