To quote Louis Armstrong, “All music is folk music. I ain’t never heard a horse sing a song.” No horses at the Lowell Folk Festival, but lots of songs and lots of folks.

Taking Armstrong’s definition of folk music to heart, the annual free Lowell fest will present a score of acts showcasing a range of genre-blending and mixing of music from around the world. The 2025 edition of the free (did we mention it’s free!) event will take place July 25-27 on stages spread through downtown. You can find a full schedule at lowellfolkfestival.org, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the choices, here are six standouts to put on your dance card.

Angkor Dance Troupe

Lowell has had a vibrant Cambodian community for decades so it’s no surprise that the locally based Angkor Dance Troupe has become one of the nation’s great Cambodian dance companies — it’s trained over 7,000 students. This year’s performance will feature leading dancers from Massachusetts and Maryland joining forces. angkordance.org

Sons of The Bullock Brothers

Boston’s own Bullock Brothers have spent 75 years singing gospel music. Formed by the six brothers in 1950, the group digs into family and history to make their good news music — their father, Singing Walter, was part of Southern revival tradition and the brothers look to 1870s jubilee gospel choirs for inspiration. The family connections continue with members’ sons now part of the ensemble. bullockbrothers.org

Cécilia

Pulling together Québécois and Celtic music traditions, Cécilia wouldn’t feel out of place in an Irish pub or Cajun bar, or maybe even a French jazz club or Western swing honky tonk. Accordionist Timi Turmel, piano player Erin Leahy, and fiddler Louis Schryer are roots musicians with clear links to Eastern Canada, but their roots exemplify how many traditions — from bluegrass to zydeco — have a common ancestry. ceciliamusic.ca

Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials

Chicago blues from, well, Chicago. Lil’ Ed leads his band with an ear toward a classic vibe and an energy that’s timeless. Expect positively scorching guitar solos. liledblues.com

Red Baraat

Go look up Red Baraat’s performance on the Tiny Desk Concert series. Go ahead, we’ll wait… OK, done? Wow, right? The Brooklyn-based band plays music rooted in the traditional rhythms of the Punjabi dhol with wild energy. Again, roots travel far underground to pop up in unexpected places. While the percussion and horn centered music comes from India, it hits like heavy metal one moment, jazz fusion the next, and New Orleans second line funk a few seconds later. redbaraat.com

Yeison Landero

Cumbia! Cumbia! Cumbia! This hip-shaking Colombian music was disco before disco — you can’t stop dancing once it hits you. Yeison Landero is known as “the heir to cumbia.” Born into the music — his grandfather was the king of the scene in the ’60s — Landero keeps the classic sound going with modern twists for younger fans. facebook.com/yeisonlanderocumbia

The Sons of the Bullock Brothers. (Photo DeAndre Bullock)
Cecilia. (Photo Chantal Gallant)
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials. (Photo Paul Natkin)
Red Baraat. (Photo by Sachyn Mital)
Yeison Landero. (Courtesy artist)