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Fundraiser planned for folk school campus construction
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Entering its eighth year of teaching intergenerational, half-day to three day classes on farms, in schools, private homes, community buildings, or anywhere it could find space, the Driftless Folk School is now kicking off its first ‘Building Campaign’ for a new campus in La Farge with a concert on April 18 from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Ark, 401 East Jefferson Street, Viroqua.

The concert will feature Tom Neilson. Tickets are $8 pre-purchased or $10 at the door. They can be purchased online at driftlessfolkschool.org or by calling 888-587-6540.

The building campaign will fund a community constructed, timber-frame, outdoor classroom and amphitheater and the first cabin for two interns to be built on five acres of land on the 120-acre Bear Creek Farm. The farm is located on Highway D and is named after the creek that runs the entire southern border of the property.

The Driftless Folk School is committed to teaching traditional craft, alternative energy and building and many quickly disappearing arts of homesteading and wild skills in the unique community of the Driftless region. The folk school is a center where students and teachers re-discover their innate creativity and connection to a community of ‘makers’.

Folks will be warmed up with the rollicking music of the Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers who perform traditional old-time fiddle tunes and sing tight harmonies, including country, vaudeville, hits of the 1920s and 1930s, and original songs and tunes.

From Greenfield, Massachusetts, Tom Nielson will enliven and inspire the audience with his stories, songs and ‘Music for Social Change.’ His music has been used in nine documentaries. He tells the stories of people’s struggles against greed & violence, interjecting a good deal of levity along the way. If you ask him, he'll tell you he's just a farm boy with a guitar, who loves a good ball game and human rights.