Train Song Festival returns Saturday to Old Poway Park

The annual Train Song Festival is returning to Old Poway Park on Saturday with a line-up of six performances, including a sneak preview of “Hop on Board,” a new musical.

The free event organized by San Diego Folk Heritage will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with new performers every hour. The park is at 14134 Midland Road.

First up on the Gazebo Stage at 10 a.m. will be the preview of Poway resident Michael de Luca’s new musical, “Hop on Board.” The ensemble cast will perform select songs from the musical about the Dust Bowl and westward migration to California.

At 11 a.m. classic folksinger Bill Dempsey from Orange County is returning to the festival to sing traditional songs, including several train songs.

“Bill Dempsey … knows all the old folk songs and sea shanties and pioneer ballads,” said JT Moring, San Diego Folk Heritage’s vice chair. “I have high hopes because he sings all the classic train songs and has performed before for the festival.”

Seven-time San Diego Music Award nominee Gayle Skidmore will take the stage at noon. Skidmore has written over 2,500 songs since starting at age 8. She was classically trained on the piano starting at age 4 and plays over 20 other instruments, including the mountain dulcimer, banjo, folk harp and balalaika, according to her bio.

“Gayle has not performed for us before, but had a recent album that is train-oriented so she’s a perfect match (for us),” Moring said.

Skidmore was the “Best Pop” award winner in the 2015 San Diego Music Awards, won the “Best Pop Album” for “Sleeping Bear” in 2014 and nabbed the “Best Singer-Songwriter” honor in 2013.

The San Diego trio UL Standard, which performs a unique blend of Americana and funky folk, will start its set at 1 p.m.

According to Moring, the father of band member Brian White was a longtime railroad man “so he is steeped in that tradition … and has insights in the railroad system and the people who worked … on it, so he has a lot to tell.”

At 2 p.m. Jeff Berkley will give a solo performance.

“He is Mr. Americana in San Diego, plays with multiple bands and has toured with national bands,” Moring said. “Berkley Hart has won upteen awards. He is a great entertainer.”

Closing the festival will be outlaw country headliner Sara Petite, who takes the stage at 3 p.m. Her award-winning music has been influenced by both rock ‘n roll roadhouse and honky-tonk.

“Sara is a longtime mainstay on the country, honky-tonk fronts,” Moring said. “She has been with various ensembles and also plays as a soloist with a real country feel and is a great entertainer, with lots of energy and big smiles. She has lots of songs that are crowd favorites.”

In addition to the music, train rides will be offered around the park for a nominal fee courtesy of the Poway-Midland Railroad. There will also be a model train display inside Templars Hall. Other activities will include the Poway Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Poway Arts & Crafts Guild Artisan Market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information about the festival, visit sdfolkheritage.org.