The Woodstock Folk Festival is delighted to welcome contemporary singer-songwriter Claudia Nygaard for this special concert to benefit the summer festival on Sunday, April 18, at 2 p.m., at Stage Left Café, 125 Van Buren Street, Woodstock, Illinois, 815-337-1395.

Claudia's legs hang over both sides of that same fence between country and folk music that Guy Clark and John Prine have straddled. While her songs find their roots and rhythms in the Americana storytelling tradition, the melodies are passionate and emotional and the lyrics are vivid and descriptive.

Claudia is a winner of the 2004 Kerrville Folk Festival “New Folk” Songwriting Contest. In 2009 she performed on the mainstage at Kerrville. She was also chosen as one of the Emerging Artists showcased at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and performed on Rich Warren's WFMT “Folkstage” radio show, which also airs on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Her new CD, “Let the Storm Roll In,” will be released this year.

Dalis Allen, producer of the Kerrville Folk Festival, said, “Claudia has a talent for finding in a simple phrase the most excellent songs, where anyone else might hear nothing. I am continually amazed by the emotions she can evoke; heart wrenching I cry every time, to a social statement, which could be a call to action or at least some inner searching, to sexy and funny that leaves everyone in the room delightfully, joyfully heated.“ Paul Barker of Barker House Concerts in Austin, Texas said, “I have been hosting concerts for 40 years and house concerts for the last twelve. I would have to say that Claudia Nygaard's house concert was one of the most personal and engaging of the audience that I have ever seen.” And Kelson Slayman of “Folk at the Cannery” House Concers in South Carolina said, “Claudia was a smash hit with our audience. Her songs, her stories, her charming wit, and her engaging personality combined to provide all of us with a wonderful evening of entertainment.”

The suggested donation for the concert is $10/adults and $7/seniors and students. Reservations are not required but they are suggested. To make a reservation or call 815-479-9WFF(9933).

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Stage Left Café is located on the Woodstock Square next to the Woodstock Opera House. The Woodstock Square is located a few blocks West of Illinois Route 47, and is easily accessible from Routes I-90, IL 14, and IL 120, as well as by public transportation.. See our Directions page to find maps and directions. There is parking around the perimeter of the Square.

The previous Woodstock Folk Festival Concert was held on March 7, 2010. In celebration of the 25th Annual Woodstock Folk Festival, the Woodstock Opera House will present Chicago folk legend Bonnie Koloc on July 17th, Festival eve.