July 23, 2008

2008 Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Wrap Up

Sunday was the best day — weather-wise, music-wise and otherwise — of a spectacular three-day weekend, at the 31st annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Everything fell nicely into place, and a good time was had by all.

Although the 2008 Folk Fest was a Festival quite obviously in a year of transition, with interim artistic director Linda Tanaka holding the fort while the Folk Fest Board of Directors figures out where to take the Festival in future years, and what the nature of the presumed 'corporate funding' will be, thanks to uncommonly great weather and what appeared to be the largest turn out by families in some years, Festival staff would have to consider this to be one of the more successful Festivals of recent years.

True to form, VanRamblings continued to be a pest to political types, on Sunday focusing our attention on lawyer and community activist Ruth Herman, and her beloved, Vancouver-Kensington MLA David Chudnovsky; COPE internal chairperson Donalda Greenwell-Baker; former Vancouver City Child and Youth Advocate, Penny Parry, and her beloved, former COPE Councilor and current COPE Board member, Tim Louis; and to top (bottom?) the day out, NPA mayoral candidate, Peter Ladner, who was querulous (in a quiet way) that we took the time to shake his hand, and wish him well (cuz he knows we're hardly a supporter of his ... he was probably wondering why we bothered to approach him at all — but, heck, it was Folk Festival weekend, and a time for peace, love and understanding).

VanRamblings was most impressed with Mr. Chudnovsky and Ms. Herman.

Although we agreed not to report out on the specifics of our conversation, both felt strongly that the 8-2 Vision Vancouver / COPE deal is hardly a fait accompli, and that there is every prospect that the deal might be 7-3, or even 6-4. Of all the political types in COPE (of which both are longstanding members), and Vision Vancouver, only Chudnovsky and Herman expressed hope for a 'workable deal' between the two civic parties that serves the interests of progressive forces in the City of Vancouver, and by extension, the people of Vancouver, and the entirety of the Metro Vancouver region.

Continue reading "2008 Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Wrap Up"

   

July 21, 2008

2008 Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Sunday (Part 1)

VanRamblings will post our full, and thorough, wrap-up of the 2008 Vancouver Folk Music Festival — with more YouTube videos we've uploaded, including Maeve McKinnon in an early morning concert at Stage 7, and Ferron in concert over at Stage 3 in the early afternoon — as well as more municipal politics, and raves about the day and the weekend, at some point later in the week (paying work beckons, a call we must heed).

We've also got some bubbles, but you'll have to wait until late Tuesday, or sometime on Wednesday, for our full-fledged version of the Folk Fest wrap (starring BC Provincial MLA David Chudnovsky and a cast of thousands, including more than a few politicos, and their and our consequent musings).

We will post. Promise. You'll just have to be patient.

Oh yeah, despite VanRamblings' dire pronouncement about Friday night under-attendance, Saturday and Sunday crowds were substantially larger.

Although overall attendance looked to be healthy — the crowds were certainly enthusiastic — it's unlikely that any records were set. A little more marketing next year, a stronger musical line-up, and a return to form — for instance, CBC on site recording concerts for posterity — and a bit of that ol' time corporate sponsorship, and the Folk Fest will be on its way to sustainability. And would we want any less for our beloved Folk Festival?

   

July 20, 2008

2008 Vancouver Folk Music Festival (Saturday)

VanRamblings got a late start to the day on Saturday, but finally wended our way onto the grounds of the 2008 Vancouver Folk Music Festival about four in the afternoon. Of course, this late start to our day represents a mighty change from years past, when we found ourselves in line with kids in tow at 8:30 a.m. (or even earlier in the morning), but time passes — even if enthusiasm doesn't wane — and after 31 consecutive years of attendance at the Folk Fest we're willing to cut ourselves a bit of a break.

All of the above said, VanRamblings will do much better on Sunday.

