Vancouver Folk Music Festival

An invitation to the Festival from the Artistic Director

johnnygee — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:37:17 +0000

This is your personal invitation to explore the line-up for the 36^th edition of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival and join us at the park July 19-21.

I’m excited to share the new discoveries that make the festival special, along with those artists whose names you will definitely recognize. All sixty-five artists performing this year are amazing and unique, and I hope you’ll take the time to get to know more about them. Some of them will be performing for one day or evening only, but most will be with us for the entire weekend.

I encourage you to peruse the performers’ bios and check out their websites and videos and return to our website often for more updates.

As always, the artists will be showcased in collaborative sessions, including the ever-popular Sunday morning gospel session, and some great late night dance parties. Join our newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted on some of the singer-songwriter and intercultural collaborations we’ve got planned in the upcoming weeks.

We hope you will mark your calendars for another glorious weekend of music and celebration in Jericho Beach Park. I look forward to seeing you there.

Linda Tanaka
Artistic Director
Vancouver Folk Music Festival

Coming this summer to a beach-side park near you!

johnnygee — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:33:11 +0000

Some pretty famous names will be gracing the festival Main Stage this year, including: Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines on her solo tour, American singer and songwriting legend Steve Earle performing with his band The Dukes, Canada’s very own Kathleen Edwards, UK Celtic-rock group The Waterboys, as well as American folk icon Loudon Wainwright III, who’ll be making his debut appearance at the VFMF.

A World of glorious music is coming to the park, including: Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Canada’s Danny Michel and his collaboration with The Garifuna Collective from Belize, Ethiopian-American pop/soul/funk ensemble Debo Band, and Egyptian singer Fatma Zidan. Hanggai from China/Inner Mongolia, as well as the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble will also join us at the Festival this year!

On the bluegrass/Americana/old time music front, we are happy to announce Black Prairie (with members of The Decemberists), singer-songwriter and fiddler Sara Watkins (previously a member of Nickel Creek), San Francisco area’s string quintet The Brothers Comatose, banjo maestro Jayme Stone and, direct from Horsefly BC, Pharis & Jason Romero.

We have a slew of emerging and established talent joining us at Jericho. This includes folk-rock super couple Whitehorse, Vancouver’s own Hannah Georgas, songwriting veteran Hayden, indie-rock group The Wooden Sky, alt-country singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge, and Québec-based hip hop group Nomadic Massive. We have two hot acts from down under as well - Australia’s The Cat Empire and Tinpan Orange.

Get ready for some hot times at Jericho!

Just Posted: Natalie Maines on Letterman

johnnygee — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:30:40 +0000

Dixie Chick Natalie Maines stepped out on her own on the Late Show With David Letterman, performing "Take It on Faith" from her new solo debut, Mother. Backed by a band including piano, strings and Ben Harper on steel guitar, the singer poured out her voice as the song built to a fiery solo from Harper and a soaring outro.

Early Bird tickets on sale now!

johnnygee — Thu, 09 May 2013 05:27:14 +0000

By purchasing your tickets early you can save on your Festival tickets. Check out the chart below to see how much you can save. Click HERE to purchase your Early Bird Tickets

Price in Canadian dollars and include GST. Be sure to read the FINE PRINT below for important information.	EARLY BIRD TICKETS til June 11	ADVANCE June 12 – July 18, 9pm	GATE SALES July 19, 12pm
ADULTS
Weekend Pass (one pass for three evenings & two full days / non-transferable)	$135.00	$150.00	$165.00
Single Saturday or Single Sunday	$75.00	$75.00	$80.00
Friday Evening Concert	$45.00	$45.00	$50.00
STUDENTS (19 + . Student ID required at the Gate.) LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE.
Weekend Pass (one pass for three evenings & two full days / non-transferable)	$80.00	$90.00	$100.00
Single, Saturday-only Ticket OR Single, Sunday-only Ticket	$60.00	$60.00	$65.00
Friday Evening Concert	$40.00	$40.00	$45.00
YOUTH (13 to 18. ID required at the Gate.)
Weekend Pass (one pass for three evenings & two full days / non-transferable)	$55.00	$65.00	$75.00
Single, Saturday-only Ticket OR Single, Sunday-only Ticket	$40.00	$40.00	$45.00
Friday Evening Concert	$40.00	$40.00	$45.00
ELDERS (65 + . ID required at the Gate.)
Weekend Pass (one pass for three evenings & two full days / non-transferable)	$60.00	$70.00	$80.00
Single, Saturday-only Ticket OR Single, Sunday-only Ticket	$40.00	$40.00	$45.00
Friday Evening Concert	$40.00	$40.00	$45.00
ALL TICKET PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

Evening Stage Sneak Pete

johnnygee — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:12:08 +0000

Here are a few of the performers appearing on the evening Main Stages over the festival weekend
(not necessarily in the order of performance)

Friday, July 19
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars
Hannah Georgas
Hayden
Kathleen Edwards
Dehli 2 Dublin

Saturday, July 20
Danny Michel and the Garifuna Collective
Whitehorse
Raghu Dixit Project
Steve Earle and the Dukes
The Cat Empire

Sunday, July 21
Hanggai
Loudon Wainwright III
The Waterboys
DeVotchKa
Natalie Maines

The Memory Project

johnnygee — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:29:18 +0000

Festival 35 may be over, but the memories remain. The Memory Project lives on online – please post your memories from this year’s Festival and add to our growing database of Festival memories.

