Nearly two dozen of the finest performers are all in one place for the Eleventh Annual Boston Folk Festival. The list is below in alphabetical order. If you're not familiar with their music, click on the special "music-in-your-ear" icon next to each performer to play a short MP3 sound file of their music. For more information about each one, just click on the performer's name to go to their web site.

	David Buskin and Robin Batteau	David Buskin and Robin Batteau have been at the singer songwriter game as a duo since 1984. Even if you can't say you know these two, you've certainly heard them. Buskin and Batteau are something the paragon of professional musicians. Having both carved out a sizeable niche in writing marketing jingles, their commercial work has been heard in almost every home across America. But their roots reach back further than the stable success they found in media markets, the two are a potent stage presence and a perfect complementary pair of American folk musicians. Buskin and Batteau will be performing, and will be the judges at the Boston Folk Festival Songwriting Contest Finals on Saturday night.
	Henry Butler	With a sheer virtuosity spanning nearly every style and training of the piano, Henry Butler has been dazzling audiences for decades from his hometown New Orleans. Henry's unique style is a composition of: jazz, Caribbean, classical, pop, blues and R&B, such a disjoint smattering of inspiration can only be called Henry Butler. Henry's earlier jazz-oriented work has over time evolved into a flavor of blues that he truly 'owns' for himself. Henry's vocal training is rooted in opera, deepening the trademark he imprints on all the work he does. Existing in the shadow of his musical talents lies Henry's accomplished photographic skill, truly a remarkable achievement for a man blinded by glaucoma since childhood!
	Jud Caswell	Anyone who was at the Boston Folk Festival in 2006 needs no reminder of just how good Jud Caswell is. That was the year Jud took first place in the BFF song writing competition, and in the time between he has let us down not once. Trained in so many different instruments and having spent his life in Maine, Jud writes music with the sort of authenticity that can only be derived from the rugged and diverse arena of rural New England.
	Cliff Eberhardt	Cliff was practically born a master of his craft. At the unbelievably eary age of seven the Pennsylvanian native was already committed to a life dedicated to music. At fifteen Cliff had already begun a six year stint of touring with with his brother Geoff all around the eastern United States. It was as an adult in New York City that Cliff would be brought to prominence surrounded by some of the best elements of American folk music. An accomplished writer of songs for commercial utility, Cliff's true prowess is evident in the list of heavy-hitting musicians who perform his songs.
	Emily Elbert	A native of Dallas,Texas, Emily is among the most glowing of the upcoming generation of American singer/songwriter, if 'upcoming' even applies to this phenom any longer. At only eighteen, Emily has an astounding early career opening for some of the biggest and most venerated names in the business. Her style is all over the map in terms of influence with a freshness that one only finds in so young an artist. Emily recently moved to Boston, where she is a full-time student at Berklee College of Music.
	Eliza Gilkyson	Daughter of folk icon Terry Gilkyson, it should be no surprise that this third generation musician from California would garner high praise in her folk career. Eliza is a Grammy-nominated songwriter and inductee to the Austin Music Hall of Fame. She started her career in the American southwest building a fan base while starting a family. Since 1996 Eliza has released a stellar string of renowned records that have multiplied her regional following into one that spans continents and oceans.
	John Gorka	Termed the 'preeminent male singer/songwriter of the new folk movement' during his ascent to greatness, John Gorka began his epic story in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Though born in Edison New Jersey, it was at the legendary Godfrey Daniels coffeehouse that John would draw the attention of many an admired folk mentor, eventually winning a place as their peer. With a history of touring sometimes maxing out at a whopping 150 nights a year, John has made himself one of the biggest names in the folk scene today. Now a resident of Minnesota, a husband, and a father, John continues to keep us captivated with his signature baritone voice and unique songwriting expertise.
