In addition to viewing author sessions, visiting exhibitors and strolling the University of Arizona mall, there are so many activities for families throughout the festival! There is also so much to see on our entertainment stages - the festival even features strolling musicians this year!
Come join the fun! Find a full list of Entertainment & Family Activities.
Act 3
Act 3 is a vocal trio with acoustic guitar, electric bass, fiddle and percussion. They play an eclectic mix of original folk songs, as well as their own arrangements of blues and swing covers featuring close harmonies.
Annie Anna is a singer/songwriter currently based in Tucson, AZ. Inspired by artists such as Hozier, Matt Maeson, and Shakey Graves, her music features prominent vocals mixed with dark acoustics and auxiliary percussion. Her sound can best be described as a mixture of folk and rock.
A spoken word program by Tucson women reflecting on the power of books to inspire us. From Nancy Drew to The Autobiography of Malcolm X, five of us share funny, touching and meaningful reading experiences and describe how we were changed. This is not a fully scripted stage play, but a structured performance with participants who perform in community comedy and storytelling venues. Produced by The Estrogen Hour (a women's comedy show) and hosted by comic Nancy Stanley.
Instrumental duo comprised of diatonic accordion and 12-string cittern/guitar. We play dance tunes, both modern and traditional, from all over Western Europe (French, English, Celtic, Scandinavian and other), plus some originals.
Singer songwriter. One thing I like to do is original covers where I take a classic hit song and rewrite it to sound like a new song. My songs are about love and the big picture in life.
Capoeira - Afro-Brazilian Martial Art, Dance, and Music
Capoeira Mandinga Tucson and nonprofit Capoeira Institute Southwest partner to bring traditional Afro-Brazilian capoeira, music, and dance to Tucson and global communities. Anne Pollack (Mestra Luar do Sertão), our group’s founder and director, is the highest level master of Capoeira and Afro-Brazilian arts in the state of Arizona. This year’s 2026 show at Tucson Festival of Books will engage the audience with Afro-Brazilian Arts, including the music and moves of capoeira - a dance-like martial art. We welcome audience participation, clapping and singing while learning song choruses in Portuguese that drive the energy for playing capoeira games in the capoeira roda/circle.
Established in 2018, Chalako brings the flavors of an old Chilean folk song, climbs the Andes to entertain you with a Cumbia from Peru, and drops by and picks up a pop song from Argentina. From the Caribbean, Chalako’s Cuban-influenced Salsa and Dominican Bachata are as fresh as the waters that surround those islands. While in the USA, they visit California for some soul searching Chicano tunes, Texas for some 1970s rock and 1980s blues, and onto New York City for some Salsa and Boogaloo rhythms from the ’60s and ’70s. If you’re not already sweating, we’ll take you to Spain and Italy for some romantic pop songs, and while in Europe, we’ll visit the greats in Liverpool’s Abbey Road. Rock, Pop, Blues, Salsa, Cumbia, Bachata, Boogaloo — slow, fast, smooth, hard! It’s all there!
“Compañía de Danza Folklórica Arizona, under the direction of Chantal Ralls, is a non-profit Mexican Folklore dance company from Tucson, AZ celebrating its 12th anniversary in 2026. With seven levels of dance ranging from toddlers to professionals and more than 160 dancers, their dedication to culture and community is exhibited in every stomp of their feet and swirl of the skirt.”
The group is an all advanced guitar ensemble, that will be playing music from all over the world, greatest hits in rock and pop, and some children's songs.
Truly fresh acoustic! Derdog delivers smooth solo grooves through his catalog of 600+ songs, striking modern vibes of rock, pop, alt, blues, folk & country. His diverse setlists range from contemporary hits to decades of radio classics (including two original singer/songwriter albums) — Derdog has depth to create smiles & make occasions shine!
Desert Museum Animal Friends - Meet the Neighbors!
The Sonoran Desert is rich in amazing plant and animal life. Meet some of our desert neighbors, explore the important work they perform, and discover how we can be good neighbors to help them thrive and bring their gifts to our community.
We are a smooth sounding duo based in Phoenix, Arizona. Our music covers a broad range of styles including country, folk, blues, jazz, rock, and pop. We enjoy giving our music a personal stamp with unique arrangements.
Gwen Ryan is a 14 year old local singer songwriter who has been performing live since she was 10. She does mainly covers of popular music including some from Lana Del Ray, Taylor Swift, Noah Kahan and classics from Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and The Beatles. She loved performing last year at the TFOB and thought the crowd was the best experience she has had performing.
