The American Folk Festival has announced several of the acts that will perform at this year's event and we wanted to give you time to plan who you want to see most!

Each August, the American Folk Festival brings music, dance, food, and culture from around the world to the Bangor Waterfront. With several stages set up around the area, it's a chance to listen to many different kinds of music during even the shortest of stays at the festival. But once you get there, you'll want to stay all day and then return the next, so you won't miss a thing!

I've compiled a list of 6 of the performers scheduled for this year's festival, which is coming up August 25th to the 27th. You can click on the links in each segment to view a video of one of their performances. Then, when it gets closer to the event, check out this year's schedule on the American Folk Festival's website, so you can map out your weekend and avoid missing any acts that you really want to see. And check back, because I'll share more performers later this week that will perform.

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    1

    Black Bears Marching Band

    The Pride of Maine Black Bears Marching Band will kick off the 2017 American Folk Festival by leading the parade. As it weaves its way through the festival grounds on Friday night, folks are invited to follow along, dance to the music, and get in the spirit for a great weekend of music!

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    2

    Oudyano

    Oudyano is a combination of cultures and music, all on its own. Issam Rafea is from Kuwait and plays the Syrian Oud, which is a stringed instrument that looks sort of like a lute with a short neck. The other half of Oudyano is Steven Hobert, who is from Minneapolis and is the group's eclectic pianist and improviser.

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    3

    Tarniriik

    Children come to the American Folk Festival stage, in the form of Tarniriik, which is made up of 12-year-old Samanatha Puijuq and 11-year-old Cailyn Nanauq De Grand. The two girls are said to make an astonishing array of sounds, using only their voices, in the Inuit throat-singing style known as katajjaq. Tarniriik is an Inuit word for 'two souls' and hails from Ottawa.

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    4

    Becky Hill

    Becky Hill brings flatfoot dancing to the Bangor Waterfront. Very similar to clogging, the dance technique that originated in Appalachia uses the stomping feet much like a percussion instrument to the music. Hill has won a number of flatfoot competitions and teaches at traditional music camps and festivals.

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    5

    Riley Baugus

    Riley Baugus is the next generation of the American roots tradition, playing old time banjo and singing in a clear, powerful voice. He provided music for the soundtrack to the movie 'Cold Mountain,' has performed with Alison Krauss, Robert Plant, Willie Nelson, and others. From his home in North Carolina, he travels the world, playing at festivals like the AFF.

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    6

    Samuel James

    Mainer Samuel James brings some local talent to the festival, with his blues guitar and singing. James comes from a long line of musicians, whose legacy is alive and well in his performances today. He will bring his music, but also his knowledge and experience during one of the Festival's popular talk/demo sessions on 'Songs of Justice, Songs of Spirit,' on Festival Saturday.

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