We say “Folk Festival”… You say….?
Seeing Pete Seeger strum his banjo while sitting in a puddle. Jamming with Freshlyground . . . in my living room! Holding my daughter tight during Dan Mangan’s enchanting version of Hallelujah.

What’s the first memory that comes to your mind when you think about the Vancouver Folk Music Festival?
In its 35 years, the Festival has moved, delighted, affected, and even changed people’s lives. Everyone has a favourite memory. What’s yours?

Share your memories!
Contribute to The Memory Project, a celebration of 35 years of extraordinary Festival experiences! Together we’ll create an online living legacy of photos, videos, and stories that will inspire Festival lovers – new and old – to connect with, and remember, the special history of our beloved Festival.

Plus! Every submission you make enters your name for a chance to score some 35th Anniversary-themed memorabilia!

boat counting from my blue & white striped patch waiting for the Ani DiFranco workshop, 1992

Send us your photos, videos, and snapshot-stories!

Share the memories that best capture your experience of the spirit and energy of the Festival. Reach back in your brain – send us memories that span our 35-year history.

Photo and Video Guidelines:	Pretty much anything goes! We love candid shots of crowds, performers, special moments, and any other exciting experiences you’ve captured. If you can, include the who, what, when, where, and why of the photo and/or video you submit. Whatever you can tell us is appreciated!
Snapshot-story Guidelines:	A snapshot-story is a short written anecdote, in 150 words or less, sharing your memorable Festival moment. We’ve included memory stimulators here to help get your brain juices flowin’.

Send your submissions to:
memories@thefestival.bc.ca
Be sure to include your name and where you’re from (Vancouver, Surrey, San Francisco, etc.).

All submissions will be moderated for posting on vfmfmemoryproject.tumblr.com
Feel free to submit directly to tumblr: if you have an existing account you can sign in and submit, those without an account are able to submit with just their name and email address (no sign-up required).

The Fine Print
In submitting your photographs, videos, and snapshot-stories you are authorizing the Vancouver Folk Music Festival to use your submissions in all Festival promotional materials. The VFMF reserves the right to edit for length and consistency. Posting of submissions is subject to VFMF approval.

Snapshot-story memory stimulator!

Sit down with some great photos, hold a jam session, share a cup of coffee, or even a beer! and stir up your favourite Folk Festival memories. Check below for inspiration:

When were you first introduced to the Festival? How? By whom? How old were you?
What was your first impression the moment you walked on the Festival site?
Do you have a specific performance you’ll always remember? A workshop? New artist?
Do you have a favourite memory of working for the Festival? Volunteering? Performing?
Do you know of anyone getting married at the Festival? Engaged? Celebrating their birthday? Celebrating their anniversary?
Have you connected, or reconnected, with a friend, partner, family member, etc. at the Festival?
Have you ever met an artist? At the Festival? Because of the Festival? How did it happen?
Do you and your family, or group of friends, have any special Festival traditions? What are they?
Do you have any stories of behind-the-scenes happenings that make the Festival so magical for you?
Have you ever felt so inspired by the Festival that you: decide to take up an instrument? Write your own song? Change your life path? Declare your love from a mountain-top?
Have you ever been so moved by a performance that you were: forced to hold your breath? Covered in goose-bumps? Brought to tears?
Have you heard one-liners, lyrics, or even jokes that have stuck with you from the moment you heard them at the Festival?
Have you discovered any new food at the Festival? Mustard?
Have you experienced new flavours or tastes at the Festival? A delicious mustard from Granny’s Hotdogs? Fallen in love with roasted corn?

Back to The Memory Project

Festival 2012 Memories

johnnygee — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:10:43 +0000

Vancouver Folk Music Festival 2012 Video Highlights

Green Couch Sessions at VFMF

Selected photos from the amazing VFMF photo committee (+ Kaya)

What a Festival that was!

johnnygee — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 06:53:02 +0000

The 35th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival was one to remember. The sun shone, the park was full, and of course the music was simply amazing. We launched the Memory Project this year with the aim of capturing memories from the past 35 years and we did our best to generate a whole new batch of happy memories to add to the collection. Thank you to everyone who spent the weekend with us at Jericho Beach Park – audience members, volunteers and performers. You are our Folk Fest family and you keep us coming back to the park year after year. See you in 2013!