KURATED NO. 273
VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL 49
Introducing the Evening Stage Artists
• Three evenings of entertainment from around the world
Guest writer Fiona Black –
Artistic Director of the Vancouver
Folk Music Festival – introduces the
Evening Stage artists for this year’s edition
CONTENTS
- PLAYLIST: FESTIVAL 49: a 35-song artist sampler curated by Artistic Director Fiona Black
- THE FESTIVAL ON INSTAGRAM
- VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL: buy weekend passes, check out the artist biographies
Starting Friday, July 17 The Vancouver Folk Music Festival marks its 49th edition. In today’s challenging arts environment it’s an achievement we can all be proud of. (Kurated photo)
WE KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING
When the founders and 10,000 attendees gathered for the first Vancouver Folk Music Festival at Stanley Park in 1978 they probably weren’t thinking about building an enduring cultural legacy. But that’s what they did. That’s why the Festival will mark its 49th edition from July 17 to 19.
The Festival flourishes and persists because hundreds of thousands of music-loving aficionados have built and supported this vital and longstanding community. The founders broke musical ground in Vancouver introducing music from around the world, championing the burgeoning women’s music movement and nurturing the ever evolving traditions of folk music and protest songs.
In 2023 the Festival board proposed dissolving the event in the face of rising costs and the deadening impact of the COVID pandemic. The local outcry was huge and the decision was reversed. Festival fans and donors offered generous financial help. A newly elected and seasoned group bolstered the board with talent and deep Festival experience pulling the organization from the brink. Since then this group and Festival staff have expertly managed an ongoing and thrifty rebuild to help ensure the Festival’s future.
The evening stage and the daytime stages
Artistic Director Fiona Black has assembled a fourth consecutive and innovative Artist Line-up featuring stellar acts like Billy Bragg (UK), Valerie June (USA), Benim International Musicale -BIM (West Africa), Ruby Waters (BC), Maruja Limon (Spain), Sahra Halgan (Somaliland), Tami Neilson (Canada/New Zealand), Hazlett (Australia/Sweden) and Aysanabee (Ontario).
As today’s Kurated guest writer she introduces the nine acts for the evening stages from Friday through Sunday night. In an upcoming post she’ll write about some of the daytime artists gracing the stages at Jericho Beach.
The 49th Vancouver Folk Music Festival
WHO’S PLAYING THE EVENING STAGE?
by Fiona Black / Artistic Director
Vancouver Folk Music Festival
Aysanabee is an Oji-Cree multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter from Ontario
Friday night
The Festival’s evening stage will open with in-demand Oji-Cree artist Aysanabee fresh off his two Juno awards this year for Alternative Album of the Year as well as Contemporary Indigenous Album of the Year, not to mention, Indigenous Recording of the Year at the Canada Folk Awards last month.
An important voice in Canadian roots music, Aysanabee is making fans world wide with his powerful voice, stirring songs and disarming banter. His recordings feature his Grandfather’s voice speaking his native language, honouring his heritage with messages of hope for a different future when truth and reconciliation will truly be realized.
Australian-born, Sweden-based Hazlett
Indie folk star Hazlett also graces our stage on Friday night with his endearing, emotionally charged tunes. Hailing from Australia, this singer-songwriter is known for having total love-ins with his audience and taking them on a personal and heart-felt journey. Spend some time with Hazlett’s latest record – last night you said you missed me – the more you listen, the deeper you feel the lush arrangements and raw emotion.
Sahra Halgan and her backing trio will close Friday’s evening stage with Somali vocal traditions, electric guitars, hypnotic percussion, and influences from rock, Afrobeat, and North African rhythms
Somalilander Sahra Halgan‘s hard driving desert blues meets gnawa soul sound will spring you to your feet. In addition to leading one of Somalialand’s most renowned bands, she is a tireless crusader for women’s rights in a country where female band leaders are rare. Somalialand is unrecognized as its own state and its people campaign endlessly for independence with Halgan leading the charge.
