For the 40th season, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival will once again take over Jericho Beach Park. From July 13th to 16th folk fans, friends and families, will find another remarkable line-up of the best of traditional and contemporary folk and roots music from around the globe.
In celebration of its 40th Anniversary, Canada 150+, and Canada’s diverse songbook, the Folk Music Festival kicks off Thursday July 13th with a free concert; Canada Far & Wide: Grands Esprit. Today’s artists interpret and perform iconic Canadian songs by the Anglo, Francophone, and Indigenous artists who paved the way for them. Carolyn Marks performs Spirit of the West’s Home For A Rest, Katie Moore plays Gordon Lightfoot’s Song For A Winter’s Night, Jim Byrnes, a legend in his own right, interprets River by Joni Mitchell. Buffy Sainte Marie’s Universal Soldier is brought to the stage by Cris Derksen while Women In The Round perform Susan Aglukark’s O Siem, and Kastin’s Tshinau (what we all are) is remade by Mélisande (électrotrad), Cris Derksen and The Funk Hunters.
After an amazing opening night, the Folk Music Festival really gets moving with 50+ artists taking to the stages all day, Friday (1pm – 11pm), Saturday and Sunday (9am – 11pm). To highlight just a few, Englishman Billy Bragg and American Joe Henry duet on Friday’s stage, Canadians Kathleen Edwards and Barenaked Ladies feature on Saturday while Shawn Colvin and The Revivalists bring their Southern roots to Sunday’s Main Stage.
There’s more than just music at the Folk Music Festival too, Little Folks Village has activities and entertainment for the young fans. The Artisan Market and Folk Bazaar brings dozens of merchants and their offerings to the shores of Jericho Beach. Of course, no modern festival would be complete without a plethora of food trucks and dining options.
For the full line-up of Vancouver Folk Music Festival artists, merchants and ticketing information visit thefestival.bc.ca online