2008 February Archive

The Winnipeg Folk Festival would like to hear from you!

Published by admin on February 29, 2008 in Past Events, Special Initiatives and Upcoming Events Calendar. 0 Comments
March 8, 2008
10:00 amto12:00 pm
March 19, 2008
7:00 pmto9:00 pm
March 26, 2008
7:00 pm

Back in 2003, the Board of Directors adopted a long-term strategic plan, with a vision that Winnipeg would be the “folk capital” of North America by 2020. We also spelled out a five year plan intended to move us towards our long term goal. So far, we have accomplished our goals and more. Now, we are in the process of reviewing and revising our plan for the next five years.

As Directors, we are responsible for the overall direction of the organization, but we also recognize that we hold positions of trust, that “the Festival”, in many ways, is like a “community-owned” organization. Therefore, we are holding a series of open houses to allow members of our community an opportunity for input into our plans. Of course, we can’t guarantee that everything you say will make it into our plans, but we can guarantee that you will be heard.

The session dates are:

Saturday, March 8, 10-noon
Wednesday, March 19, 7-9pm
Wednesday, March 26, 7-9pm

All sessions will be held at the Folk Exchange (located on the main floor of 211 Bannatyne Avenue).

As the Folk Exchange has limited seating capacity, we ask that you “register” for the particular session you would like to attend by calling the Festival office at 231-0096 and speaking with Karla Ferguson.

Early Bird Deadline May 31

Published by admin on February 28, 2008 in Past Events and Upcoming Events Calendar. 0 Comments
May 31, 2008

2008 Winnipeg Folk Festival tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster or at the Festival Music Store, 211 Bannatyne Ave. Check out the Tickets page for 2008 rates. And here is the link to ticketmaster.ca.

You can also purchase from Ticketmaster outlets in Canada or by phone at (204) 780-3333 or 1-888-655-5354.

Early bird prices are in effect until midnight Central Time on May 31.

Get your tickets in hand and feel one step closer to your breathlessly awaited festival weekend!

Leak of the Week: Basia Bulat

Published by becca on February 28, 2008 in Featured Artist and Festival Lineup / Schedule. 1 Comment

Basia BalutThe Festival is pleased to announce the addition of Basia Bulat to our 2008 line-up.

Basia Bulat is a singer-songwriter hailing from Toronto, Ontario. Her debut CD Oh, My Darling has been gathering acclaim across North America since inking a deal with Hayden’s Hardwood Records and touring with Final Fantasy last fall. “She’s a natural,” says William “Skinny” Tenn, Hayden’s manager and business partner at Hardwood. “And like a lot of Canadian musicians, she’s got that work ethic that goes back to Joni Mitchell and Neil Young and Leonard Cohen, where more than anything, it’s about being an honest songwriter.”

Continue reading ‘Leak of the Week: Basia Bulat’

Show the Festival some Facebook love

Published by admin on February 25, 2008 in External Links. 0 Comments

On Facebook? Show the Festival some love by becoming a fan on our Facebook page. It’s brand new and a bit Spartan right now, but it’ll only become as good as the fans make it!

Click here to go to our Facebook page.

Leak of the Week: David Grisman Bluegrass Experience

Published by admin on February 21, 2008 in Featured Artist and Festival Lineup / Schedule. 4 Comments

David GrismanThis week’s leak is the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience.

Veteran mandolin virtuoso David Grisman has pioneered a music style he named “dawg:” a t(w)angy, innovative blend of swing, Latin, bluegrass, jazz and gypsy, influences drawn together through a long and varied career that has included playing as a session man with the likes of Bela Fleck, the Grateful Dead, Stephane Grappelli, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, and Maria Muldaur. Uniqueness, independence and “home-made music” are important parts of Grisman’s career: a strong force for artist-owned labels, Grisman founded his record company, Acoustic Disc, in 1990 and has been particularly prolific in producing recordings since: 55 and counting, with 5 of those nominated for Grammys.

David Grisman Bluegrass Experience

The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience is one of Grisman’s several projects. Joined by Keith Little on banjo, Jim Nunally on guitar, Chad Manning on fiddle, and Samson Grisman on bass, DGBX has been known to inspire blocks-long line-ups in anticipation of their hometown San Francisco shows.

Learn more about David Grisman, DGBX and Acoustic Disc at acousticdisc.com.

