First eight performers announced for Richmond Folk Fest

From dobro to go-go, the first eight performers announced for this year's Richmond Folk Festival indicate the event isn't straying from its eclectic roots.

Nashville's Jerry Douglas, regarded as the master of the dobro, along with D.C.-based go-go group Trouble Funk, Louisiana's Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys and yodeler Wylie Gustafson are among the artists announced yesterday by Venture Richmond, the organization that produces the event.

This is the second year of the Richmond Folk Festival, which will take place Oct. 9-11 along the downtown Richmond riverfront. Last year's event attracted more than 185,000 throughout the weekend.

Despite the struggling economy, the festival will remain free, with more than 25 groups performing on six stages.

"It's an amazing event and it's as free as air," said Jim Wark, the festival's programming committee chairman.

The Richmond Folk Festival branched off from the successful National Folk Festival, which the city hosted from 2005 to 2007.

The acts announced so far are:

• Swamp Dogg, an R&B legend who is a Tidewater native now living in Los Angeles.

• Jerry Douglas, who will perform with The Jerry Douglas Band.

• Trouble Funk, the D.C.-based funk group specializing in heavy percussion.

• Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys, from southwest Louisiana. Broussard is a zydeco accordionist.

• Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga, who will bring African dance rhythms to the stage.

• Sounds of Korea, a traditional Korean dance group led by Sue Yeon Park, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow.

• Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, who offer energetic Irish fiddling.

• Wylie Gustafson and his group, Wylie & The Wild West, who will perform classic country, Western swing, cowboy songs and yodeling.

Contact Melissa Ruggieri at (804) 649-6120 or .