Festival Artists 2024
We have some wonderful music in store for you this summer, July 19 to 21, at our beautiful summer home in ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park. Browse through this catalogue of incredible artists for a sampling of what we have to look forward to over the Festival weekend. We’ve included links to each artist’s work in audio and video format so you can see and hear for yourself why so excited about this year’s line-up!
The Milk Carton Kids
Spine-tingling harmonies, brilliant instrumentation and powerhouse songwriting – all from one of the best comic duos in folk music!
Iris DeMent
Celebrated singer, songwriter and voice for humanity and social justice sings her songs to “get what I think needs to be heard out to the grown-ups.“
47Soul
Palestinian collective takes ancient Arabic dance music, melds it with modern sounds, and places it firmly in the 21st Century.
Dobet Gnahoré
Exploding with hope and positivity, Dobet’s new songs explore the concept of freedom – and empower a new generation of daring, strong and independent African women.
Jeremy Dutcher
Two spirited tenor, composer, musicologist, performer and activist, Dutcher is one of the most compelling and musically interesting artists from any tradition.
Māmā Mihirangi & The Māreikura
Weaving soaring ancient chants with intricate harmonies, traditional and contemporary instruments with beats and deep bass through a rich tapestry of ancestral knowledge.
Highway 61 Reimagined
A tribute to Bob Dylan’s sixth album, released in the summer of 1965, Highway 61 Reimagined is a tribute orchestrated by Steve Dawson with able help from a talented crew of artists.
Krut
Bandura-playing singer and songwriter at the forefront of a revival of Ukrainian national culture, using culture as a tool of resistance.
The Wood brothers
Dynamic live act brings distinctive union of folk, blues, gospel, and jazz to Jericho Beach Park. Prepare to be blown away!
Leif Vollebekk
From introspective ballads to foot-stomping anthems to music with an edge, his music weaves a tapestry of emotions.
PIQSIQ
Contemporary music as modern as today with deep roots in a millennium-old tradition. A creative vision that makes snow fall up.
Moontricks
Songs steeped in tradition yet polished with a futuristic sheen, mixing organic folks, roots rock and old-time blues with modern electronic production.
James Vincent McMorrow
The kind of voice that makes you shut up and listen with captivating songs expose a vulnerability with subtle and poignant lyrics that call listeners to open their hearts and minds.
BCUC
Deeply embedded in the sounds and spirituality of their ancestors, BCUC’s mission is to awaken their audience to the possibilities of a shared, brighter future.
BuenRostro
Their lives as young Mexicans brings modernity and openness to a vast array of music – some Mexican, some not.
Etran de L’Aïr
From the mountainous regions of Niger, Etran de L’Aïr (‘stars of the air’) creates a joyous energy that is truly intoxicating to experience.
Kevin Breit & Cyro Baptista
This duo likes jazz, they like folk, they like world music and they put it all together in a most audacious and original way.
John Boutté
Every now and then, if you’re really lucky, you’ll hear a voice that stops you in your tracks. Prepare to stop and listen.
Alvin Youngblood Hart
“That rare breed who brings cultural awareness and artistic expression into a vibrant, natural marriage. His music is pure pleasure and surprise.” – Taj Mahal
Fränder
‘Modern acoustic folk music’, that takes ancient Nordic sounds, revitalizes them with energy and passion while incorporating contemporary influences.
Barney Bentall
An all-too-rare opportunity to hear one of this country’s most endearing artists perform straight from the heart.
Hayley Wallis
Kitasoo/Xaixais artist sings for herself, for her children, and for her people, and is well on her way to breaking into the national music scene.
Mick Flannery
Widely regarded as one of the finest singer-songwriters to come out of Ireland in recent years. And that’s saying a lot!
Ndidi O
Rootsy blues with a tinge of soul and country that touch down on forms including trip-hop, gospel, surf music, country, and electric blues.
Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves
Banjo and fiddle duo are leading lights in a new generation of talented young artists creating traditional music.
Big Lazy with Paul Pigat
New York “noir and twang” band from the avant garde Americana scene fattened up with a Canadian co-thinker and picker.
Kym Gouchie Trio
Artist on a journey of reclamation, and reconciliation – embracing the essence of her ancestral roots. A strong voice for those who need a platform.
Gordon Grdina’s The Marrow
JUNO Award-winning musician with a remarkable energy for exploration across genres from avant-garde jazz to Arabic music and classical Persian. And much more!
Wendy McNeill
Drawing from cabaret, Laurie Anderson, intelligent pop and more. Intellectually, it’s Oscar Wilde and who knows what else, enough to make it interesting, very interesting.
Mel Parsons
2020 Folk Artist of the Year’s beguiling, smoky voice, lyrical prowess and disarming sense of humour has won her a very dedicated fan base.
Dawn Pemberton
Passionate songwriter and performer expresses herself with a sense of adventure, quirkiness, and serious groove, all filtered and shaped through her own unique and dynamic vision.
Daniel Lapp & TMT
Electrifying arrangements of original fiddle tunes and tunes taken from collection of over 3000 indigenous BC tunes collected from over 300 composers.
Making Movies
Eclectic quartet crunches classic rock into Latin American rhythms, African-derived percussion and styles like rumba, merengue, mambo and cumbia.
Chris Pierce
One of this decade’s most vital and exciting artists, a great songwriter in the soul folk tradition, performs in Canada for the first time.
Second Moon
Dynamic seven-piece draws inspiration from Korean pansori, Irish traditional, American country western and bluegrass, Romani jazz manouche, and Chinese opera.
Grace Petrie
Proud socialist, feminist and lesbian has become an organic part of the British Left, using her art to support a myriad of causes and campaigns. Welcome back!
Katie Tupper
Coming of age songs from a soulful, creative spirit that proves there’s much more to life on the plains than grassland and grain silos.
Suzie Ungerleider
Bringing a quarter century of artistic practice, hundreds of shows and a deep repertoire of songs back home to Jericho Beach once again.
Pharis & Jason Romero
Vibrant duets, incredible songs, handmade banjos and four JUNOs – that just about says it all!
Zar Electrik
Rich and vibrant sonic blend takes you on a transcending journey between the Maghreb, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the West.
Scott Smith’s Adventures in Pedal Steel
Spotlighting the pedal steel in genres from country, soul, indie-folk, and gospel, to wherever its beautifully arcing, aching shimmer can be found.
Chris Smither
Rollicking, clever blues-based folk tunes that offer acute observations about life’s bitter ironies.
Obliquestra
Moldovan klezmer, Brazilian choro, New Orleans jazz, old novelty songs, tin pan alley, Russian and French waltzes, German theater songs, original chamber compositions, and so much more.
Shan-E-Punjab Arts Club
For VFMF 2024, Shan-E- Punjab Arts Club is going to create one massive folk fest bhangra dance team that you are enthusiastically invited to join!
Canadabkeh
Vancouver music and dance team will lead a folk fest dance class that will celebrate the enduring strength of Arabic culture and tradition, and the joy of communal dance.
Thanks to our team of volunteer writers who put together the artist bios, giving us a small insight into these incredible artists. Thank you to Gary Cristall, Doug Heselgrave, and Erin Mullan.