No sooner had we walked through the gates, on our way to lay our blanket down in front of the Main Stage, and who should we run into but old friend and comrade, Gary Cristall, one of the founding fathers of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, and its first (and most successful) artistic director.

We chatted amiably for about 10 minutes, Gary agreeing that the Festival is in a year of transition. When it was suggested by VanRamblings that attendance was down on Friday night, he indicated that he'd heard reports of the same from friends who'd attended the Festival's opening night.

As to where the Festival is heading in future years, Gary agrees — albeit reluctantly — that change is in the air, that the Festival is moving inexorably in the direction of seeking corporate funding, a notion that is anathema to Cristall and anyone who was around at the inception of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. But with a debt of some $268,000, the Festival has to do something to address the financial shortfall if it is to prevail into the future.

Continue reading "2008 Vancouver Folk Music Festival (Saturday)"

   

July 19, 2008

2008 Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Friday Night

As might well be expected, the first evening of the 2008 Vancouver Folk Music Festival was spectacular, from the sun coming out in the late afternoon to the wonderful folk-jazz improvisational music of Lau, the Africa-infused delta blues of Markus James and Wassonrai, a rockin' concert set by the incomparable Aimee Mann, and a get on your feet and move, dance and rock-into-the-night, evening-ending concert by Ozomatli.

For all the goods times at the Festival, and for however much the assembled masses enjoyed the first evening series of concert performances, VanRamblings was somewhat distressed by the shockingly low turnout, a crowd that we estimated at no more than 5,000, certainly less than what one would have imagined and expected in earlier years.

We'll see what the turnout is like on Saturday, and report back tomorrow.

Perhaps, local performer Veda Hille was right when she suggested to Alex Varty that artists like Sufjan Stevens might bring a bigger audience to the Fest. Next year, when there's a permanent artistic director in place, we'll have a better idea as to where the Vancouver Folk Music Festival is going.

In the interim, we'll leave you with our weekend photos of the Festival, and a link to the Festival's Flickr site, where you'll find hundreds more pics.

(Note should be made that there was a decided chill in the night air, so if you're planning on attending Saturday evening, make sure to bring along a long-sleeved shirt and a sweater to provide succour against the elements.)

Julian W. has posted on the first day of the Festival here, and Brent Kane writes about the first day, too. The Canadian Encylopedia presents the history, if you click on the link. And now VanRamblings is off to the Festival!

   

July 18, 2008

Vancouver Folk Music Festival, 2008

Yes, twas the night before the 31st annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival, the creatures were (in fact) stirring and the volunteer staff of the Festival were hard at work putting the last-minute finishing touches on the 2008 edition of this most august and beautiful respite from the maddening world.

Over the course of the weekend, VanRamblings will post on the 31st annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival. In the interim, we'll direct your attention to The Province's Stuart Derdeyn's introductory article on the Festival, the first ever directed by Linda Tanaka, the Festival's interim artistic director.

We'll also point you toward this article in The Province about the "politically charged Michael Franti & Spearhead" and what he'll bring to this year's Fest. And, finally from The Province on the Thursday before the 2008 Festival commences, a reflection and an update on Spirit of the West, longtime folk favourites on the local scene in Vancouver and British Columbia.

The Georgia Straight's Alex Varty finds his fine folk voice, once again, in a series of wonderfully written articles published in the July 17th edition of the Straight. In the Straight's introductory article to the 2008 Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Varty interviews Kris Klaasen, a member of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival board that, earlier this year, dismissed longtime and much-missed Festival artistic director and Fest habitué, Dugg Simpson.

Continue reading "Vancouver Folk Music Festival, 2008"

   

July 8, 2008

Blazing The Trail For New, Young British Female Vocalists

Adele                                       Kate Nash                                                     Duffy

In North America, the radio market is so balkanized that listeners are forced to listen — if they listen at all — to "narrow cast" radio stations, ranging from mainstream top 40 (Crave), rhythmic top 40 (The Beat) and classic rock (CFMI), to adult album alternative — generally referred to as Triple A — (the format of the three new Vancouver radio stations the CRTC recently awarded licenses to), modern rock (CFOX), country (JR FM), easy listening oldies and contemporary (QM and Clear FM), and mainstream rock (JACK FM), the latter a combination of 'heritage' and relatively modern 'rock'.

