Folk Fest has returned with 70 incredible artists over four days, from traditional folk music, to the blues, bluegrass, and as far away from that as you can get with electronic dance and hip hop.
But what makes those diverse styles fit the Calgary Folk Music Festival is the fact that on some level, those artists from around the world are playing a variation of folk music from their part of the globe.
“Sometimes they’re playing purely traditional music, and sometimes it’s the evolution of that music that might go into a real electronic zone. So, it’s really who we are. It’s what makes us different from other festivals in this province and in this city, and makes us different from other festivals,” said Kerry Clarke, Artistic Director for the Calgary Folk Music Festival.
“The fact that we really are global, and we’re looking for lots of different ideas and cultures and sounds and songwriting styles that that’s what makes us who we are. It’s kind of like a forest has to have a lot of different kinds of trees in order to be really a great forest.”
One of the setbacks for this year’s festival was Michael Kiwanuka cancelling his performance due to an illness that caused him to cancel his entire tour.
Clarke said Folk Fest is in demand for artists, and the festival was able to book hip hop trailblazers Arrested Development within 24 hours—and with the added bonus that the group has just put out a new album as of July 4.
“Arrested Development were one of the main ones we wanted, and they were able to come. It’s amazing. They’re incredible,” she said.
Songwriter and singer Sierra Ferrell will also be playing the main stage on July 24, after Arrested Development.
Clarke said that other headliners that Calgarians should check out include Los Lobos—famous for La Bamba—Steve Earle, and Cake, all with decades long fan followings.
Some of the newer artists to be checked include Ruby Waters and Patrick Watson, who Clarke said has some songs that while you might not know it was him that performed them, you will know them all the same.
See the world’s best in a weekend at Folk Fest
The act travelling the furthest this year were Les Maman du Congo, who perform on some traditional instruments and on kitchen implements owing to group founder Gladys Samba’s history as a restaurateur.
“They have a DJ with them, so it takes it even to a different level. They played at the Winnipeg Folk Fest a couple weekends ago, and I heard it was incredible,” said Clarke.
Folk Fest has been an in-demand venue for artists due to the large and receptive crowds, some 13,000 people per day, and the excellent pay and artist treatment that performers receive, said Clarke.
That is backed up with thousands of hours of volunteer hours, that conservatively has been estimated to be over $1 million in labour value for the festival.
Folk Fest’s Executive Director Sara Leishman said that there has been a lot of interest in the festival this year, and ticket sales have been strong.
She said one new aspect this year was partnering with the City of Calgary to offer Fair Entry participants discounted tickets.
“We like to say that Folk Fest is for everybody, and so how are we walking that talk? I had a great opportunity to have a conversation with the mayor around Christmas time, and I said, you know, we’d really like to be a part of that program. And she said, Let’s make it happen.”
This year’s festival continues the tradition of accessibility through a free stage located just outside the main gates to Folk Fest on Prince’s Island Park.
“Obviously, you’re not going to see Sierra Farrell or Arrested Development or Los Lobos there, but you’re going to see a lot of the other artists, local artists, out of town, artists, and you’re going to see a taste of what the festival is,” said Clarke.
“It’s important to us to be accessible to people, and for people to be able to have a taste of the festival, whether they’re able to come in or not.”
For a full schedule of the 46th annual Calgary Folk Music Festival, see calgaryfolkfest.com.
Photos from Arrested Development at Folk Fest
