The Winnipeg Folk Festival Folk Exchange presents Revolusón on May 16.
Revoluson is a original Afro-Cuban Jazz trio consisting of three members of the legendary salsa group “Papa Mambo”. The band features Rodrigo Munoz (Bass, vocals, percussion), Victor-Hugo Lopez (Guitar, Cuban tres) and Scott “senor” Senior (Congas, Bata). A high energy
show filled with original compositions and a different take on some jazz standards. Do not miss this show, as the band is getting together specifically for this one-night performance.
8 pm, doors 7, tickets in advance ($15) at the Festival Music Store or at the door ($17).
The Folk Exchange is proud to present Adi Sara Kreindler as part of the Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts, May 23, 2008, 8 pm, doors 7. Tickets in advance at the Festival Music Store ($10) or at the door ($12).
With her wicked wit and piano stylings – plus a passion for social justice – songwriter Adi Sara Kreindler will remind you of Tom Lehrer, only prettier. Join her for an evening of outrageous satire as she skewers Alberta Oil, bourgeois hypocrisy, postmodern love, and unusual dietary options. Plus: smokey jazz, haunting ballads, and more! Continue reading ‘Song, Satire & Solidarity: Adi Sara Kreindler May 23′
“I’m glad to say my dreams came true. I saw America changed by music.”
Artist, avant garde filmmaker, friend of the Beats, musicologist: Harry Smith liked to collect things. Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Paper airplanes. And music, lots of music.
Harry Smith’s compilation of 78s of 1920s and 30s folk music was released on Folkways Records in 1952. This Anthology of American Folk Music was instrumental in helping inspire the urban folk revival of the 1960s, influencing Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger and Joan Baez among others. Its influence has never gone away.
Director Rani Singh was Harry’s assistant until his death in 1991 and her wonderful documentary captures Harry’s eccentric personality, his passion for experimental filmmaking, and charts the impact his Anthology continues to have on modern music. With interviews and performances from the likes of Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, Philip Glass, Sonic Youth, Beck and Lou Reed.
The Festival is pleased to announce its 2008 lineup – with more still to come.
One of the sure crowd-pleasers at this year’s party will be a back-by-popular-demand appearance by Michael Franti and Spearhead, one of the biggest hits of last year’s festival. The festival audience must also prepare to have its common soul rocked by the hardcore gospel sounds of Robert Randolph and the Family Band (who are in the studio recording a new album with T-Bone Burnett).
Oh, the memories.
Michael Franti playing at the 2007 Winnipeg Folk Festival.
Photo by Robert Tinker.
Gospel-rockers Robert Randolph
and the Family Band
The anniversary festival will also feature folk legends Joan Armatrading and Nanci Griffith, plus the country/Mexicana sounds of Calexico and the internationally-followed-but-Winnipeg-based folk-rock agitators The Weakerthans.
There’ll be high-class pickin’ galore with two all-star bluegrass troupes, the legendary David Grisman with his Bluegrass Experience, and last year’s festival favourites Abigail Washburn and Béla Fleck join forces as part of Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet featuring Béla Fleck.
Joan Armatrading
Abigail Washburn and the
Sparrow Quartet featuring
Béla Fleck
Nanci Griffith
Calexico
Winnipeg’s The Weakerthans
David Grisman
Peter Ostroushko
“It’s the 35th anniversary festival, and there’ll be some returnees reflecting festival history,” says Chris Frayer, Artistic Director. “We have Spider John Koerner back, for instance, and Peter Ostroushko. Nanci Griffith was here in 1985. David Grisman hasn’t been here since ’83.
Justin Townes Earle
“But at the same time, we’re always looking forward and outward to introduce audiences to what’s new. And the festival wouldn’t be the same without that aspect of discovery.”
Indeed, a new generation of musicians has been revitalizing folk music all over the map, and some of this year’s “new folk” stars are Martha Scanlan (who played on Down From the Mountain), West Coast band Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, Texan singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez, and Steve Earle’s talented progeny Justin Townes Earle.
Forro in the Dark
The festival is a sonic global village with sounds from all over the world, this year including Nigerian Afrobeat stars Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, singer Dobet Gnahoré from Côte d’Ivoire, Balkan Beat Box from Israel (and New York), and Hungary’s A Hawk and a Hacksaw. Scottish Celtic group Lau, winner of Best Group at the 2008 BBC Folk Awards, will be there.
Seun Kuti
Living legend
Charlie Louvin
Jim Byrnes
Of course there’s too much on the menu to list all at once, but a few other highlights include country legend and Louvin Brother Charlie Louvin—who’ll turn 82 just before the festival and whose music is enjoying a renaissance with collaborators such as Elvis Costello and Jeff Tweedy. The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, the top new band at last year’s Bonnaroo Festival, play horn-laden, funky old-style soul that will make you think you’ve landed in another decade. Winnipeg Fringers will remember spoken word “cabaret” act The Fugitives, a huge hit from last summer’s Fringe Festival. Gospel acts include Jim Byrnes, The Warrior Gospel Band, The Sojourners, and John Boutte.
The complete lineup is posted on our Performers page, complete with web links, and with new acts added as they are confirmed.