Within these various strict radio formats, there's not much room for eclecticism. Either a song fits the format or it doesn't get played. Not so in England. Radio in Great Britain plays whatever is best, ranging from pop to blues, and jazz through hip-hop, from Busta Rhymes to Coldplay, from Ironik to Martha Wainwright, Goldfrapp, Elbow, Kid Rock and The Verve.

Ain't no oversimplified compartmentalizing going on in British radio.

This summer young female British blues singer-songwriters are all the rage, including: Adele, Kate Nash, Duffy, Amy MacDonald, and Laura Marling. The relatively recent emergence, and popularity, of Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and KT Tunstall has created an opening for a new generation of British female vocalists, reflecting a new kind of "girl power" in Britain. The new young artists have gained recognition through their own MySpace sites, posting a whack of thrilling homemade music videos to YouTube, as well.

Of this new crop, Adele is VanRamblings' favourite. Dubbed the "next Amy Winehouse" in late 2007, Adele has the most mature and expressive voice, and the greatest vocal range, of this new group of British female singers. Confessional, powerful, inspirational and just a bit melancholy, VanRamblings first caught Adele on late night David Letterman, and we were absolutely blown away.

Here's Adele with Hometown Glory, a tribute to her home town, London, recorded months before she was signed to a label, and the début of 19. And here's the official video of Chasing Pavements, the song she knocked out of the park on Letterman, gaining a whack of new fans in the process.

You may want to check out the remaining songs on 19: the exceedingly beautiful Daydreamer; the brutally honest, rocking Cold Shoulder; and, the lullaby-like First Love. We'll leave you with Adele's Make You Feel My Love.

After the jump, allow VanRamblings to introduce you to Kate Nash, and ...

Continue reading "Blazing The Trail For New, Young British Female Vocalists"

   

June 24, 2008

The 2008 Vancouver Folk Music Festival

Well, the 31st annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival oughta be interesting.

With longtime Festival programmer and 12-year artistic director, Dugg Simpson, out, and Salmon Arms Roots and Blues Festival creator, Linda Tanaka, in (particularly given Ms. Tanaka's recent messy leave-taking from the Shuswap festival), Vancouver lovers of the folk music scene are in for what looks to be a "provocative" folk music fest in its 31st iteration.

For all the shenanigans surrounding Fest management, the line-up of the 31st annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival still appears mighty fine.

On the bill this year: headliners Aimee Mann, Eliza Gilkyson, Ferron (returning to Vancouver after a too-long absence), Jason Collett, John Reischman and the Jaybirds, and Ozomatli, among a raft of others.

In the days to come, we'll highlight the various artists who'll be appearing on the main and artist / musician stage(s) on the Festival site, and seek to provide, as well, an historical perspective on the events and perambulations which have lead up to the 31st annual Folk Music Festival.

In the interim, once again this year the Little Folks Village and stage may be found due north of the 4th Avenue entrance, with arts market vendors galore situated nearby (due south of the area where the food vendors may be found). We'll see you there (here's the ticket info you'll need to know)

   

September 2, 2007

In A World of Change, Some Things Are Constant

If you haven't heard the music of Chrisette Michele, there's no time like the present to rectify that oversight. Presenting a funk-driven, old school-flavoured R&B, Michele's fusion of the sounds of Philadelphia and Detroit re-invents urban contemporary talkin' blues in such an engagingly satisfying manner that you're bound to come away dancin', smiling all the while, upon your first listen. At which point, you'll want to rush out and buy her début CD, I Am.

