Early Bird Weekend Passes on Sale Now
Early Bird weekend passes now are on sale for the 47th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival, July 19-21 in ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park.
Come immerse yourself for the whole weekend. Discover new sounds and revel in the well-loved, hear a diversity of voices and stories, connect with friends old and new, enjoy delicious food, catch some rays, and experience some Vancouver Folk magic.
Buy now and save $30 per ticket over Advance level weekend ticket prices.
Pete’s Sneak Peeks
Ahead of the full lineup announcement we’re excited to give you a small sample, a little taste, an intriguing peek into this year’s lineup by announcing two outstanding groups who are visiting the park this summer.
Each is remarkable in their own right; but presented together here, you get a little sense of the quality, musical range and variety in store this summer.
The Milk Carton Kids
California
Completing their seventh studio album was a hard-won victory for The Milk Carton Kids, but 2023’s I Only See the Moon was worth the effort for Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan. “It feels like returning to something that’s natural and comfortable, and also just as inspiring and new as when we first met,” says Pattengale, who formed the duo with Ryan in 2011.
This latest recording reflects a distillation of the essence of The Milk Carton Kids: simply two voices blended together in spellbinding harmony, accompanied by subtly perfect acoustic instrumentation in the hands of virtuosic players.
Since forming, they enjoyed a rapid ascension to the top of the indie folk world. Their 2013 record, Ash and Clay, received a Grammy Nomination for Best Folk Album, and they were nominated for Group of the Year by the Americana Music Association. In 2014 they performed and recorded live over two nights with Joe Henry and Over the Rhine with new music inspired by the Great American Soundtrack; their third album Monterey was released in 2015 to critical acclaim, showing that the pair are very much at the top of their genre.
Live on stage in the park, you’ll get to revel in the full Milk Carton Kids experience: you’ll hear spine-tingling harmonies, brilliant instrumentation and powerhouse songwriting – and laugh with one of the best comic duos in folk music!
47Soul
Palestine / Jordan
The Palestinian collective 47Soul takes ancient Arabic dance music, melds it with modern sounds, and places it firmly in the 21st Century. The result is what NPR describes as “music without borders, mixing old and new, acoustic and electronic…It’s one big, positive and poignant party.”
The group formed in Jordan in 2013 when four artists – Tareq Abu Kwaik, Ramzy Suleiman, WalaaSbait, and Hamza Arnaout – joined forces to create what became a new genre of music they called “shamstep.” Shamstep infuses the folk sound of dabke with hip-hop, reggae and electronica. With Middle Eastern roots going back thousands of years, dabke is an ancient yet enduringly vibrant form of folk dance still hugely popular today: lines of dabke dancers regularly weave through weddings and other celebrations in Palestinian and Arab communities around the world.
47Soul sees their music as a call to recognize “the common humanity of all people.” Their lyrics give voice to the need for freedom of movement beyond borders, social justice, and the endurance and strength of the Palestinian people; their tremendously energetic live shows have won them fans around the world.
VFMF Artist Director Fiona Black says: “It’s an honour to bring this Palestinian group to our festival. Against all odds, 47Soul are touring this year and it’s exactly the right time to give these artists an opportunity to share their music with us. It’s bold, exciting, danceable – and will stay with you a long time.”
join our team!
VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 2024 VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL
Volunteers are the heart, soul, and backbone of our festival – helping to turn ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park into a multi-faceted village of entertainment and enjoyment for one magical weekend every summer. Our 1,000-strong volunteer team works together to host amazing artists and create a welcoming, safe, and comfortable place for audience members of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. This festival prides itself on environmental stewardship and community engagement – it’s a wonderful thing to be part of!
With nearly fifty committees to choose from, there is a place for everyone. Sign up today and join the Festival family – an amazing team of passionate, dedicated volunteers who make our world go ’round!
Call out for Musqueam artists
A goal of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival is to make the festival a culturally inclusive and representative space, and we strongly value opportunities to showcase local artists in all disciplines. This year the Festival would like to collaborate with an artist from Musqueam Nation to create a t-shirt design for one of our merchandise items this year.
All Musqueam artists are invited to apply and is open to both traditional and contemporary design. Artwork must be original and project-specific. The artist will receive $1500 and two complimentary weekend passes to the festival. Artwork will be printed on merchandise for the Festival Merchandise Tent.
Application Deadline: March 29
Moneka Arabic Jazz
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival +
Vancouver Independent Music Centre Society (VIM) present
Moneka Arabic Jazz with opening act Gordon Grdina
Thursday, April 18, 2024 | 7:30 (doors 6:30)
The Hollywood Theatre 3123 W Broadway, Vancouver
Tickets $35 (include taxes and service charges)
Moneka Arabic Jazz showcases melodies from Iraq mixed with African groove and rhythm showcasing the musical diversity of Toronto-based performers.
