2026 Folk Marathon is all about Community
By WTJU
Date: 02/02/2026 - 02/09/2026
Time: 5:00 am - 5:00 am
WTJU’s volunteer hosts are curating a Folk music mecca, running February 2 – 9, all to raise money for your favorite non-commercial radio station as it continues to find its footing after federal funding cuts. Your support continues to be more important than ever.
Keep your dial set to 91.1 FM (or stream from our player) for a week of Folk sounds, including old-time, honky tonk, global music, roots, and mind-bending psych folk. There will be deep dives into the work of singular artists, including Brandi Carlile, John Prine, Jesse Welles, Martin Carthy, and many more. There will be tributes to some of the musicians we lost in 2025, including Raul Malo, Danny Thompson, Joe Ely, Michael Hurley, and Todd Snider.
The Marathon will boast eight live concerts, open to the public, and broadcast on air, online, and on the WTJU YouTube channel. Stop by to see Mama Tried, Scuffletown, the Buzzard Hollow Boys, Red and the Romantics, Ramona and the Holy Smokes, and others! Every hour of the seven days and nights broadcasts directly from WTJU; even the overnight programming is populated with archived concerts from our very own stage!
We have also invited some of our favorite local musicians in to present special programming, including Banjo Hall of Fame member Bill Evans, singer/songwriter extraordinaire Terri Allard, and band leader Waverly Milor. Where else but WTJU can you find such support from the community?
This year’s Marathon is extra special as it will be the last that WTJU Folk Director, Peter Jones, manages. Peter is not going anywhere, but as he takes on more staff responsibilities as WTJU’s Program Director, he is laying down the mantle of volunteer Folk Director. Please show your appreciation for his 30 years of service to the station (which includes putting together the last 15 Folk marathons!) with a donation to WTJU!
The theme of this year’s marathon is Community. WTJU serves its community and is supported by its community. Be a part of that community by giving now on our secure online donation portal. Our goal this year is $80,000, and it will take our community to help keep us on the air.
Thank you for your support!
