When it came time to select 40 songs for this collection, we wanted to make sure it represented the vast array of musical styles and genres we’ve treasured for the past 40 years. It was a daunting task. After all, more than 450 musicians have graced our stages, some of them returning again and again, while others gave only one memorable performance. The first part of our task was to whittle those 450+ down to 40 musicians who represented our eclectic festival. We wanted to make sure each of our 40 years was represented by at least one musician. So we listened to music. Lots of music. Then we listened to more, and we did it again. We wanted solo artists and duos and full bands and men and women and fiddles and drums and dance music and guitars and mandolins and accordions and fast music and slow music and soothing music and rousing music. We wanted songs to make you laugh and songs to make you cry. Songs to dance to and songs to hum while gazing at the stars.  Songs to sing with friends and family in living rooms and on back porches, and songs to sing loud and off-key in the car. Songs to bind us all together in families, communities and generations. It’s all folk music, and we wanted it all.

Here it is. 40 Years, 40 Artists, 40 Songs. It’s Folk Music, Shawano style.