Lake Erie Folk Fest

A collaboration between the North East Ohio Musical Heritage Association, producer of the annual Blue Sky Folk Festival in Kirtland, and Shore Cultural Centre, a former high school turned innovative arts center in downtown Euclid, The Lake Erie Folk Festival starts today at 1 p.m. with a series of free afternoon workshops and mini concerts. Then, at 7:30 p.m., the local Irish act the Portersharks peform. The Duhks, a Grammy-nominated Winnipeg band, follow. Clawhammer banjo player Leonard Podolak, the Duhk's founder, grew up surrounded by folk music and now Podolak has led the band, which plays Celtic, old-time, Afro-Cuban and French Canadian music, to international acclaim. The event takes place at the Shore Cultural Centre. Tickets to the evening concert are $10. (Niesel) lakeeriefolkfest.com.