Music, fun and good works
Deep Roots Music Festival set to go in Wolfville
It’s the perfect combination of music, fellowship and humanitarian aid.
The 2022 Deep Roots Music Festival will include a Red Cross Benefit concert for refugees on Thursday, Sept. 21 at the Horton Performance Centre. The entertainment will be provided by feature festival favourites Coco Love Alcorn and Ian Sherwood with a special appearance by the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir.
“It’s a response to the situation in Ukraine, but we are aware that there are many refugees worldwide,” says festival programming director Dave Carmichael. “We’re partnering with the Canadian Red Cross and we’ll have somebody from that organization coming to speak with our audience about the work they do.”
Presented by the Deep Roots Music Cooperative, the festival runs from Sept. 21 to 25. This will be the 17th annual edition of the event, which began in 2004, and endured a two-year pandemic hiatus.
“Last year we did an abridged, outdoor version and this year we’re back to an almost full festival, but without the dances,” Carmichael says. “We’re hoping to ease our audience back into a safe environment for live music.”
The main stage events include Maritime favourite Jenn Grant, the soulful sounds of AHI, folk star Kaia Kater, hard-core troubadour Scott Cook, the intricate harmonies of Marla & David Celia, Appalachian folk duo Factory Girls, blues legend Garrett Mason, and seasoned veteran Jamie Junger with his Jungernauts in tow.
The festival always includes a Sunday morning sing-along, called “Rise up Singing,” this year featuring another appearance by the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir at Festival Theatre. Food and cash donations will be accepted for the local food bank.
“It’s a chance for people to come together and sing,” Carmichael says. “It has a kind of old-time-religion feel to it without being connected to any specific religious denomination.”
The festival includes free performances and there will be live music Friday afternoon and all day Saturday at the Just Us! festival tent in Clock Park, Saturday morning music at the Wolfville Farmers’ Market and latenight shows at Paddy’s Pub, where audiences can hear some of the main stage acts in a different setting.
Other popular free activities include the harmony workshop on Saturday morning with Sarah McInnis and Rebecca Fairless, drumming with Djudjug Ensemble, crafts and puppetry, kids music, and the everpopular Fresh Beats Rhythm Parade, featuring Wee Giant Theatre.
Held in September, when Acadia University students are back in town, the festival is the largest annual event by the Deep Roots Music Cooperative. Supported by both the Town of Wolfville and the university, the festival is built on countless hours contributed by more than
100 volunteers, and financial support from virtually all sectors of the Valley community.
Deep Roots Music Cooperative members come together through a shared love of music with a mission to create meaningful connections between cultures, community groups, artists and audiences. Each year Valley residents open their homes to billet the performers, while volunteers donate their time and energy to make the festival a reality.
“We have volunteers cooking, providing ground transportation and working backstage,” Carmichael says. “It’s really an incredible community venture. It’s a lot of work, but we look forward to it every year.”