Here's a streaming, four song introduction to Chrisette Michele.

   

July 5, 2007

30th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival - July 13, 14 & 15

With a lineup of guest artists that include homegrown gals, The Be Good Tanyas and Po'Girl; the irrepressible Utah Phillips; Manitoba's The Wailin' Jennys; Scotland's greatest living singer-songwriter, Dougie Maclean; Welsh singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph, among a raft of other chroniclers of our times, tickets are now onsale for Vancouver's very best festival of the year.

   

February 11, 2006

If I Can't Dance, It's Not My Revolution!

No one has ever said that VanRamblings’ taste in music isn’t electic. We love country and jazz, ambient and progressive house, as well as folk and old-timey bluegrass, straight-ahead pop and melancholy female vocalists (think Cat Power, Jenny Lewis, Imogen Heap, and our favourite sad chanteuse of all, Gemma Hayes).

But most of all, VanRamblings’ loves Jude — who, apart from being our son, is also a dj (DjNameless to be precise), a producer, a recording engineer, an old schooler — and an ESL teacher in Japan.

Today VanRamblings wants you to get up off the sofa and move your feet to the beat. And what specific beat might that be? Yep, you guessed it.

VanRamblings is pleased to present "Something They Feel" by DjNameless, and encourages you to download the sweetest mix of funky progressive old school house music you’re ever gonna hear — 43 minutes and 32 seconds of pure aural bliss. Thank you Jude for a terrific aural treat! Everyone enjoy!

   

January 30, 2006

Miranda Lambert: VanRamblings Is Simply Smitten

The last time VanRamblings fell as head-over-
heels in love with a country artist as we have with Miranda Lambert was when we first heard Allison Moorer on her 1998 début, Alabama Song.

Since then, it's been something of a drought for us, although we've managed to get by quite nicely with Kasey Chambers’ rollickin' début, not to mention, an occasional listen to Iris DeMent (who we also love), Julie Miller, Lee Ann Womack, the Kinleys, Lucinda Williams (great in concert!), Tammy Cochran, Tift Merritt and Alison Krauss.

Then along comes Miranda Lambert, who we first heard about from music critic for The New Yorker, Sasha Frere-Jones, when on a year-end music panel on The Charlie Rose Show he called Lambert “the best new artist of the year, rock, country or pop.” And we’ve been smitten ever since.

Like most traditional progressive country artists, Miranda Lambert sings from the heart, as she writes about what she knows, about the people travelling down the back roads of the southern United States. One can hardly imagine Britney Spears singing a song about a Greyhound Bound For Nowhere. Miranda Lambert sings roots music of the first order.

   

January 2, 2006

2005, Year-End Review Part 4: Best Music and CDs

Providing solace to the soul, as poetry finds its way into song, the music we listen to all year long not only serves to act as the soundtrack of our lives, the songs we hear generally succeed, as well, in offering inspiration, reflection on the issues in our lives, and a welcome opportunity, at times, to simply tap our toes and dance around in our kitchen.

During the course of 2005, VanRamblings discovered all sorts of great music: Jem, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Bic Runga, Emiliana Torrini, Sarah Slean, Stina Nordenstam, and Tift Merritt — among a raft of other fine artists, none of whom quite made our Top 10 list for 2005 (but are goood!).

Sometimes that was because the artist didn’t release a new CD during the course of the year, and other times it was because the artist was in a follow-up position to those who did make the Top 10, barely missing out.

Whatever the case, whether it be the artists referred to above or the artists that find themselves on VanRamblings’ Top 10 CD releases of 2005, all of the music offered by these artists is just about as irresistibly and breathtakingly beautiful, passionate, emotive, and gloriously produced and rendered as any music written at any time during our brief history on Earth.

Here’s hoping you enjoy VanRamblings’ Top 10 CD release choices of 2005.