“Focussing on the past inspires analysis, while the future inspires visions and dreams.” – Ahmed Moneka, winner of the 2022 Stingray Rising in Mundial Montreal
Membership has its benefits
WHAT YOU GET OUT OF IT
As a member* of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society, you are able to vote at the Annual General Meeting and/or run for the Board of Directors. Either way, you get a voice regarding the future of the Festival. And you know that your donation is going towards keeping the music flowing for years to come.
WHAT WE GET OUT OF IT
Your donations, either one-time or monthly, keep the lights on throughout the year and make sure we can provide the best weekend of our summer, year after year. Our membership numbers also reflect positively with our funders and sponsors.
It’s a win-win situation. After all, we are the folk and this is our festival!
*Donating $35 or more per year automatically makes you a member of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society
Photo: Leah Villalobos
IGNORE BELOW
Early Bird Tickets on Sale
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is hiring a Production Manager for the 2024 Festival, taking place July 19 – 21 at Jericho Beach Park in Vancouver.
The Production Manager coordinates all production-related activities involved in the delivery of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Reporting to the General Manager, the Production Manager works closely with the Artistic Director and Artistic Associate to determine the technical requirements for every performance during the festival weekend, and sources all sound, lighting, and backline equipment needed. They also supervise the Site Crew and interact with other festival staff and volunteers in the lead-up to the festival weekend.
join our team!
VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 2024 VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL.
Volunteers are the heart, soul, and backbone of our festival – helping to turn ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park into a multi-faceted village of entertainment and enjoyment every summer. With our 1,000-plus volunteer team, we create a supportive and appreciative people-powered space for artists to collaborate and perform; a welcoming, safe, and comfortable space for audience members of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities; a festival that is deeply engaged with community on many levels; a festival that is a leader in environmental awareness and sustainability, and so much more . . .
With nearly fifty committees to choose from, there is a place for everyone. Sign up today and join an amazing team of passionate, dedicated volunteers who make our world go ’round!
Our Home
on Native Land
Every summer since 1979 we return to our beachfront home on ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and other Coast Salish peoples. We thank them for having cared for these lands and waters since time out of mind, and look forward to enjoying and making music side by side and in partnership as we continue to redress past wrongs, to build a better society and to care for and protect the environment for all living things.
Click to learn how to pronounce indigenous place names for ʔəy̓alməxʷ/Iy̓álmexw/Jericho Lands
ʔəy̓alməxʷ (pronounced “Ee-yal-mugh”) is the place name in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language spoken by the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples.
Iy̓álmexw (pronounced “l-yal-mugh”) is the place name in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh language spoken by the Squamish Peoples.
Source
Environmental
Stewardship
ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park and the sensitive marsh area at its centre is home to a variety of wildlife: ducks, herons, bullfrogs, dragonflies, turtles and many plants. The Festival has been at the forefront of environmental awareness and action since its inception and prides itself on leaving our summer home in better shape than when we arrive. The Festival is committed to honouring the trust that it has been granted by minimizing our impact not only on ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park, but on the environment as a whole.
Inclusion
& Accessibility
Making the Festival inclusive has been a priority since its founding in 1978, with a special focus on accessibility for those who might otherwise find the outdoor location difficult to negotiate. A dedicated committee is assigned to provide assistance, information, and a variety of other services to help facilitate ease of access for festival attendees living with disabilities. The Festival believes everyone should be treated with dignity and fairness, and strives to create an event free of harassment, discrimination, and violence.
Learn More
Membership has its benefits
WHAT YOU GET OUT OF IT
As a member of the Vancouver Folk Music Society, you are able to vote at the Annual General Meeting and/or run for the Board of Directors. Either way, you get a voice regarding the future of the Festival. And you know that your donation is going towards keeping the music flowing for years to come.
WHAT WE GET OUT OF IT
Your donations, either one-time or monthly, keep the lights on throughout the year and make sure we can provide the best weekend of our summer, year after year. Our membership numbers also reflect positively with our funders and sponsors.
It’s a win-win situation. After all, we are the folk and this is our festival!
Photo: Leah Villalobos
Our Home on Native Land
Every summer since 1979 we return to our beachfront home on ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and other Coast Salish peoples. We thank them for having cared for these lands and waters since time out of mind, and look forward to enjoying and making music side by side and in partnership as we continue to redress past wrongs, to build a better society and to care for and protect the environment for all living things.
Click to learn how to pronounce indigenous place names for ʔəy̓alməxʷ/Iy̓álmexw/Jericho Lands
ʔəy̓alməxʷ (pronounced “Ee-yal-mugh”) is the place name in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language spoken by the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples.
Iy̓álmexw (pronounced “l-yal-mugh”) is the place name in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh language spoken by the Squamish Peoples.
Inclusion
Making the Festival inclusive has been a priority since its founding in 1978, with a special focus on accessibility for those who might otherwise find the outdoor location difficult to negotiate. A dedicated committee is assigned to provide assistance, information, and a variety of other services to help facilitate ease of access for festival attendees living with disabilities. The Festival believes everyone should be treated with dignity and fairness, and strives to create an event free of harassment, discrimination, and violence.
Learn More