The Richmond Folk Festival, one of the Virginia’s largest music festivals, returns for its 17th anniversary the weekend of Oct. 8 – 10 along the downtown riverfront.

Today it announced its first round of musical artists. Without further adieu, here are those artists, with some videos.

Plena Es (bomba y plena) Sunrise, Florida

Rare Essence(go-go) Washington, D.C.

Sean Jones “Dizzy Spellz” feat. Brinae Ali (jazz, hip hop, and tap dance) Baltimore, Maryland

Joanie Madden & Cherish the Ladies (Irish) Yonkers, New York

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (bluegrass) Charlestown, Indiana

Nava Persian Trio (Persian santour) Albuquerque, New Mexico

“This year more than ever we may find reason to celebrate each other’s traditions and cultures,” said Stephen Lecky, director of events at Venture Richmond, in a press release. “We are looking forward to showcasing downtown Richmond’s riverfront once again for a beautiful weekend of music, food and crafts to provide an open, outdoor, safe space for people to enjoy the Richmond Folk Festival.”

There will also be an interactive scavenger hunt from June 18 until Labor Day weekend. For more details, visit www.richmondfolkfestival.org.

Also, in case your missed them, every Saturday at 5 p.m., “Richmond public radio VPM stations 107.3 FM & 93.1 FM will broadcast favorite performances from the past 13 years of the Richmond Folk Festival as well as the three years the city hosted the National Folk Festival (2005-07).”

Here are the artists featured on those broadcasts:

July 3 Bombino

July 10 Jeff Little, Lulo Reinhardt

July 17 Nathalie Pires

July 24 Le Vent du Nord

July 31 Debashish Bhattacharya

Aug 7 Joshua Nelson

Aug 14 Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino

Aug 21 Marcia Ball

Aug 28 Dale Ann Bradley

Sep 4 Lurie Bell, Andes Manta

Sept 11 Amargue Bachata Quintet with Andre Veloz

Sept 18 Ahava Raba with Yanky Lemmer

Sept 25 Sona Jobarteth

Oct 2 Maggie Ingram, Frank Newsome, Paschall Brothers, Clinton Fearon