1. Antony and the Johnsons: We’ve written about him before, and even posted a song and a video. Antony Hegarty’s music is exquisite and moving. Not for the cynical; just for the rest of us. By far, the best album of 2005.

2. Sufjan Stevens: Sufjan Stevens has taken on a gargantuan task. During the course of his life, he intends to record 50 albums, one for each of the states in the country just to the south of us. So far he's succeeded in writing about Michigan and, in 2005, Illinois. Melodic, orchestral, propulsive and cheery, reflective, political, and just about as uncynical and lovely as one could possibly imagine, Come On Feel The Illinoise is a keeper.

3. CocoRosie: Breaking onto the music scene with their award-winning 2004 debut, La Maison de Mon Reve, CocoRosie are just a little bit industrial, as well as narratively dreamy, hypnotically enchanting, and exquisitely redemptive. Please find below two CocoRosie songs, one from their début, La Maison de Mon Reve, and the other from their 2005 release, Noah’s Ark. Click on the song to hear it, or right click and choose “Save link / target as ...”

(Due to unusually heavy traffic, VanRamblings has taken down the songs below; we'll be looking into an offsite host for the mp3s.)

CocoRosie - Good Friday (for Lori), from La Maison de Mon Reve.

CocoRosie - Brazilian Sun, from Noah’s Ark.

4. Imogen Heap: VanRamblings first heard of Imogen Heap — she at the tender age of 17 — when we saw her in concert at a club in the basement of the Hotel Georgia, ‘the next big thing’. Well, not quite. But here it is eight years later and Ms. Heap is all growed up, and her promise fulfilled. Full of hope, Speak For Yourself is trip-hop par excellence; a must-have CD.

5. Kanye West: With Late Registration, Kanye West has followed up on the promise of his debut, College Dropout, and turned out a poignant, buoyantly melodic, and always accessible sonic masterpiece. Another ‘must-have’ CD.

6. Fiona Apple: We waited for six long years for the release of a new Fiona Apple album, managed to find a version of the album online for download (which we promptly set about to do) in the spring of 2005, and when Sony finally got around to releasing Extraordinary Angel, we bought it. And migosh was the wait worth it. Confessional, moody, bluesy and quietly intense, this is another must-have 2005 CD release. In concert, with Coldplay, at General Motors Place, on Thursday, January 26th at 8 p.m., we’ll be seein’ ya there.

7. Miranda Lambert: All of 21 years of age, Miranda Lambert brings new life to a somnambulant country music industry, just about the brightest new voice on the scene, and the best new pop, rock and country artist of 2005.

8. Bright Eyes: Songwriter and lead vocalist Conor Oberst has his champions and his detractors, but there’s no denying the hushed, rambling, bluesy and anecdotally progressive virtuosity of I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning.

9, 10 and ... All Canadian artists, none of whom receive airplay on Canadian radio (although you'll hear lots of these artists on both XM and Sirius satellite radio, where each of them broke big this past year), Broken Social Scene, The Arcade Fire and Stars are not just Canadian artists, they’re world artists. We’ll write about why we love each group later this month, so c’mon back.

During the month of January (once we get the latest round of technical glitches with our website, and server, resolved), VanRamblings will provide mp3 samples of each of the bands and artists. See ya back here often (and that means you, the divine Ms. L, as well as our other constant readers).

   

December 22, 2005

Year End Review, Part 2: Best Music of 2005

VanRamblings’ Top 10 albums of the year will follow New Year’s weekend.

   

November 4, 2005

Antony and the Johnsons: The Next Big Thing

Today, we’ll continue our recommencement of activities on VanRamblings by introducing you to a plaintive, soul-stirring artist who we believe creates gorgeously transcendent music that possesses the potential to heal some of the acrid hurts which wound us daily.

Recent much-deserved winner of Great Britain’s prestigious Mercury Music Prize and considered by many to be the next big thing, below VanRamblings offers both a recent NPR interview and review, as well as a downloadable song from the new CD, I am a Bird Now, by Antony and the Johnsons.

