Virtual Block Heater lineup coming from Mexico, Ireland and North America
The Calgary Folk Music Festival's annual Block Heater will become a virtual event for the first time, but still feature an eclectic lineup of indie artists from Calgary and other parts of Canada, America, Mexico and even a spotlight on Irish performers. Now in its sixth year, the festival will run from Feb. 16 to 20 on “two digital stages.” The main stage will be on the Zoom platform and mix live and pre-recorded performances with pay-what-you-can access. The Festival Hall stage will be free and feature Calgary artists streamed live from the folk fest's Inglewood-based headquarters. It will be available through Facebook and Youtube.
This year, programmers have developed an Irish program that will feature acclaimed indie-songwriter Lisa Hannigan, Bell X1's lead singer Paul Noonan, folk-electronica act Saint Sister and folkie Lisa O'neill.
The virtual globe-trotting will continue with Maria Mezcal, who will beam in from Guadalajara, Mexico, with a mix of salsa, bolero and cumbia vibes. Block Heater will also feature American indie icon Damien Jurado and Memphis native Valerie June, a soulful Americana artist and a favourite of the folk festival circuit.
“We've been able to honour our programming philosophy,” says Kerry Clarke, artistic director of Block Heater and the Calgary Folk Music Festival. “It's a mix of emerging artists and established artists and a lot of diversity and genre variety. Being digital gives you access to people farther away who wouldn't be able to travel. The Valerie Junes of the world and the Damien Jurado we always love to have but probably wouldn't have been able to afford for a regular Block Heater.”
Montreal singer-songwriter Matt Holubowski, Vancouver's orchestral alt-country act Parkland Music Project, Winnipeg-based, Afro-fusion jazz group Dr. Henry Band, Oji-cree and Mi'kmaq electro-beat performer ANACHNID, African-rooted, gospel-tinged singer Kelly Bado, Edmonton folkies 100 mile house and Lucette and bilingual folk-rocker Ariane Mahryke Lemire will also perform.
Local artists include Lethbridge's Ryland Moranz, producer and singer-songwriter Lorrie Matheson, vintage pop-rockers The Lovebullies, country singer Robert Adam, indie-rockers Nite Twin, groovebased soul-pop act Tendavillage and Tarik Robinson, veteran emcee, producer and one half of Drago Fli Empire.
Clarke said various hybrid options had been considered for Block Heater this year before pandemic restrictions made an online format inevitable. Plans are still underway to have the summer festival, scheduled from July 22-25, at Prince's Island Park, if possible.
“We are cautiously planning a modified festival at Prince's Island Park,” she says. “It will definitely be smaller and with fewer stages.”