VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023
Festival Artists’ Playlist:
HEAR MORE THAN 40 PERFORMERS
William Prince, Aoife O’Donovan and Amythyst Kiah are all headlining Mainstage concerts at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival July 14-16.
- PLAYLIST: On Spotify and YouTube
- THE FESTIVAL: Buy tickets, check out mainstage acts spend a day in the park.
Albert Lee (top left), Calexico and Toubab Krewe (below) are also playing the Mainstage
OUR VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL
“Let’s love it a little more this year…”
“You are the folk. This is your Festival.” That was the theme of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival’s 30th annual event in 2007. Those words speak to its essence and are more relevant today than ever.
A misguided proposal to shut down the Festival Society by its board of directors in January was met with outrage and an outpouring of community support. That support ensured the music will play again at Jericho Beach Park next month. The love and loyalty of the Festival community made it happen.
Not that it’s been easy. Festival staff were laid off last fall closing the option of booking this year’s edition on time or, possibly, at all. At the March AGM members dismissed the move to dissolve the Festival Society and elected seven new motivated directors to join the board. A $250 thousand cash infusion from the province enabled organizers to plan the event in this tenuous post-pandemic economic environment.
Who’s playing:
Led by board member Fiona Black with support from colleagues, artists, agents and managers, a slate of more than 40 acts was booked in mere weeks. Black is the longtime Director of Programming for the BlueShore Centre at Capilano University.
A strong array of musicians will be performing from Festival stages despite the last-minute scramble for bookings. Most of them are playing the Festival for the first time. The line-up features a mix of well known artists alongside a chorus of fresh voices. Many of you will be familiar with Calexico, Aoife O’Donovan, Colin Linden, The Sojourners, Amythyst Kiah, Steve Dawson, Jim Byrnes, Jill Barber, William Prince, Ferron and Albert Lee. Newcomers may be lesser known – Blick Bassy, Toubab Krewe, True Loves, Ruby Singh and the Future Ancestors, San Pedro Cinco, Twin Flames and more. See a complete list of artists and headliners at the Festival online.
This year’s edition will follow the template of last year’s scaled down presentation with three daytime stages, the mainstage and later start times.
Come and fill up the park!
With an uncertain future, the Festival – like many performing arts organizations – is looking to regain traction with its community and set a course for the long term. It’s counting on the renewed energy from fans and the core supporters who helped ensure its survival to buy tickets and fill Jericho Beach Park.
“This year’s festival is a total labour of love from a very dedicated staff and board of directors who are working their guts out for all the right reasons,” says board member Black.
“We love the music, the community that gathers every July in Jericho Beach, the camaraderie and special communion year-in-year-out. We almost lost this priceless Vancouver experience.
“Let’s love it a little more this year and gather with the spirit of discovery and appreciation … with friends and family, making new connections along the way. Come with an open heart and mind and you will surely feel the joy and healing power of our small corner of paradise.”
Tune in. Enjoy!
17 June 2023
THE PLAYLIST
On Spotify
On YouTube
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG-pRIXeCU7firDTiOFEFg0C9Xg7cn30X
