my 12 favorite Folk Fest artists ever

This list is based only on artists I've seen at Philly Folk Fest, and only on the strength of their performance(s) I've seen there, and on other shows of theirs that I've seen since and because they were at Fest.

I'm not counting people who were at Fest but I never saw there (so no Moxy or Xavier Rudd), I'm not counting opinions I've formed of bands afterwards, completely independent of Fest (so no John Prine, because I was underwhelmed when I saw him there, even though I've grown to like him for other reasons since), and I'm not counting impressions of artists I had already had (so Arlo is a bit lower, because I already liked him and was expecting a good show beforehand). Also, time is a factor; a band that I loved at Fest but haven't enjoyed since will be marked down (so no Brave Combo).

Anyway:

12. Tempest
11. Avett Brothers
10. John Flynn
9. Wolfstone
8. Natalie MacMaster
7. Arlo Guthrie
6. Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams
5. Kris Kristofferson
4. The Nields
3. Da Vinci's Notebook
2. Utah Phillips
1. Eileen Ivers

Honorable mentions: Old Springs Pike, We're About Nine, Girlyman, The Roches, Tommy Emmanuel, Angel Band

Comments? Thoughts?