What to see and do at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, from a regular folkie

WITH FOUR stages and a wooded glen for kids' activities, plus a diversified food/beverage court and much enlarged arts/crafts retail zone, there'll be almost too many good choices for a visitor to this year's Philadelphia Folk Festival.

Adding insult to injury - when you're sitting at, say, the Tank Stage, and can hear an enormous roar of crowd approval emanating from the Camp Stage, you might well fear you've "picked" the wrong songathon.

But the truth is, you're sure to hear fine performers and solid material wherever you're sitting on the lawn. (Bring a blanket or a low-slung chair to plop on. Plus plenty of sunscreen and a coverup for the cooler and sometimes dewier nights.)

All that said, here's the sampling of events this seasoned festivalgoer is most likely to attend.

Philly rules on the Martin (main) Stage this afternoon (starting at 2:30 p.m.) with "Unsung Heroes" (campground talent) contest winners HogMaw and the Philadelphia Jug Band, plus Birdie Busch, Hoots & Hellmouth and a polished-to-perfection, Americana-country-styled collaboration of Ben Arnold, Joseph Arthur, Scott Bricklin, Tom Gillam and Matt Muir that goes by the name of US Rails.

Also sure to rule this afternoon - the Lobby Stage Cajun Dance Party with Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys. The fun here is in watching the dancers - or doing some yourself - as well as hearing the music. Plus, this is the only tented stage on the site, offering relief from the sun.

Tonight's main stage concert - 7:30 to midnight - will roar at both ends with Riley and the Playboys and Tempest, sandwiching Roy Book Binder, John Flynn, the much-touted Alexis P. Suter Band, Dry Branch Fire Squad and Justin Townes Earle.

Tomorrow, the daytime activities start at 11 a.m. and are in high gear an hour later with the "Songs of Phil Ochs" workshop, led by his sister Sonny, and a Bluegrass/Old Time Music session featuring the likes of Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Groovemama, the John Hartford Stringband (minus Hartford, sadly gone) and the team of Bill Keith and Jim Rooney, who go way back in festival history.