David Grisman Bluegrass Experience Widget

The Winnipeg Folk Festival Folk Retreat

Published by admin on February 21, 2008 in Education programs, Past Events and Upcoming Events Calendar. 0 Comments
July 7, 2008toJuly 9, 2008

The Folk Retreat is back for its third year, July 7-9, 2008, during the three days preceding the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

Pick, fiddle, jam, and create your way through three days of rousing collaboration with some of the best teachers in the folk music community. In 2008, the Folk Retreat will be taught by David Francey, Nina Gerber, Eliza Gilkyson, Danny Gotham, Peter Ostroushko, & Craig Werth.Folk Retreat 08

For more information, contact the Folk Festival office at (204) 231-0096, or e-mail kferguson@winnipegfolkfestival.ca.

Learn more on the Folk Retreat page.

Doug Edmond Band @ The Folk Exchange April 19

Published by admin on February 19, 2008 in Past Events and Upcoming Events Calendar. 3 Comments
April 19, 2008
7:00 pmto11:00 pm

Doug Edmond Band

Winnipeg folk/jazz artist Doug Edmond and his band will grace the Folk Exchange stage on April 19. Edmond is a self-taught pianist, vocalist and songwriter, known locally for both his covers and his original material. Check out his sound on his MySpace page, below!

Doors 7, show 8 pm. Tickets $10 in advance, $12 at the door, available at the Festival Music Store, 211 Bannatyne Avenue.

Doug Edmond links

MySpace page

Website

Learn Guitar with James Keelaghan: Walk-ups welcome

Published by admin on February 19, 2008 in Past Events and Upcoming Events Calendar. Closed
February 21, 2008
7:30 pmto8:30 pm
March 6, 2008
7:30 pmto8:30 pm
March 13, 2008
7:30 pmto8:30 pm
March 20, 2008
7:30 pmto8:30 pm
March 27, 2008
7:30 pmto8:30 pm
April 3, 2008
7:30 pmto8:30 pm

Class started Feb. 21, but single-class participants and walk-ups are welcome!

Be your own juke box! Learn a new song or two each session with James Keelaghan. This six-week class provides an opportunity for intermediate guitarists to learn tunes and styles by popular artists.

Classes start Feb. 21, 7:30 pm (no class Feb. 28). Learn more and get a registration form here. Or call 231-0096 to register.

James Keelaghan is a Juno award–winning songwriter and a two-time first place winner in the folk category of the U.S.A. Songwriting Competition. He has honed his finely crafted performances over a career spanning twenty years.


Open Mic Nights

Published by admin on February 19, 2008 in Past Events and Upcoming Events Calendar. 1 Comment
March 28, 2008
7:00 pmto11:00 pm
April 25, 2008
7:00 pmto11:00 pm
May 30, 2008
7:00 pmto11:00 pm

Show off your stuff in a Festival venue! The Folk Festival and MARIA are teaming up to present open mic nights on the last Friday of the month in The Folk Exchange, 211 Bannatyne Avenue. Bring your instrument and take your turn on the Folk Exchange stage–or just come to listen (non-players will be charged a $2 cover). Each open mic night will feature a special musical guest host. The first Open Mic on February 29 was hosted by the fabulous banjo man Rob Wrigley of Manitoba bluegrass sensations Stonypoint. The March event was hosted by Karla Adolphe of Jacob & Lily.

Each MARIA and WFF Open Mic Night will start at 7 pm.

Call the Festival at (204) 231-0096 for more information.

Here are the special guests for the rest of the open mic season!

April: J.P. Hoe manitobamusic.com/artists/jphoe
May: Don Amero manitobamusic.com/artists/donamero

Ruthie Foster photos up

Published by admin on February 19, 2008 in Concert Series and Past Events. 0 Comments

Photos of the Feb. 13 Ruthie Foster show at the Garrick now in the photo gallery! Courtesy of our fabulous volunteer photography Bert Luit.

Click here to go to the Ruthie Foster gallery.

Ruthie Foster Feb. 13 08 by Bert Luit

Crooked Brothers Live @ The Folk Exchange April 11

Published by admin on February 19, 2008 in Past Events and Upcoming Events Calendar. 4 Comments
April 11, 2008
7:00 pmto11:00 pm

Who are the Crooked Brothers? We’ll let their myspace bio tell you who:

Crooked Brothers

“A sense of humour and a fascination with the past, dark stories of death sweetened with three-part harmonies, and traditional country instrumentation wed with a kazoo, multicultural rhythms, the blues and just about anything that will rattle - the Crooked Brothers create new and irresistible sounds.”

