What The Folk

San Francisco, CA

Starts at $400

Travels up to 200 miles

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Promotional video thumbnail 1 for What The Folk

Whippoorwill by Sarah Larkin, Back Room in Berkeley

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What The Folk "Fireflies", by Sarah Larkin

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What The Folk "Wicked Game"

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What The Folk "Hello In There"

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Overview

What The Folk! is an Americana act that features close harmony singing and a great vibe for gatherings of all sorts. We feature a mix of recognizable covers and moving original music in our vocals-forward sound. We perform in varied configurations, from an acoustic duet to a more rocking 4-piece with acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric bass, and drums. We are ready to provide our own audio gear and audio engineering, when required.

Our power duo features Sarah Larkin (of The Real Sarahs) and Jon Tyson (of Burning Down the House) with Larkin's evocative singing and songwriting, Tyson's instrumental dexterity, and a mix of Americana covers with vocal harmony, humor and relaxed vibes.


Reviews

2 reviews

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Lanakila R.

Lanakila R.

May 4, 2025

Always a pleasure to work with!

Working with What The Folk was amazing! Extremely talented professionals who were on time and very flexible with my last minute needs. I will certainly recommend them to others and work with them again!

Hired as: Americana Band

Small thumbnail image for What The Folk

What The Folk

Thank you so much, Kila! We look forward to working with you again.


Small thumbnail image for reviewer Courtney D.

Courtney D.

April 15, 2025

Loved working with What The Folk!!!

I've had the pleasure of working with the What the Folk duo for several of my professional trade events, and they’ve been a consistent highlight. Jon and Sarah joined us on the Mendocino Coast in March of 2022, 2023, and 2024—sometimes performing under clear blue skies, and other times inside a large event tent. No matter the setting, they always deliver a great performance, blending original songs with familiar favorites that resonate with guests and enhances the dynamic for all.

What stands out most is their easy, engaging banter during sets and their genuinely friendly nature. They have a way of making everyone feel at ease—you never feel like a stranger around them.

Hired as: Americana Band

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Booking information

Price range: Starts at $400

Languages: English

Gig length: 10 - 300 minutes

Insurance: $1,000,000 - General Liability $1M/$2M

What to expect

What The Folk typically performs as a duet, trio, or quartet. We are available with a focus on folk roots -- all acoustic instrumentation -- or with a more rock-oriented sound -- with acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric bass, and drum kit. Our shows can focus on folk roots or expand into rock and funk covers from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

When required, we can provide professional audio gear and audio engineering to ensure that we sound great at your venue. We can also play without amplification, when needed. We carry general liability insurance.

We have been bringing high-energy shows to public and private events for many years. As our customer, you can expect professional, talented, friendly musicians who want to delight you and entertain your guests.

About

This power duo featuring Sarah Larkin (of The Real Sarahs) and Jon Tyson (of Burning Down the House) formed out of a daily pandemic live stream to warm the hearts of friends and fans stuck at home. Their live shows feature Larkin's evocative singing and songwriting, Tyson's instrumental dexterity, and a mix of Americana covers incorporating vocal harmony, humor and relaxed vibes. These two aim to share an uplifting musical experience and bring joy to their audiences.

Music Is Medicine

Additional booking notes

We prefer to perform on a stage, and we are ready to perform in fairly diverse environments; in the past, these have included homes, offices, hotels, convention centers, on boats. We do not supply lighting; these needs must be met by the customer or the venue. Our performance space needs vary with the count of musicians and their instrumentation. We can provide our stage plot and input list if sound is being provided by the customer or the venue. Otherwise, if we are providing our own sound, we need ready access to reliable power. We prefer 2x20-amp power drops.

Setup requirements

1 Liter of Clean, Drinking Water per Performer

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