Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2018

The 2018 Edmonton Folk Music Festival took place August 9-12 at Gallagher Park. As always, it featured an eclectic line up of music from different generations, genres, and cultures.

Here is a link to an article I write for GigCity.ca about the Thursday evening line up, which included Tinariwen, DakhaBrakha, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and The Decemberists.

REVIEW: Heat on the hill at folk fest

My second piece for GigCity.ca focuses on the Saturday daytime line up, as well as some personal reflections of the unusual weather experienced during the weekend.

I SURVIVED THE FOLK FEST (almost)

Here is my complete collection of photos, including all of the acts I discuss in the above articles, the obligatory views from the hill, and more.

~Paula E. Kirman

Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2013 - Worlds of Music

This year's Edmonton Folk Music Festival once again presented a huge variety of folk, blues, Worldbeat, and fusions of these genres and more. For me, a highlight is discovering new sounds from around the World as well as up and coming talent.

The Steep Canyon Rangers was probably my discovery of the weekend. The Grammy-award winning bluegrass band fuse country and folk into their lively music.

Havana D'Primera, from Cuba, presented an exciting main stage show on Sunday afternoon. The Salsa beats were contagious and I had a hard time stopping myself from getting up to dance right there in the photo pit!

Sometimes the most memorable performances don't happen on any of the stages. Here is Rosanne Cash playing at the CKUA booth. She has such a beautiful voice and her songs are haunting.

I have seen Alex Cuba a number of times at the EFMF and he always attracts a huge crowd. When he started to play his signature song "Si Pero No" people danced and sang along - it really is a great song that I never get tired of!

Niyaz, from Iran, was absolutely mesmerizing. The multi-faceted performance included traditional instruments, vocals, dress, and dance. There were even a few belly dancers in the audience!

Makana totally changed my view of music from Hawaii. Noted as a slack key guitarist, this guy can really play! He is also an activist and enthralling performer.

Don't accuse Amy Helm of resting on the laurels of her famous father, the late, great Levon Helm. Her performance is full of passion and she has an incredible voice.

On the local front, Edmonton singer/songwriter Joe Nolan is someone to watch out for. His memorable songs and unique delivery are just some of the reasons why he just landed a deal with Canadian label Six Shooter Records.

Tim O'Brien was on my must-see list this year. His abilities on guitar and fiddle with his signature bluegrass style translated very well on Stage 2.

Scotland's Dick Gaughan is another performer I have seen multiple times at the EFMF and I always enjoy his storytelling through song.

I love music from Canada's First Nations, so I was excited to catch the performance from the Iskwew Singers. A trio of three Cree women from British Columbia, the group performs songs in the plains tradition, telling stories of connection to the earth, Creator, and each other.

The EFMF is always a memorable event and this year was no different. To see my full collection of photos, including performers, people, and various shots around the festival site, click here. ~ Paula E. Kirman

Johnny Clegg - Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2012

Johnny Clegg, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I am so glad I was able to catch some of Johnnny Clegg's show at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival on August 12.

Clegg is a powerhouse of singer/songwriter music that infuses traditional Zulu language and African sounds into music that has a message. His incredibly physical performance had the audience waving their hands and dancing along.

Clegg was one of the most politically-charged performers of the weekend and represented the spirit of what a folk festival is all about.

La Bottine Souriante - Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2012

La Bottine Souriante, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

As a Quebec music enthusiast for many years, I was thrilled when I found out that La Bottine Souriante would be the Saturday afternoon main stage act at the 2012 Edmonton Folk Music Festival.

Although there have been several personnel changes over the years, the music was as lively as ever, featuring accordion, a horn section, foot stomping percussion, and fiddle - lots of fiddle. The dancer also added a lot to the atmosphere of the performance.

Energy and excitement is at the heart of La Bottine Souriante, which takes traditional Quebec music and elevates it beyond linguistic boundaries.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2012

Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I know people who came to the 2012 Edmonton Folk Music Festival just to see Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Seeing this incredible band from South Africa that has been around for over 50 years was one of the weekend's highlights for me as well.

Performing in their native Zulu language, the music penetrated the hill at Stage 3 with energy, accented by the group's dance moves. Truly unforgettable.

Jim Cuddy Band - Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2012

Jim Cuddy Band, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I have been a fan of Blue Rodeo for more years than I care to count. In fact, the very first time I attended the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, it was to see the band hit the main stage.

This year, I got to see Blue Rodeo's lead singer/guitarist (well, one of them anyways - can't forget Greg Keelor!) up close leading the Jim Cuddy Band. The sound was everything I expected it to be: straight ahead country-tinged roots rock, with a few Blue Rodeo classics thrown in here and there. In fact, Blue Rodeo's bassist Basil Donovan was also part of the band.

Jim Cuddy is a very energetic performer and his vocals - and frankly, he himself - have not aged a bit. An impressive concert!

Lennie Gallant - Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2012

Lennie Gallant, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Lennie Gallant is a modern troubadour, a teller of stories through song, and a darn fine vocalist. I finally got to see him in concert at the 2012 Edmonton Folk Music Festival on August 11. He sang many songs from his latest release If We Had a Fire, but also some classics like "Peter's Dream" and "Which Way Does the River Run." I am not ashamed to admit that I cried during the beautiful and heartbreaking "Emily's Letters" and was left wanting more - s much more, in fact, that I think I am going to head to iTunes and get that latest albums, and a few older ones as well (I actually think I have one of his on cassette - kids, do you remember what those are?). If you hear that Lennie Gallant is coming to your city or town, be sure to see him. You will have a memorable time.

