This weekend, Manchester’s bucolic Carr Park will be turned into a “fiddler’s green” of sorts.

That’s because the two main headliners at the Riverfolk Festival Friday and Saturday at the park, are bands fronted by fiddle players. But festgoers needn’t be concerned that the music will be monochromatic — the two play distinctly different styles.

One is Cedric Watson, one of the more talented young players to emerge from the Cajun/Creole music scene in recent years. He sings in Creole French, and is also a songwriter and accordionist. He and his five-piece band, Bijou Creole, stir up a spicy brew of Creole, African and Caribbean styles.

The other fiddling headliner is Lissa Schneckenburger, who plays a Celtic-inflected style of New England folk music. A native of Maine who attended music school in Boston, Schneckenburger now lives in Vermont, and her music is marked by a wonderfully rustic, “post-Celtic” quality familiar to fans of New England folk. She also possesses a gorgeous, crystalline voice that sometimes evokes that of Alison Krauss.

But the fest’s artistic director, Mark Palms, said he didn’t consciously set out to book an all-fiddling pair of headliners.

“No, we first booked Cedric because, as our audience knows, we always like to feature a Louisiana act — someone from the Cajun or zydeco world,” said Palms. That’s partly because every year on the Friday night before the fest “officially” begins on Saturday, there’s a dance party with a Louisiana theme, with music provided by a high-stepping Cajun/zydeco band.

Listen to Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole's "Cedric Zydeco" (MP3).

As for Schneckenburger, who generally fronts a trio rounded out by accordion and guitar, Palms said that a music-biz acquaintance turned him on to her music, “and I just loved her stuff immediately. And we’re always looking to book a good young artist who hasn’t yet been exposed to audiences here in Michigan.

“When I heard her fiddling, I thought it would be a good pairing — her and Cedric. I just love great fiddling, especially in combination with a silky singing voice like Lissa’s.”

Listen to Lissa Schneckenburger's "The Fair Maid By The Sea Shore" (MP3).

Also on the bill are Matt & Shannon Heaton, another New England act that shared a bill with Palms’ own band, the Raisin Pickers, at the Ark earlier this year — and also played the Saline Celtic Festival last year. The Heatons are a husband-and-wife duo from Boston who delve into the Celtic folk tradition. Shannon Heaton plays Celtic flute, while husband Matt sings and plays guitar. “She’s a fantastic flute player, and he’s a great singer and guitarist,” praised Palms. The Heatons will be accompanied onstage by Nic Gareiss, an award-winning traditional step dancer from Mount Pleasant.

“The Heatons are actually friends with Lissa, and we’ve booked their sets back-to-back, so we expect some collaboration will occur. That’s always fun, when a couple of the acts join forces onstage and play off of each other.”

Listen to a sample of Matt & Shannon Heaton's "Brad's Honeybees" (MP3).

Another act to watch is Woody Pines & The Lonesome Two. Pines is a rascally young troubadour who likes to boast that he’s already played in 49 states since he began performing professionally less than four years ago. He favors traditional rags and old blues tunes, but he’s also an eccentric who, at times, seems to be conjuring a Leon Redbone-esque persona.

“He’s a real mystery man,” said Palms with a laugh. “He does have sort of an American-hobo vibe — he says one of his greatest role models was Charlie Chaplin.”

But longtime festgoers know that watching and listening to the featured music acts isn’t the only attraction at the festival. More than 20 juried local artists are exhibiting their work, amateurs can compete in a fiddling contest, and many childrens’ activities are offered for the little ones. And this year’s fest will also feature a songwriting contest — a first for Riverfolk.

“The contestants will submit their lyrics beforehand, and they get five minutes to perform their songs on a separate, smaller stage, and the winner gets a cash prize - plus they then get to perform on the main stage in front of the whole crowd,” explained Palms. “So, that should be pretty exciting for both the winner, and for the audience — who always love to hear new, up-and-coming talents.”

Kevin Ransom is a freelance writer who covers music for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at KevinRansom10@aol.com.

PREVIEW Riverfolk Festival Who: Music by Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole, Lissa Schneckenburger, Matt & Shannon Heaton, Nic Gareiss, Woody Pines & The Lonesome Two, the Raisin Pickers and many others. What: Live music, artists’ booths, children’s events, fiddling contest, songwriting contest and more. When: Saturday, 10 a.m.-midnight Where: Carr Park, Main Street, 575 W. Main St., Manchester. How much: $10-$12. More info: 734-428-7716 or Riverfolk Festival web site.

Also: Zydeco Party in the Park Who: Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole What: Live music, Creole food and drink. Where: Carr Park, 575 W. Main St. Manchester. When: Fri., 7-11 p.m. How much: $12-$15 More Info: 734-428-7716 or Zydeco Party web site.

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