Since 1981, the Pasadena Folk Music Society—formed by Caltech graduate students and until 2013 called the Caltech Folk Music Society—has brought performers of acoustic music from around the world to perform at Caltech.
Since the beginning, long before playing "unplugged" became fashionable, the Pasadena Folk Music Society has been seeking out a wide range of singer-songwriters, bluegrass bands, British Isles music, blues, Nueva Canción, guitarists, and a whole array of other musicians that do not fit well into mainstream musical categories.
While some of these performers emphasize elements of "folk tradition," others are boldly innovative and truly unique. Social activism, humor, and compassion are commonly present as well.