NPR interview and review

Antony and the Johnsons — Hope There’s Someone

Antony and the Johnsons on the David Letterman Show

   

August 4, 2005

Listen. Learn. AudioBloggers Post Their Favourite Music Online
Obscure, and Great, Sounds Become Accessible To The Masses

There’s a great deal that is salutary about the blogging phenomenon, not the least of which is the opportunity that is afforded bloggers to bring our own perspective to the news of the day.

Over the past couple of years, Flickr has made it possible to upload your entire photo collection to the Net, MSN Spaces (among other platforms) has made it relatively easy to create your own blog, video blogging is yet another recently-developed form of blogging expression (just check out a few of these video blogs), while podcasting (a portmanteau that combines the words broadcasting and iPod) makes available everything from conventional news shows to self-published radio shows, downloadable as mp3 files and playable on your mp3 player.

Perhaps the most salutary blogging development, though (at least for those of us who love music, and are always on the look out for intriguing new sounds) is the audio blogging phenomenon — where a new breed of tastemakers devote their spare time to disseminating, free of charge, music that’s obscure, unusual, cutting-edge, or on the verge of being forgotten.

Siddhartha Mitter, a Boston Globe correspondent, provides an introduction to the “the best music you’ve never heard” phenomenon.

The principle behind an audioblog — also called MP3 blog — is simple. You find a track you want to share with the masses. You place it online as an MP3 file, which anyone with a fast connection can play or save. And you write a little commentary, which might be pithy or detailed, straightforward or oblique. Think of each post as a whimsical capsule review, with sound attached.

In the course of his Globe piece, Mitter turns readers onto a number of audio blogging sites — including Paul Irish’s Aurgasm; San Francisco music journalist and scholar Oliver Wang’s Soul Sides; London-raised, Boston-based blogger Lee Caulfield’s The Number One Songs in Heaven, which specializes in near-forgotten soul tracks; and Christopher Porter’s appropriately named audio blog, the suburbs are killing us.

Treat yourself today: download some new music from the Internet.

   

July 18, 2005

Vancouver Folk Festival 2005: Glorious and Transporting

One of the formative events on the Vancouver cultural calendar each year, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival closed late on Sunday evening with a rousing chorus of the Woody Guthrie chestnut, It’s Been Good To Know Ya (lead by noted Wobbly Utah Phillips), followed by as stirring and soulful a rendition of Ben E. King’s Stand By Me as one could ever wish to hear.

In the hours and days that comprised the 2005 musical narrative that became the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, from the gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Friday afternoon (under leaden skies) through til 11:30 p.m. for the cloudless sky Sunday evening finale, music was carried by the breezes that wafted across the Jericho Beach site — as a panoply of globe spanning, anthemic folk music encompassing folk genres ranging from Celtic, Cajun, hillbilly and progressive country (think the ever-so-fragile and lovely Iris DeMent) to the radical repertoire of The Grande Mothers (Frank Zappa’s band), hip hop, ambient, chill-out, the blues and more ... transformed the Jericho Beach / waterfront Point Grey site into safe haven, where once again a world of peace and harmony and love and understanding prevailed for all.

   

July 16, 2005

The First Full Day of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival

Featuring more than 70 hours of non-stop music on eight outdoor stages — three evenings of mainstage concerts and two full days of performances and workshops throughout and across the always splendid Jericho Beach Park site, the 28th annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival is now underway.

Saturday Afternoon Update: Skies have cleared, and the sun has arrived.

While VanRamblings wanders the site, enjoys the music, greets old friends and recovers some semblance of our always tenuous sanity, we offer you 27 pictures taken by Sarah Pullman, posted at Shutterfly, as well as a few pictures focusing on the market area just outside the west gate.

For the sake of nostalgia, and because the weather thus far in the summer of 2005 has been inclement (just check out the webcam), VanRamblings offers a few photos taken by Susan McKeown at the particularly rainy, but ultimately satisfying, 2001 Vancouver Folk Music Festival.