	Eilen Jewell	A native of Idaho, Eilen (it rhymes with feelin') can trace her passion for music to a Beethoven tape played by her father on a 1500 mile journey from Anchorage to Boise. One of the brightest stars currently rising in the already bright Boston folk scene, Eilen's songwriting is declared across the board to evoke the senses with a bold and daring use of space. Eilen has a presence on all manner of luminary folk outlets including World Cafe, Mountain Stage and the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. This year the Boston Folk Festival will feature Eilen as one of the newest and most promising young singer/songwriters the city has to offer.
	Annie Lynch and The Beekeepers	How many bands have you seen in the last year that masterfully blend cello, accordion, mandolin, guitar, bass- even a bow and saw into an old-time Americana sound that took you to another world and back? If, in the last year you saw Annie Lynch and The Beekeepers, your answer would be: 'at least one'. This quartet of Bostonians are fast becoming a hot topic in the local folk scene, in no small part to their immense charisma in front of an audience, but owing even more to the talent employed in making such an eclectic palette sound so familiar.
	Kathy Mattea	Hailing from the mountains of West Virginia, the heart of the Appalachians, Kathy is a Grammy-winning veteran of both the country and bluegrass genres of music. Kathy's storied career makes her a huge draw at every venue she lands in. Despite being often categorized as a country musician, the messages and introspection of her lyrics are repeatedly attributed to her folk roots. Nowhere is this more evident than the recent release 'Coal', Kathy's compilation of personal takes on traditional mining songs from her homeland.
	Andrew McKnight	Andrew is a true stage man. His wit and charm are as much a part of his show as the music and song. A storyteller and humorist, Andrew entertains all aspects of an audiences mind and spirit. His music is so sincere and heartfelt with themes reflecting is role as an ardent conservationist of America's rural heritage and natural landscapes. Any stage that Andrew finds himself on, audiences find themselves spellbound by his unending reserve of energy and obvious love for his work.
	Danielle Miraglia	It would be easy to mistake Danielle as a blues musician, with her clear delta blues influenced guitar skills and a powerful voice that seems to teeters on the unrefined. But to do so would sell short her diverse array of songwriting talents. A native of Revere, Danielle has maintained a vigorous busking career in around Cambridge balanced with tours of major cities across America.
	Chris O'Brien	Inspired in his youth by Shawn Colvin and The Indigo Girls, and taught his first chords by family friend Dar Williams, Chris O’Brien has been groomed from the start as a superstar of the Boston folk scene. Featured by Garrison Keillor on his 'Prairie Home Companion' as well being chosen as a finalist in Boston's own Mountain Stage New Song competition, Chris O’Brien seems to be everywhere at once with his deep songwriting craftsmanship. The future for folk music in Boston is looking bright, thanks to stars like this one.
	Jason Spooner Trio	Jason is an award-winning local who has been blowing minds across America and Europe for a surprising length of time given his relative youth. As a songwriter Jason has a skill that allows him to paradoxically blend ethereal and transcendent themes with the kind of down-to-earth pragmatism that folk music holds so dear. Paired with the exceedingly talented Adam Frederick and Reed Chambers, the Jason Spooner Trio is a musical force to be reckoned with, in a good way.
	Susan Werner	For a farm girl from Iowa, Susan has built a reputation in American folk music for versatility and brilliant reinvention of herself. Trained classically as an operatic voice in Philadelphia, inspiration in the form of Nanci Griffith would set Susan on a path she still follows today. Not shy about raising issues and asking questions that might seem out of place in a genre so steeped in tradition, Susan stays controversial with her takes on America's place in the world and the role religion plays in society.
	Pat Wictor	Pat has walked a winding path, through life, through the world and through music. Having tried his hand in musical genres from heavy metal through jazz even giving up the pursuit for awhile, he found his calling in American roots music. Known for having the 'best hair' in folk music, as well as author of a widely read internet dispatch, Pat clearly has a breadth of experience in life that can only be understood when one hears his mastery of the slide guitar.
		* performers and schedule subject to change