The Winnipeg Folk Festival is proud to present Winnipeg singer-songwriter Jodi King at The Folk Exchange on May 9. Her EP Acoustic came out last year and she’s in the middle of recording her first full-length album. Show 8 pm, doors 7 pm. Tickets at the door ($12) or in advance ($10) at the Festival Music Store. Call 231-1377.
Dan Frechette’s show previously scheduled for April 25 has been pushed back one day to Saturday April 26th.
“Manitoba singer/songwriter Dan Frechette, blessed with an enormous talent a facility for adapting elemental folk forms; bluegrass, Celtic airs, country, ragtime, country blues - to his purpose, the likes of which I haven’t heard since Dylan’s first recordings.” -Veteran Toronto Star pundit Greg Quill
April 26, doors 7pm, show 8pm.
Tickets $12 in advance, $17 at the door.
Advance tickets at the Festival Music Store, 211 Bannatyne Ave. Call 231-1377.
Dan is pictured here in a previous appearance at The Folk Exchange. Photo Lisa Waldner.
Winnipeg Folk Festival Young Performers Program Alum Julia Kasdorf will open for Winnipeg singer-songwriter Matt Epp at his Folk Exchange show this Friday night. (She’s pictured below in a Folk Festival day stage appearance!)
Come and check out Julia with headliner Matt Epp at 8 pm (doors 7) at The Folk Exchange, 211 Bannatyne Avenue. Tickets at the door or in advance at the Festival Music Store (also at 211 Bannatyne).
Learn more about the Young Performers Program here (you can download an application form, too).
Update: We have enough supplies for this year! Thanks to all who donated.
The Winnipeg Folk Festival operates a vibrant and popular craft area for kids at the summer festival. Help us make this area even better by donating your old craft supplies or recyclables to the craft area. Drop your donation off at the Folk Festival office, 211 Bannatyne Avenue in Winnipeg, 2nd floor, by May 31. Call us at 231-0096 if you need more information.
Update: We now have enough egg cartons and fabric-no more of those, thanks!
Here is a list of what we are looking for:
white or light colored no-pattern bed sheets (for flags)
clean cardboard milk cartons (for bird feeders)
fake flowers
long cardboard tubes (from wrapping paper or paper towels)
old jewellery
ribbon, lace, yarn
Christmas garland
beads & buttons
coffee cans with lids (make sure there are no sharp edges please)
Reporting to the Manager of Finance & Administration, the Access Administrator is responsible for the administration and sales of in-house festival event tickets and backstage access passes.
Unfortunately, Don Jacks Band Live @ The Folk Exchange, previously scheduled for March 21, has been cancelled. We hope to reschedule it for a later date. Call 231-0096 if you need more information.
He’ll turn 82 just days before his appearance at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. To say his oeuvre has been influential is a massive understatement: His songs have been recorded, repeatedly, by artists as significant as Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris and Johnny Cash: songs including “Cash on the Barrelhead,” “I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby,” and “If Only I Could Win Your Love.” His music has just been enjoying a renaissance, with his most recent, self-titled, album, his first in 10 years, including collaborators (and admirers) such as Jeff Tweedy, Elvis Costello, members of Bright Eyes and Lampchop, and many more. He’s Charlie Louvin, one half of the classic country duo The Louvin Brothers. In 1955, Elvis opened for them. Don’t miss this important opportunity to hear a true living legend at The Winnipeg Folk Festival, July 10-13, 2008.
The archive crew of The Winnipeg Folk Festival is putting together a display of memorabilia and memories from the past 34 years to be displayed at this years 35th Festival anniversary and we need your help. We are looking for people who may have some merchandise, photos, press clippings or stories from the past 34 years that they would be willing to lend to us to use in our display to make it a success! If you have family or friends that have attended The Winnipeg Folk Festival in the past and may be able to help us out, please pass our email address onto them. We can be reached @ wffarchives@hotmail.com. Thank you for your help!
The Winnipeg Folk Festival Concert Series presents Buck 65
With guests
Cadence Weapon
and Skratch Bastid
Tuesday, April 29
at the West End Cultural Centre
Doors 7 pm, Show 8 pm
Tickets $22.50 plus fees @ The Festival Music Store (211 Bannatyne) or at Ticketmaster
Tickets on sale Saturday, March 8, 10 AM
March 8 -15 is Manitoba Arts & Culture Week. Check out their website here: www.mbartsculture.ca
Arts organizations and presenters around Winnipeg are going into high gear with a wide range of events in all artistic disciplines. During Arts & Culture Week you can check out the following Folk Festival events:
- March 8, 10:00 AM, come to our Open House to give us your thoughts on where the Winnipeg Folk Festival should be going over the next five years. In The Folk Exchange, 211 Bannatyne Ave.
- March 13, 7:30 PM, Guitar & Song, an intermediate guitar class with James Keelaghan. Walk-ups are welcome. A new song is taught at each class (Thursday nights). The Folk Exchange, 211 Bannatyne Ave.
- March 14, 8:00 PM (doors 7). Matt Epp & Friends Live @ The Folk Exchange. 211 Bannatyne Avenue.
