Past Events

More About The Folk Collective

The Folk Collective is a quarterly gathering of twelve select artists, musicians, and cultural thought leaders. Through an active exchange of ideas, creative collaboration, and partnership, we aim to foster and develop sustainable channels to invite and welcome diverse audiences, artists, and conversations to the Passim stage.

Alastair Moock is an award-winning singer-songwriter; a Grammy-nominated family musician; social justice and Songwriting educator for all ages; and co-founder of The Opening Doors Project, an anti-racist music organization. The Boston Globe calls him "one of the town's best and most adventurous songwriters," and The Washington Post says, "every song is a gem."

Anju is a singer, songwriter, producer, and performer shaped by the people and places in Minnesota and Massachusetts. Their music conjures imaginary lovers, scents of citrus, and visions of hairy brown skin under the sun. Anju was highlighted by NPR's All Songs Considered as an outstanding Tiny Desk Contest entrant. They are currently teaching young musicians piano, violin, and guitar and working on their debut full-length album.

Maxfield Anderson is an American roots multi-instrumentalist, teacher, writer, and music director living in Somerville, MA. As an artist, Maxfield aims to bring new light to honored traditions and to share the joy of making music with others.

Award-winning Tlingit artist Kim Moberg was born in Juneau, Alaska, and currently calls Cape Cod, MA home. Kim began playing guitar at age 14, but severe stage fright kept her from becoming a professional performer. In 2014 Kim set out to overcome her stage fright and wrote her first song. Kim teamed with Grammy-nominated producer Jon Evans to record two albums: "Above Ground" and "Up Around The Bend." Both have received worldwide airplay, charting on the Folk Alliance International Folk DJ charts and the NACC Radio charts. Kim and Jon are collaborating on her third album, which features songs that tie ancient prophecies to our current social environment. Kim's recognitions include the 2021 Rocky Mountain Songwriting Contest Finalist, the 2021 Great American Songwriting Contest Folk/Americana Finalist, and the 2020 CT Folk Grassy Hill Songwriting Competition Winner.

Stephanie Mckay is a recording artist, songwriter, arts educator, and advocate based in Medford. Her artistic practice lies at the intersection of music, community, and education.

Made up of a diverse cohort of twelve artists in the Greater Boston region, The Folk Collective has taken this challenge head-on, performing concerts in the club as well as out in the community that push the boundaries of folk music…from themed concerts like Re-Imagining Lilith Fair to curated festivals such as We Black Folk to timely shows like the Indigenous Peoples Day event and the Inaugural Pride Month Celebration… The Folk Collective is reclaiming Folk Music as a music for all people. 

The inaugural cohort brings twelve diverse, multigenerational, talented artists, educators, and thought-leaders together, to collaborate, inspire, and rethink what Folk Music looks like today. In doing so, they’ve become their own community.  

And now, as the Folk Collective is deep its second year  (a new cohort will be chosen for 2024-2026 season), one of the most exciting developments is the plan to learn what has worked (and what hasn’t) from this exciting trailblazing initiative and create tools and a template for other organizations to use ... The Folk Collective is artist-led. Passim continues to learn from these inspiring leaders and incorporate their thoughts and ideas into the core of its practice.