The Tucson Festival of Books will launch a new songwriter stage as part of its entertainment lineup in a collaboration with the Tucson Folk Festival.
Longtime Tucson acoustic music promoter Jeb Schoonover came up with the idea, which he says was a perfect tie-in with the book festival.
“It’s a perfect fit because of the natural tie in with writing,” he said in a news release.
The Tucson Folk Festival Songwriter Stage is one of six TFOB stages scattered throughout the University of Arizona Mall, where tens of thousands of folks will assemble for the book festival over the two-day run Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 10.
Each stage will host a variety of music styles from dozens of Tucson and regional bands, from jazz and blues to country and rock, with some klezmer and mariachi, folk and Americana thrown in.
There is no cost to attend. For a festival map, visit tucne.ws/tfobmap.
Saturday, March 9
Main Stage
Steven Sera brings his rock-Americana trio to the Main Stage on the opening day of the Tucson Festival of Books on Saturday, March 9.
Noon, Chalako the Band (rock, blues, jazz); 1 p.m., Klezmerkaba (klezmer music); 2, Steven Sera Trio (rock, country, Americana); 3, Las Azaleas (all-female mariachi); 4, RamseyRoberson (eclectic Americana).
Tucson Folk Festival Songwriter Stage
Country singer Mamma Coal is on the new Tucson Folk Festival Songwriter Stage on Saturday, March 9.
10 a.m., Annie Anna (folk); 10:30; Marty Province (singer-songwriter); 11, Lizzie (singer-songwriter); 11:30, Jerry Martin (folk, blues); noon, Mamma Coal (country, folk); 12:30 p.m., Two Cent Revival (Americana); 1, Jamie Anderson (folk from a woman’s viewpoint); 2, Brian Berggoetz (folk, blues); 2:30, Act 3 (vocal trio with acoustic guitar, electric bass and fiddle); 3, Ron Pandy (folk and baseball songs); 3:30, Wayback Trio (Americana).
West Food Court Stage
10 a.m., Docapella (a capella); 11, BC Dance Company (jazz, tap and contemporary); noon, Sunny Gable (viola, flute, guitar trio); 1, Capoeira Mandingo Tucson (Afro-Brazilian music and dance); 2, Tucson Chinese Cultural Center (traditional Chinese dance); 3, Quiru Duet & Friends (Latin American); 4, Ballet Folklorico Mextucaz (Mexican folk dance).
The Canyon Performance Area
9:30 a.m., Children’s Storybook Character Parade; 10, Gary Rodriguez (acoustic guitar, folk and pop); 11, Ron Jorgensen & Friends (acoustic, electric Americana); noon, Lisk Collective (keyboard and acoustic); 1, Carol Markstrom (folk, Western and Americana); 2, Patrick Anthony Kelly (singer-songwriter); 3, Mark Bishop Evans (folk, Americana); 4, Rendezvous (bass guitar and vocals).
Children’s Stage
10 a.m., Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; 11, Mariachi Los Toritos kids mariachi; noon, author-illustrator Barney Saltzberg; 1, author-entertainer José-Luis Orozco; 2, “Stories That Soar!” dramatizing children’s original stories; 3, Drachman Montessori Music Program; 4, Sahuaro High School Guitar Orchestra.
Friends of the Festival Dining Plaza
11 a.m., strolling troubadour Randall Dighton.
Sunday, March 10
Main Entertainment Stage
Latin American jazz guitarist Nico Barberan performs on the TFOB Main Stage Sunday, March 10.
10, Baja Caravan (surf, reggae, rock); 11, Sophia Rankin & The Sound (folk, pop, rock); noon, Rezonators Brass Band (New Orleans jazz); 1, Nico Barberan Band (Latin American jazz guitar); 2, Ruta Verbena (Latin dance music); 3, Compañia de Danza Folklorica Arizona (Mexican traditional dance); 4, Baba Marimba (world beat fusion).
Tucson Folk Festival Songwriter Stage
10, Rachael Snyder (singer-songwriter); 10:30, Bruce Kahler (folk); 11, Teal & Joyce (folk duo); 11:30, Bob Streit (singer-songwriter); noon, Way Out West (Americana); 1, Jeremy Gilliam (folk); 1:30, Sandy Hathaway (folk); 2, Tom Potter (storytelling through song); 2:30, Brett Dooley (singer-songwriter); 3, Paul Charles & Friends (Americana); 3:30, Ben Tully (singer-songwriter).
West Food Court Stage
10 a.m., The Out of Kilters (Irish music); 11, Danzacultura Mexicana (folklorico dance); noon, Mariachi Pueblo Viejo (mariachi); 1, illusionist-magician Michael Howell; 2, Celtic Steps (Irish folk dance); 3, Jitterbugs (swing jazz); 4, Saguaro Stompers (clog dancing).
The Canyon Performance Area
10, Kevin Vanderwerf (classic rock one-man band); 11, Carmina Robles (Sonoran folk singer); noon, Bob Bauer (guitar); 1 p.m., Doug Harber (singer, acoustic guitar); 2, Clio (singer-songwriter); 3, Midnight Moses (R&B, roots); 4, Wendy Landers (piano improv).
Children’s Stage
10 a.m., Zin! Zin! Suzuki violins and friends; 11, Tucson Girls Chorus Bumblebee Singers; noon, authors and illustrators Adam Rex, Lian Cho and Phuc Tran; 1 p.m., author-performer José-Luis Orozco; 2, Kids Unlimited; 3, Beat Drop Kidz youth hiphop dance; 4, signer-guitarist Bruce Phillips.
Friends of the Festival Dining Plaza
Noon, Seneca Drive (folk, country, jazz duo).
The 2023 Tucson Festival of Books brought hundreds of authors and large crowds to the University of Arizona Mall March 4-5. Here are some highlights from the festival. Video by Aidan Wohl / Arizona Daily Star
