In honor of his importance as a pioneer of folk music

(Long Island, NY) Woody Guthrie was born 100 years ago, and in honor of his importance as a pioneer of folk music, the Third Annual Woodlands Folk Festival will include an All-Star Tribute to Woody Guthrie with performances by the festival’s musical stars.  While there are other tributes to Woody Guthrie planned for this year, Woodlands 2012 will be held on June 30, just two weeks before the 100th Anniversary on July 14, 1912.  Headlining performers such as folk-icon and 2012 NYC Nightlife Award winner Christine Lavin and singer-songwriter Greg Greenway, recently featured on NPR and Mountain Stage, will lead a talented line-up including Claudia Jacobs, The Tres Amigos, Martin Swinger, and Sonny Meadows.

Guthrie was a prolific songwriter, whose songs captivated the nation during his lifetime and continue to be taught to schoolchildren today as an essential part of our national heritage.  Guthrie died of Huntington’s disease in 1967 but not before having an enormous influence on folk and rock music, as recognized by many music organizations:

• Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, Pioneer Award 2012
• The National Songwriters’ Hall of Fame inductee 1970
• The Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame inductee 1977
• The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum inductee 1988
• The North American Folk Alliance Lifetime Achievement Award 1996
• National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Lifetime Achievement Award 1999

Woodland Folk Festival performers perform their favorite Woody Guthrie songs and invite audience members to join in paying homage to this giant of American music. The Woodlands Folk Festival has quickly become a favorite of Long Island fans with a laid back vibe that promises great music, good food, and activities for all ages.  Woodlands encourages Long Island music fans to check its website, www.woodlandsfolkfest.org, for updates on additional artists and other news.

The festival is hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Stony Brook (380 Nicolls Road, E. Setauket, NY), a non-profit religious organization, whose mission includes support for social and economic justice.  All proceeds from the festival will be used to fund UUFSB and its mission.  The Fellowship can also be found online at www.uufsb.org.