Last day to purchase tickets online is Friday May 6th at 1:00 pm

Tickets may be purchased at the office during the week and at the box office on Friday and Saturday of the performance.

Thespian Hall box office phone number:

 660-882-3452

30th Big Muddy Folk Festival

May 13 -14 2022

The Friends of Historic Boonville is proud to sponsor the Big Muddy Folk Festival.  This two day, nationally-recognized folk festival focuses on traditional, ethnic and folk music with concerts, workshops, jam sessions, demonstrations, master classes, exhibits, a dance and barbeque.  Readers of Missouri Life magazine voted the Big Muddy their favorite music festival, and we are committed to bringing this festival back for years to come. The Festival has been under the artistic direction of Dave Para & the late Cathy Barton since its inception in 1992.  Under Dave and Cathy’s direction, nationally known artists have performed on the stage of historic Thespian Hall for 30 years!

Tickets go on sale

Tuesday, March 15th, 2002

Click here to buy tickets

Concerts

 Concerts are held on Friday and Saturday nights at historic Thespian Hall (522 Main Street), the  oldest continuing operating theater West of the Allegheny Mountains.  Concerts begin at 7:00 pm and feature multiple different artists each evening.  Click here to purchase tickets  or call 660-882-7977.

Big Muddy Folk Festival Lineup

Friday Night Performances:
Howard Marshall
Snort Horse
Artemisia
Mark Dvorak

Saturday night performances:
River Ridge Stringband
Gumbo Bottoms
Violet Vonder Har
Charm City Junction

Workshops 

Vocal, instrumental, and dance instructional workshops are offered on Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm.  Workshops are located within walking distance of Thespian Hall and are lead by various festival performing artists.  Workshops change every hour offering a variety to satisfy everyone’s interest.  Workshop fee is just $5.00 for the day or free with a purchase of a festival series tickets.  Reservations for the workshops are not required.

ALL WORKSHOPS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE and the schedule will be released as soon as it is finalized.

Workshops are on Saturday, May 14th

10:00 AM
Hammered Dulcimer – Cliff White @ Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
Improvisational Songwriting – Artemisia @ Thespian Hall
Shape Note – Dave Barton – Episcopal Church

11:00 AM
Fiddle — Howard and Mike @ Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
Guitar according to Mark Dvorak @ Thespian Hall
Surviving a Folk Jam – Mark Dvorak @ Presbyterian Church Sanctuary

1:00 PM
Banjo – Brad, Dave, Mark @ Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
Fiddles and Forests @ Mike and Tenley Presbyterian Church Sanctuary
Kids Songs with Violet @ Thespian Hall
Musicians’ Health and Wellness – Sean McComiskey @ Episcopal Church

2:00 PM
Old-Time Jam – Charm City, et. Al @ Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
Open Stage (Song Swap) @ 2pm to 4pm Presbyterian Church Sanctuary

3:00 PM
Backing Up a Fiddle Tune – Charm City, maybe Dave @ Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
Mountain Dulcimer 1 — Carol Welch 
Mountain Dulcimer 2 – Susan McFarland

Contra Dance

Generally, a contra dance is on Friday night immediately following the performance.

Jam Session

Jam session are held in various times through the festival.  Bring your instrument and join in!

Barbecue

Will be held at the Mercantile Events Center at 505 Main Street.

If you would like to be added to our mailing list please email fohboonville@gmail.com with your name and mailing address.

For information about past festivals go to http://www.bigmuddy.org