John Sebastian will headline the inaugural Pocono Folk Festival on Sept. 15. The concert will celebrate the summer’s-end and beginning of the fall season with an all-day concert to be held on the stage and grounds of the Historic Castle Inn located at 20 Delaware Ave., Delaware Water Gap.

The rain or shine event begins at 11 a.m. and closes at 10:30 p.m. and will feature folk, classic rock, bluegrass, Americana, and tributes to The Band and The Grateful Dead.

“We are so pleased that ESSA Bank & Trust, that’s been headquartered in the Poconos for over 100 years, will be the Pocono Folk Festival’s inaugural presenting sponsor,” said Jim Della Croce, Pocono native and Nashville producer and artist manager, “and we look forward to wonderful celebration of music and art.”

“We are excited to help bring wonderful, live music to the Poconos,” said Gary Olson, president and CEO of ESSA Bank & Trust. “It’s part of what makes the Poconos a vibrant, entertainment-filled place to live, work and visit.”

“It is only appropriate that we launch this historic event with a music icon who is no stranger to the Poconos, John Sebastian. He graduated from Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey, in the early ’60s, and closed the decade upriver in Bethel, New York at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair,” said Della Croce.

“It was there that he made history performing an impromptu set before 400,000 people. We’re truly humbled and honored that John has agreed to kick things off on the good foot as only he can.”

Sebastian is a true music legend, a Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member and founder, lead singer and primary songwriter of The Lovin’ Spoonful, often referred to as the American Beatles.

Aside from his string of hits with The Lovin’ Spoonful and showstopping performance at Woodstock, his scoring and recording of the TV theme song for “Welcome Back Kotter,” titled “Welcome Back,” set the pace for a successful solo career that continues on the strength of his passion for creating and performing.

The multi-instrumentalist has simply done it all. He recorded early in the ’60s with Bob Dylan; wrote, sang and performed a dozen smash hits with his band, The Lovin’ Spoonful; readied for blues king Lightning Hopkins; and even played the iconic harmonica parts on The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues!”

While with The Lovin’ Spoonful, he scored an amazing string of seven consecutive top-10 Billboard hit singles including chart-toppers: “Do You Believe in Magic,” “Rain on the Roof,” “Summer in the City,” “Younger Girl,” “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice,” “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind,” “Day Dream” and “Nashville Cats.”

Supporting Sebastian will be The Music of The Band performed by Professor Louie and the Crowmatix. The Woodstock, New York-based group is led by former Band producer, Aaron “Professor Louie” Hurwitz, and members of Bob Dylan’s and Van Morrison’s bands. The group is supported by the Woodstock Horns and will perform a full set of classics by The Band. They will close the show at 9 p.m. after Sebastian with a rollicking Last Waltz-style finale featuring key early day performers.

Fellow Pocono artist and record producer Lenny Kaye, best known as the lead guitarist of the Patti Smith group, will perform a folk acoustic set. Kaye is also a Sirius XM DJ on Little Steven’s Underground Garage radio show and celebrated author.

One of jam band’s favorite sons, and Delaware Water Gap producer/artist, Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth will take the stage with partner Lou Rogai of Lewis & Clarke with their band Cedar Sparks.

Nashville folk singer-songwriter Sean Della Croce will play music from her latest album, and Strawberry Jam will perform a tribute to The Grateful Dead.

Pocono bluegrass favorites, The Lost Ramblers are also on the bill along with local duo, Sage. The music begins at 11 a.m. with local acts and continues through to 10:30 p.m.

The Pocono Folk Festival is produced by Jim Della Croce Pathfinder Productions and presented by ESSA Bank & Trust.

Tickets are festival seating/general admission and can be purchased at www.poconofolkfestival.com or at the box office on show day.