News Summary
A one-day symposium titled “Wasn’t That a Time: The Boston Folk Revival 1958–1965” will be held at Arrow Street Arts Center, featuring discussions on Boston’s significant role in folk music. Panelists include influential musicians and industry experts addressing various aspects of the folk scene. Tickets are available now, with student discounts offered. The event marks the beginning of a series of gatherings meant to celebrate the contributions to folk music, particularly in Boston.
Cambridge, Massachusetts – A one-day symposium titled “Wasn’t That a Time: The Boston Folk Revival 1958–1965” is set to take place on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Organized by the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame in collaboration with the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, the event will be held at the Arrow Street Arts Center.
Tickets for the symposium begin at $50 and can be purchased at farhof.org/symposium. Discounts are available for students, making the event accessible to a wider audience interested in folk music.
The symposium will feature eight panel sessions focusing on various aspects of Boston’s influence in the folk music scene during the late 1950s to mid-1960s. Attendees can look forward to a day filled with insightful discussions and a lunch break, which aims to unite both folk enthusiasts and newcomers wanting to learn more about this important era in American music history.
Noteworthy speakers scheduled for the event include musicians such as Noel Paul Stookey from the group Peter, Paul and Mary, folk singer Tom Rush, Peter Wolf, and singer-songwriter Ellis Paul. Emmy-winning producer Jim Brown and author Douglas Brinkley will also share their expertise, alongside Anna Canoni, the granddaughter of legendary musician Woody Guthrie.
According to J. Casey Soward, President & CEO of the Boch Center, Boston played a significant role in the folk movement, highlighting the contributions of artists like Joan Baez and Tom Rush during this pivotal time. The discussions will cover a range of topics that examine the origins and influence of the Boston and Greenwich folk scenes, particularly the historic Club 47 in Cambridge, where many folk artists performed.
Panel topics will include:
- The origins of the Boston and Greenwich folk scenes
- History and impact of Cambridge’s Club 47
- The rise to fame of Joan Baez
- The narrative titled “When Bob Met Woody,” presented by Anna Canoni
- A conversation with Peter Wolf regarding his book “Waiting on the Moon”
- The repercussions of Bob Dylan’s electric performance at Newport
- The evolution of post-revival folk and its contemporary significance in Boston
- A keynote address delivered by Noel Paul Stookey
This symposium is the inaugural event in a planned series of gatherings designed to celebrate and explore the folk music genre. Following this event, the next symposium is scheduled for 2026 at Monmouth University, where discussions will center around the Greenwich Village folk revival.
The Boston Folk Revival is celebrated for its significant impact on the American music landscape, functioning as a launching pad for many artists who would go on to influence generations. The forthcoming symposium promises to be an enriching opportunity for participants to engage with the stories and figures that shaped folk music’s narrative in Boston.
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Additional Resources
- Boston Real Estate Times
- Wikipedia: Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Cambridge Day
- Google Search: Cambridge Massachusetts News
- Boston.com News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Bike Lane
- Biogen Investor Relations
- Google Scholar: Cambridge Massachusetts Bike Lane Research
- Harvard Crimson
- Google News: Biogen Headquarters Cambridge