And, oh yeah, there’s this Tony Montague article in Friday’s Globe and Mail on the Juno award-winning band, Le Vent du Nord, in concert at Stage 1 at 4:15 p.m. today, and set to take the Main Stage at 6 p.m., as well.

   

July 14, 2005

Toddlers In Tow, Pudgy Babyboomers and Tie-Dyed Hippies

With only hours to go until the kickoff of the 28th annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival, diehard folkies are practicing the 300-yard run from the gate to the big stage (cuz it’s important to get your blanket as close to the main stage as possible), while others are stuffing their backpacks with all of the required items for a comfortable Folk Festival — tarpaulin for the ground, large colourful blanket, change of clothes, lots of sunscreen, hat, water bottle, and fresh fruit, among myriad other necessary items.

Media coverage of the Folk Festival is also underway. Vancouver Courier Arts Editor Fiona Hughes suggests in her piece on the Folk Fest that “the programmers are determined to broaden their audience base,” while Courier staff writer Cheryl Rossi covers the volunteer perspective.

Meanwhile, the Georgia Straight’s eminence grise and longtime Folk Fest aficionado, Alexander Varty, chimes in with the Straight’s feature, front-cover article on the Fest, a 1500-word piece titled Spoken Folk, as well as a piece on Bill Bourne and Eivør Pálsdóttir. Kevin Howes writes about Buck 65, who will play on the main stage Friday night.

The Straight’s Tony Montague interviews Scottish singer Julie Fowlis (a member of Dòchas, five young women and one male percussionist who will perform music from the western isles of Scotland at this year’s folk fest, with a Stage 1 concert this Saturday, July 16), as well as politically-minded Texas troubadour Eliza Gilkyson and Karan Casey, one of the great Irish women singers of our time. And, what self-respecting Folk Festival can truly call itself a roots festival without the inclusion of a little Dobro music?

   

July 11, 2005

28th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival This Week

Of the many festivals that take place in Vancouver each year, there is no more salutary and restorative festival than the annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival, this year celebrating its 28th anniversary.

The 2005 Folk Festival lineup not only includes evening concerts from the likes of Iris DeMent, Leslie Feist (here’s a recent concert review) and Sarah Harmer (in The Tyee), but daytime site stage collaborative concerts, with such intriguing appellations as Reely Good Tunes, Harmony is Bliss, Expectations and the Blues, Grrrls With Guitars, and On My Way Home.

Update: In an article published in The Tyee, Vancouver Folk Music Festival artistic director Dugg Simpson discusses “music, community and social change”, the theme of this year’s Fest. And, for those who just can’t wait for the festivities to commence, The Tyee also offers this fetching pictorial. There’s also this pic of the evening stage, from the audience perspective.

In this summer with no summer (although the temperature outside is not too bad, a hot, sunny summer has been all but absent this year on Canada’s west coast), click here for the Jericho Beach webcam (Jericho Beach being the place where the Folk Fest is being held later this week).

Adult advance tickets for the three day festival are $125, or $40 for Friday evening, and $60 for the full day for each of Saturday and Sunday. Weekend student tickets are $75, while those 13 - 18 pay $65; weekend tickets for children 3 - 12 years of age are $15. Seniors’ weekend tickets are $25. In Vancouver, tickets are available at Zulu Records on West 4th Avenue, Highlife Records on Commercial Drive, Boomtown Import Record and Discs on Burrard Street (one block south of Davie), or at the Festival office located at 1113 - 207 West Hastings (at Cambie), and at the gate.

   

July 17, 2004

27th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival: Day Two

Oliver Schroer, Kelly Joe Phelps and other on workshop Stage 2

Well, here it is the first full day of the 27th annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival, following a fabulous first, Friday evening series of concerts (here and here), with