Star-studded lineup is full of fan favourites
This year’s Edmonton Folk Music Festival lineup includes a solid number of luminaries, returning faces and fan favourites — including mind-blowing live act Buffy Sainte-Marie; the ever-inventive Neko Case; Flatlander Jimmie Dale Gilmore & Bill Kirchen ( just don’t pester the former about The Big Lebowski); superproducer guitarist Ry Cooder; NYC post-rock trio City of the Sun; the crowd-pleasing Michael Franti & Spearhead; Ferron and Her AllStar Band; California indie musician Nick Waterhouse — frequent producer of the Allah-Las; as well as already-announced Regina Spektor, known lately for her Orange is the New Black title song.
Making up for their weatherwary cancelled slots last year are Shakey Graves and the Decemberists. Festival producer Terry Wickham explains, “It took a while before we confirmed both ... I didn’t think The Decemberists was going to happen, but then, suddenly, it did.”
North Country Fair superstar Scott Cook will also give the proceedings some of his thoughtful, local musical parables. Wickham also suggests people take a look at Mt. Joy and Tash Sultana.
As far as the ever-evolving infrastructure goes: “The area inside the beer tent will go all the way to the front of the stage — more room, great seating. We will try to get a small viewing area at the top of the beer tent for Stage 2 ... this may or may not work.”
Two video screens will be added to the front of Main Stage as well.
The festival runs Thursday, Aug. 9, through Sunday, Aug. 12.
Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. on June 2 at the EFMF office (10115 97A Ave.), then at 10 a.m. the same day through the various forms of Ticketmaster.
A full breakdown of all the ways in is at edmontonfolkfest.org