Listen to a tantalizing sample of the Crooked Brothers at said myspace page: www.myspace.com/crookedbrothers

This band was a big hit at our recent “graduates of the Young Performers Program” weekend of shows. Come and see what all the fuss was about! (And for more info about the Young Performers Program, click here.)

Tickets $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Advance tickets at The Festival Music Store, 211 Bannatyne Avenue (that’s also the address of The Folk Exchange). Call the Store at 231-1377 for more info.

April 11, show 8 pm, doors 7

Winnipeg Folk Festival Craft Sales

Published by admin on February 15, 2008 in Concerts & Events, Crafts / Artisans, Festival Merchandise, Festival Music Store, Folk Exchange Events, Upcoming Events Calendar and Visual Arts. Closed
November 22, 2008
11:00 amto5:00 pm
November 29, 2008
11:00 amto5:00 pm
December 6, 2008
11:00 amto5:00 pm
December 13, 2008
11:00 amto5:00 pm

SATURDAYS 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

November 22 & 29, December 6 & 13, 2008
at the Folk Exchange, (#103-211 Bannatyne at Albert)

Support local artists and the Festival while you shop this holiday season!

The Winnipeg Folk Festival Craft Sales feature the work of local artisans.

While you’re here, check out the Folk Festival Music Store for the best selection of folk, blues, roots, world and Celtic recordings. We also have great 35th Anniversary merch including our own Winnipeg Folk Festival Coffee (Fairtrade, Organic and locally roasted!)

For a special gift for a special person, drop by the Winnipeg Folk Festival Craft Sale!

Learn more about the artisans here

lipton

Leak of the Week: Carrie Rodriguez

Published by admin on February 14, 2008 in Featured Artist and Festival Lineup / Schedule. 1 Comment

Carrie Rodriguez

Violinist and singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez will grace the stages of the 2008 Winnipeg Folk Festival!

Hailing from Austin, Texas, the young Rodriguez’s plan was to be a classical violinist–in school, she had no idea that she’d play folk music, or sing!

It didn’t hurt to be introduced to alternative country music by none other than Mr. Lyle Lovett. That’s what happened to Rodriguez, who was invited to join a Large Band rehearsal when she was a young, classically trained violinist (her dad is singer-songwriter David Rodriguez, so Lovett was a friend of the family). Then later after she was “discovered” at a music-store gig by hit songwriter Chip Taylor, he put a microphone in front of her and coaxed her into singing.

The rest is history—Rodriguez and Taylor collaborated on three albums, and now she’s come out with her first solo project, 7 Angels on a Bicycle, minimally produced album of alt-country/bluegrass-based tracks that showcase both her fiddle and her come-hither vocals.

Get a preview of Carrie Rodriguez by listening to her on her website or on her mySpace page.

Festival Goes Fair Trade

Published by admin on February 13, 2008 in Special Initiatives. 1 Comment

Fair trade certified coffee will be on the menu at the 2008 Winnipeg Folk Festival—and at the Festival’s office during Fair Trade Manitoba’s One-Month Challenge, which starts tomorrow.

Beginning this year, fair trade certified coffee will be served at the Festival’s backstage kitchen, and the Festival will be encouraging vendors to use fair trade products. The announcement comes as part of the Festival’s commitment to highlight sustainable food choices in its Food Village in 2008.

Continue reading ‘Festival Goes Fair Trade’

Young Performers & Young Artists Call for Submissions

Published by admin on February 12, 2008 in Education programs, Upcoming Events Calendar and Visual Arts. 0 Comments
May 15, 2008

Update: The Young Performers Program for 2008 is now closed to submissions, but the Young Artists Program is still accepting until June 15.

Are you a young musician or visual artist? Performers aged 14-24 and visual artists aged 14-18 should submit their applications to our Young Performers and Young Artists programs. Both programs offer workshops before the festival with professionals in your art form plus an opportunity to show your art or perform on stage at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. The application deadline for both these programs is May 15, 2008.

Learn more on the program pages:

Young Artists Program page

Young Performers Program page

Or call the Festival at (204) 231-0096 for more information.