Saturday evening
Award-winning Canadian country singer Tami Neilson has won just about every music award possible in her adopted country of New Zealand
Saturday night starts with a festive hoedown featuring renowned neon cowgirl, Tami Neilson. Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Neilson is based in Auckland, New Zealand and tours extensively to spread her special kind of soulful country love. With a big, brassy voice and personality to match, Ms Neilson will have you toe-tapping and wishing you’d worn your cowboy boots to the party. Giddy up!
The inimitable Billy Bragg returns to Jericho Beach to share his wry political opinions along with music that’s both sensitive and inspired
One of the most loved and anticipated performers for this year is none other than UK’s legendary raconteur, folk-punk bandit, the truly original Billy Bragg. It’s about time he returned to Jericho Beach where he’ll be hailed as a returning hero. In the current zeitgeist of inflammatory and divisive politics, let’s hear what’s on Billy’s mind these days. His songs will scream the truth and make us all stop and listen. There may be tears and also lots of smiles.
The rocking Ruby Waters brings additional star power to Saturday night’s closing set
Young ingenue Ruby Waters will close Saturday night with her sass and soul. Based in Squamish, BC, Waters is a refreshing voice in a landscape of similar sounds. She is unapologetically fresh and vibrant, speaking her mind and inviting everyone along for the fun and mayhem.
Sunday finale
With over 1,000 concerts and multiple international tours, Barcelona’s Maruja Limon bring a fusion of modern rumba, flamenco, pop and Latin rhythms to the stage
Sunday night ignites with Maruja Limon, hailing from Barcelona with their feisty, flamenco sound that ventures into frantic, almost punk sounding rhythms that grab you from the get-go. The female energy of this group is undeniable and contagious. Be prepared to fall in love with their irreverent charm and irresistible musicality.
An artist who blends Americana, folk, gospel, soul, and blues, Valerie June creates something she calls “organic moonshine roots music”
Valerie June is simply one of the most unique and talented voices in folk music today. A multi-instrumentalist and vocalist extraordinaire, June has made fans world-wide with her authentic roots sensibility and haunting tunes. Open your heart and she’ll stay there a long time. Do not miss Valerie June!
Benin International Musical – BIM – is a powerhouse musical collective from West Africa
Beautiful and dynamic BIM (Benin International Musical) will close out our festival on Sunday night with their resplendent harmonies and gorgeous African rhythms. BIM is a musical collective from Benin, West Africa created in 2016 by Hervé Riesen and Jérôme Ettinger. Their performances are more than concerts — they are immersive ceremonies, charged with energy, spirit, and emotional intensity. The best of African music has the unique ability to be both poignant and joyful simultaneously; the feeling when you smile through your tears. It’s uplifting, universal and needs no translation.
BIM offers a moment to come together and feel the love that our festival inspires, time and time again after 49 years … and counting!
Coming soon: highlight acts for the daytime stages
In an upcoming Kurated post AD Fiona Black will point you to the standard-bearers and hidden gems among the array of artists playing during the day. The daytime stages are stacked with lots of fresh talent with an abundance of diverse styles, genres and cultures:
For traditionalists – Brianna Lizotte; La Déferlance; The Slocan Rambers; Brighde Chaimbeul;
For indie folk enthusiasts – Amistat and Haley Blais
For globalistas – Bia Ferreira (Brasil); Kazdoura (Syria/Lebanon); Sauljaijal (Taiwan); Mitsune (Japan/Germany); El Balcón (Mexico/QC); Empanadas Ilegales (Peru, Columbia, Venezuela), Yagody (Ukraine)
Singer/songwriters that grab you and refuse to let go: John Smith, Joshua Burnside, Ken Pomeroy, Anna Tivel, Jeffery Martin, Luke Wallace, Tina Dico, Teddy Thompson, Lindi Ortega
Also celebrate and groove with Ruby Singh and the Future Ancestors; Surf Hat; Gamksimoon; Cousin Harley
08 May 2026
