Welcome to the Baltimore Folk Music Society
The Baltimore Folk Music Society is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to preserving and promoting folk music, dance, and tradition. BFMS sponsors regular dances, concerts, family events, and related activities year-round. Members are eligible for discounts to Society events by showing their membership card.
BFMS is a member of the Country Dance & Song Society and shares reciprocity arrangements with the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the Annapolis Traditional Dance Society.
Upcoming special events:
Saturday, June 27, 2026 Lovely Lane will be host a special Flatfooting workshop with Becky Hill at 2 pm preceding a Family Barn Dance 3-4:30
Thank you all for participating in the BFMS 50th Anniversary Celebration! You can still help us out by donating to the Society.
Names and pictures for many we have lost can be seen here
People under 21 and full-time students dance FREE at all regular BFMS dances!
We will still be requesting payment via the BFMS website.
With the end of the public health emergency, we are not currently requiring vaccinations or masks for our events. Please be mindful of others' safety and do not attend if you are not feeling well.
Volunteers power BFMS. Want to...
...learn sound engineering and meet some of the most talented folk musicians in the country?
...greet dancers at the door or bring snacks for the break?
...use your design or social media skills to help build the contra and English dance community in Baltimore?
Reach out! president@bfms.org
Keep up with the latest BFMS events in our Facebook group.
Virtual and Live Community Events
Monday, June 29 2026
English Country Dance
An evening of English Country Dance from 8 o'clock until half past 10 pm.
Francine Krasowska at the piano, Becky Ross on violin and Mark Vidor on accordion will be playing all the tunes called by Andrea Nettleton.
snacks are welcome but not required. However, registration is available via: http://bfms.org/englishcountrypay.php
Wednesday, July 01 2026
Contra Dance
NO DANCE (Summer Skip Week)
Monday, July 06 2026
English Country Dance
Post 4th-o'-July English Country Dance! 8 pm till 10:30 pm.
Loyalists not turned away; no questions asked.
Emily Aubrey will call to the playing of Robin Wilson on flute and concertina, Carl Friedman on violin, and Janina O'Brien at the piano for the most part.
Please consider bringing a snack to bolster our socializing and energy levels, but, no pressure. However....
please register via: http://bfms.org/englishcountrypay.php
Wednesday, July 08 2026
Contra Dance
Evan De Smitt calls to the music of Susan Brandt (flute) and Tom Wright (ten string mandolin). 7:30pm lesson, dance 8-10:30pm at Lovely Lane Church. REGISTER HERE
Saturday, July 11 2026
2nd Saturday Dance
7-9:30 PM
Perry Shafran calling to Some Assembly ~ Mary Corletta Flora - flute, sax, penny whistles, Donna Boylan - piano, Joe Klausner - violin, mandolin, Adam Lee - guitar, Iain Sturrock - percussion, guitar and vocals
Dance lesson: 6:30
Location: The Church of the Nativity and Holy Comforter, 6112 York Rd, Baltimore, MD 21212
Admission: $10 BFMS members & affiliates, $15 non-members. People under 21 and students with ID: free
Online payment only. Pre-payment is encouraged. http://bfms.org/secondsatpay.php
Potluck snacks at the break.
Monday, July 13 2026
English Country Dance
A Mid-Summer Evening of English Country Dance
8 pm until 10:30 pm
Marty Taylor on whistles, recorders and concertina, Becky Ross on violin and Carl Friedman at the piano will play all tunes for dances called by Kappy Laning this evening.
Please register via: http://bfms.org/englishcountrypay.php
Wednesday, July 15 2026
Contra Dance
NO DANCE (Summer Skip Week)
Monday, July 20 2026
English Country Dance
English Country Dancing this Evening; from eight o'clock until half past ten o'clock.
Christopher Field calls the dances and Francine Krasowska at the piano, Emily Aubrey on violin and Andrew Tomlinson on flutes will provide all necessary musical momentum!
Snacks are always welcome, but not required for entrance.
However, please register via: http://bfms.org/englishcountrypay.php
Wednesday, July 22 2026
Contra Dance
Stephan Rochefort calls to the music of the Baltimore Open Band (BOB). 7:30pm lesson, dance 8-10:30pm at Lovely Lane Church. REGISTER HERE
Thursday, July 23 2026
BFMS Song Swap4th Tuesday Zoom song swap. 7:30
The zoom song swap is a place for folks to come together and share songs, community, and keep the live singing tradition thriving. While we have been getting together on zoom, the 4th Tuesday BFMS songswap has become transcontinental and international with participants from west, farther west, and north and northwest across the border. You can drop in on the zoom and meet (and hear / sing with) some nice folks we 're not likely to meet in person!https://yorku.zoom.us/j/99950379772
See our Events page for a complete listing of events and details.
Visit the BFMS Folk Events page for a list of some of the other folk events in the area.
www.bfms.org/folkeventsAttention BFMS Members
- Recently moved or changed your email address? Wondering why you aren't getting anything from BFMS? Please contact BFMS Membership (membership @ bfms.org) and update your contact information.
- If you have recently joined BFMS or renewed your membership and did not get anything in the mail (such as a membership Card) please contact the Membership Chair at membership @ bfms.org. Thank you.
How to Contact Us
By E-mail - use our Contact page.
We can also be reached by conventional mail at
Baltimore Folk Music Society, P.O. Box 65144, Baltimore, MD 21209.
Call the Baltimore Folk Music Society's Music & Dance Hotline! (888) 646-BFMS or (888)646-2367
or email president@bfms.org.
Membership expired? Renew on-line! See the Membership page for details.