Natch'l Blues - EFMF 2011

Natch'l Blues - EFMF 2011, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Natch'l Blues is Canada's longest-running blues radio program, on CKUA since 1969. It is also the name of a Saturday afternoon session at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival featuring a powerful combination of artists.

Janiva Magness hosted the stage and performed her sultry, modern blues to an enthusiastic response. She was accompanied by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans, who also did a few numbers on their own.

Duke Robillard to the stage, and the entire group of musicians at that point played off of each other perfectly.

Then, came the biggest thrill yet: John Mayall, legendary British blues musician, performed a couple of songs with Joe Louis Walker. At 77, Mayall can still rock the house.

Natch'l Blues was one of the most exciting sessions of the weekend, with accomplished musicians strutting their stuff - naturally! ~Paula E. Kirman

Kila - EFMF 2011

Kila - EFMF 2011, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Kila is a band that has been making waves in Ireland for years with its mix of traditional Irish music with world fusion. Featured on the Saturday afternoon main stage at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, I did not know what to expect as the band was completely new to me, and to others with whom I spoke.

From the hypnotizing beat of the bodhran to the melodies of the pipes, Kila performed a very unique set. There was a lot of energy in the music. All of these guys are accomplished musicians in their own rights, as well as several of the being published authors and poets.

I have a strong feeling that it is in their live performances where Kila really shines. They are very visual and the music lends itself very well to a festival atmosphere. ~Paula E. Kirman

Mighty Popo - EFMF 2011

Mighty Popo - EFMF 2011, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

When The Mighty Popo tells the audience to get up and dance, they listen. The African rhythms of this vocalist/guitarist/songwriter are absolutely infections, as proven during a Saturday side stage concert. Now based in eastern Canada, Mighty Popo has Rwandan/Burundi roots and won a Juno in 2005 for "Best World Music Album of the Year." Energetic and lively, The Mighty Popo lives up to his name. ~Paula E. Kirman

Lyle Lovett - EFMF 2011

Lyle Lovett, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Some performers need no introduction. Lyle Lovett is one of them. He performed with his full band, including a horn section, on the Sunday evening main stage, and also solo as part of a session full of Texas singer/songwriters on Sunday afternoon called "Influences." That session definitely had the largest audience I had seen all weekend for a session stage. His voice is calm, his delivery smooth, and he had the audience drawn in every note of the way. What else can be said about a consummate performer? ~Paula E. Kirman

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings - EFMF 2011

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings - EFMF 2011, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I still listen to the album Strays, the debut from a then-unknown eastern Canadian rock band called Junkhouse. The lead singer was Tom Wilson, a large, shaggy man with a voice that can go so deep, it almost sounds like a low-tuned bass guitar.

Life post-Junkhouse has been busy for Wilson. Amongst other musical projects, he has been one-third of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, considered a supergroup of Canadian singer/songwriters and guitarists. Besides Wilson, the trio includes Colin Linden and Stephen Fearing.

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings were the Sunday afternoon main stage act at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. Their very energetic blend of rock, roots, and blues was exciting - and loud. The group played a number of original songs, as well as covers from blues and rock legends. Their excellent musicianship both instrumentally and vocally, as well as their command of the stage, made Blackie and the Rodeo Kings one of the highlights of the weekend. ~Paula E. Kirman

Tim Robbins - EFMF 2011

Tim Robbins, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

When I heard that Tim Robbins was now a touring musician, I had that same cynical thought I would get every time I heard about a famous actor embarking on a music career. A good actor does not a good musician make. Now, Tim Robbins is not just a good actor - he is an excellent one. As a musician, he is surprisingly solid. He has a musky voice that is also melodic in an untrained sort of way. He certainly got the crowd moving with Pete Seeger's "Well May The World Go," and he kept the momentum up with his solo concert and sessions. I was honestly (and pleasantly) surprised by his musical prowess and I apologize for any cynical thoughts I may have had before. Robbins (and his Rogues Gallery band, featuring his brother on guitar) gained a lot of musical cred during the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. ~Paula E. Kirman

Guy Clark - EFMF 2011

Guy Clark - EFMF 2011, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Guy Clark is another performer I discovered by watching American Music Shop (see my previous post about Nanci Griffith). He is also from Texas and a singer/songwriter known for releasing albums of his own work, as well as writing songs covered by other artists. Clark is also a luthier who makes many of his own instruments.

Performing on Saturday afternoon at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Clark was accompanied by long-time musical friend Vernon Thompson. His voice was rough from smoking and dust - he explained that he had just performed in a cattle field - but there was also a delicateness to his touch.

World weary, but obviously loving what he does, Clark is a living legend of country/folk songwriters. ~Paula E. Kirman

James Keelaghan - EFMF 2011

James Keelaghan - EFMF 2011, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

James Keelaghan has a voice that draws you in and then will not let go until he has finished the story in his song. Keelaghan is originally form Calgary but now lives in Eastern Canada. Although not a household name, he has been touring and releasing albums for years. His lyrics often deal with different aspects of history, both Canadian and beyond (such as "Cold Missouri Waters" which is about the Mann Gulch fire in 1949).

Keelaghan performed to enthusiastic audiences throughout the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, giving a full concert on the Friday evening and hosting several workshops during the weekend. This was my first time seeing him live, although I have been a fan for years. His voice sounds as absolutely crisp and perfect live as it does in his recordings.

Someone on Twitter commented that Keelaghan should be considered a national treasure. I could not agree more. ~Paula E. Kirman

Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2011

Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2011, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I attended the Edmonton Folk Music Festival this past weekend. The hills were alive with the sound of music once again, and thousands of people were there to take part. I will be blogging about some of the specific shows and artists over the next few days - stay tuned! ~Paula E. Kirman