Jazz Fly Storytime with Rhythmic Author Matthew Gollub
Ready for some rhythmic, rollicking storytelling? Join Matthew Gollub (creator of the popular Jazz Fly series with audio) as he performs some of his award-winning books and brings reading to life! Matthew’s many picture books serve up a wide world of culture. He speaks English, Spanish, Japanese—and jazz. Plays drums, too! Get ready to move and groove!
Lizzie Oakwood is a born and raised Tucson songwriter, musician, and vocalist! She has been a finalist in the Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Competition, a finalist in the Dusk Music Festival Battle of the Bands, and won Alice Cooper's Proof is in the Pudding Contest in 2024. Her music captures a variety of folk, rock, and Americana, bringing songs that will inspire you to take action and remind you that you aren't alone!
We are a chamber ensemble comprised of highly skilled bassoonists playing a wide variety of repertoire, including classical works, covers, and original works commissioned by the ensemble from local and international composers.
I play a mix of originals and covers- folk, old rock, swing, and blues. I have performed at coffee houses, bars, restaurants, fairs, festivals, markets, on the radio and at open mics in CA and AZ. I moved to Tucson permanently in 2023 and have been seen performing around town, recently at the 2025 Tucson Festival of Books.
Miana y la Musica is a band comprised of best friends and siblings that have been playing music together since childhood. They grew up listening to the likes of Selena, The Doors, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder, Linda Ronstadt, and many other artists that have shaped the band they are today. All five members are Tucsonian through and through, giving their music a unique amalgamation of latin, indie, pop, and classic rock.
3 time winners of 'Best Musical Act' in the Tucson Weekly's 'Best of Tucson', Miss Olivia & the Interlopers music is like a good mix tape from an old friend. Their music covers many different genres (rock, R & B, funk, soul, indie).
Dance team from Flowing Wells High School. We specialize in multiple styles of dance such as hip-hop and lyrical/contemporary. We focus on community performances.
Outer Horizon is a jazz octet made up of musicians who’ve returned to their instruments after decades of life beyond the stage. With roots in everything from big band to small combo jazz, these eight players bring a lifetime of perspective—and a deep love of the music—into every note.
Ron Pandy brings a collection of original story rich songs that read like chapters from life itself, each one full of wit without the pretense of wisdom. A crowd pleasing performer with a writer's touch, Ron weaves humor, humanity, and insight into every lyric. An entertainer for all ages.
Partners in song and life, Ginette and Daniel have been creating and
performing together since the 1990s. Originally from Winnipeg, this duo
has performed its own brand of acoustic prairie soul from the Canadian
Shield, to the beaches of the Caribbean, to the desert of Tucson, where they
finally established roots and raised a family. Joined by Tucson’s finest
musicians, roth d’lux’s live shows are energetic and poetic.
William R. Soland plays acoustic folk and protest songs with a sense of humor. Mixing original works, old folk standards, pointed parodies, and a few popular hits, William aims to entertain and educate listeners of all ages.
"Tapping into the wellspring of children’s imaginations, Literacy Connects’ Stories that Soar! programs transform and share students’ words and ideas through the arts to inspire creativity, promote active literacy, and build engaged communities. When children realize their words and ideas have meaning and power beyond themselves, they seize the opportunity to engage in our collaborative process of bringing original stories to life."
We will be performing a condensed version of the show we perform at Kellond Elementary.
Singer/Songwriter - Folk/ Americana. My wife Janet and I have performed as a duo and in bands for over 20 years.
Our bio.... "Recent arrivals in Tucson, Janet and Brett Dodd met 30 years ago over a casual conversation about mandolins and music. Life partners and musical partners ever since, they honed their craft as regular fixtures of the Pacific NW music scene playing multiple festivals and local venues in Spokane, Washington and more recently can be found playing in Pubs and Festivals in Bellingham area. Up until recently, they wintered in Patagonia AZ playing regularly at The Patagonia Lumber Company and the Velvet Elvis!
They perform on mandolin, guitar, accordion, bass, fiddle, melodica and whatever else they find in their closet. They blend closely knit harmony inspired by the work of duos such as Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Kieren Kane and Rayna Gellert, as well as the fabulous work of Pharis and Jason Romero. They are known for closely knit harmony singing on original and contemporary folk, bluegrass and americana."
The circus show this year will be an acrobatic retelling of the original Peter Pan story. We will set up our aerial rig and do aerial and ground acrobatics acts.
String trio performing classical melodies, and a variety of traditional/folk songs. Possibly with an addition of an original arrangement of Tron Legacy.
Performance of music written by Choir conductor, Luke Diamond for 4 national parks. The choir will be touring in May and performing this music in the national parks.
TUKU is an eclectic group of community music enthusiasts that play a wide range of music, performing folk, classics, blues, pop, bluegrass and more. We have fun playing together for the love of music.
