2009 May Archive

Big Blue @ Night alternative stage

Published by tutu on May 27, 2009 in Festival Lineup / Schedule. 8 Comments

Back for its second year, Big Blue @ Night offers an exciting alternative to the main stage line-up at the Winnipeg Folk FestivalMay 27, 2009On this pageBig Blue @ Night line-upFestival Campground Popular – and Sold Out!Last Call for Early Bird Tickets!

Big Blue @ Night line-up

Back for its second year, Big Blue @ Night offers an exciting alternative to the main stage line-up at the Winnipeg Folk Festival.With a program running each evening from Friday to Sunday, this stage introduces music not commonly found at folk music festivals. The intent is to explore the boundaries of folk music, challenge definitions, bring new sounds to the genre, and appeal to a wide-ranging audience.“Big Blue @ Night gives the festival yet another opportunity to further diversify our programming, introducing artists and our audience to contemporary sounds, pushing the folk genre in new directions,” says Artistic Director Chris Frayer, adding that most artists performing at Big Blue @ Night also appear in daytime workshops. The Big Blue @ Night schedule is:FRIDAY JULY 10 – 7:00pm to 12:00amHey Rosetta!Gentleman RegBell OrchestreSpecial Guest MC and Stunt Clown “Fesso”Short film ’tweeners from the Winnipeg Film GroupSATURDAY JULY 11 – 7:00pm to 12:00amOKASocalledDj LogicSpecial Guest MC and Stunt Clown “Fesso”Short film ’tweeners from the National Film BoardSUNDAY JULY 12 – 7:00pm to 9:30pmPatrick WatsonGreat Lake SwimmersSpecial Guest MC/Stunt Clown “Fesso”

Festival Campground Popular – and Sold Out!

Festival Campground passes have once again sold out before the start of the Festival. With a multitude of loyal campers returning each year, and Festival Campground passes capped at 6,000, they’ve become a quick sell-out: “The Festival Campground is a popular place for four-day pass holders, and the demand for passes increases each year. To ensure a good experience for all, we can’t expand the campground. We hope to have a better system in place for 2010,” says Festival Executive Director Tamara Kater.Even though Festival Campground passes are sold out, Quiet Campground passes are still available. Quiet camping in another designated Birds Hill Park locale offers free shuttle bus, more shelter and shade, and quiet time from midnight to 7:00 am – allowing for a good night’s sleep and all-around great experience. The Quiet Campground can accommodate both tents and RV’s.Quiet Campground pricesUntil May 31 $30Until June 30 $35In July $40Both the Festival Campground and Quiet Campground will open Wednesday, July 8 at 9:00 am, so campers can arrive in time for the start of Wednesday night’s program featuring Elvis Costello & The Imposters.

Last Call for Early Bird Tickets!

Early Bird tickets for this year’s Festival are on sale until May 31 at the Winnipeg Folk Festival Music Store (211 Bannatyne Ave. at Albert St. / 204-231-1377) and Ticketmaster.Four-day passesAdults $152Youth (15–17) and seniors $79Children (5–14) $10.50Day passes for adults are $54.Admission for Wednesday night’s Elvis Costello show must be purchased separately from festival passes. Four-day pass holders can add on for an additional $20. Regular single-day admission is $40.

WINNIPEG FOLK FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2009 MAIN STAGE LINE-UP

Published by tutu on May 21, 2009 in Festival Lineup / Schedule and News. 32 Comments

WINNIPEG FOLK FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2009 MAIN STAGE LINE-UP

Loreena McKennitt to close Sunday night show

May 21, 2009

The stage is set to announce the full Main Stage line-up for the 2009 Winnipeg Folk Festival, taking place at Birds Hill Park this July:

WEDNESDAY JULY 8

The Lovell Sisters
Martha Wainwright
Elvis Costello & The Imposters

THURSDAY JULY 9
Alana Levandoski
Pacifika
Punch Brothers Featuring Chris Thile
King Sunny Adé & His African Beats
Xavier Rudd

FRIDAY JULY 10
Josh Ritter
Oumou Sangaré
Del McCoury Band
Iron & Wine
Neko Case

SATURDAY JULY 11
Chatham County Line
Serena Ryder
Bellowhead
Burning Spear
Okkervil River

SUNDAY JULY 12
Steven Page
Arlo Guthrie
Loreena McKennitt

For a full list, see 2009 Festival Performers.

Special opening & closing night performances

Elvis Costello & The Imposters will make their Winnipeg Folk Festival debut on Wednesday, July 8, kicking off an expanded five-day event. This will be Costello’s first Winnipeg appearance since performing at Pantages Playhouse Theatre in 1978.

Loreena McKennitt will close the Festival on the Main Stage in place of k.d. lang, who regretfully withdrew from her performance due to a family medical problem. Originally from Morden, Manitoba, Loreena was the first recipient of the Winnipeg Folk Festival Artistic Achievement award in 2004. This will be Loreena’s first visit to the Winnipeg Folk Festival since 1992, and Artistic Director Chris Frayer is thrilled to have her on this year’s roster: “We are very excited that Loreena could join us this year. She’s a long standing friend of the festival and someone who has been with us since the early days, so I think it’s very fitting that she closes the ‘09 Winnipeg Folk Festival.”

Get your tickets for 2009

Early bird tickets for this year’s Winnipeg Folk Festival are on sale until May 31 at the Winnipeg Folk Festival Music Store, 211 Bannatyne Ave. (at Albert Street), (204)-231-1377; or at all Ticketmaster Canada outlets, ticketmaster.ca and (204)-780-3333/1-888-655-5354. Four-day passes for adults are $152, $79 for youths (15-17) and seniors and $10.50 for children (5-14). Day passes for adults are $54. Admission for Wednesday, July 8 must be purchased separately from festival passes.

Festival camping passes sell out early every year, so avoid disappointment and purchase yours as soon as possible. 

Advance prices are in effect since June 1, 2009.

FESTIVAL CAMPGROUND PASSES ARE NOW SOLD OUT – Quiet Campground passes are still available.

For more information, contact our office:

info@winnipegfolkfestival.ca
(204) 231-0096

We’ve added Elvis Costello and an extra night!

Published by ilse on May 13, 2009 in Featured Artist and News. 34 Comments
NEWS RELEASE
MAY 13, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Elvis Is In The Building
Elvis is alive and he’s in the building. Well, make that the field. British music legend Elvis Costello, joined by his band The Imposters, will make his Winnipeg Folk Festival debut Wednesday, July 8, kicking off an expanded five-day festival at Birds Hill Park. It will be Costello’s first Winnipeg appearance since 1978 when he performed at the Pantages Playhouse Theatre.“Elvis Costello has made substantial contributions to the music world and continues to pump out vibrant, relevant and cutting-edge music,” says Artistic Director Chris Frayer. “He’s not resting on his laurels. He’s never stopped making music: even now, he has four bands on the go and is hosting a new television show. He’s working just as hard as ever.”

The festival will now run from Wednesday, July 8 to Sunday, July 12. The 36th-annual edition of one of Canada’s most popular music events added the extra day in response to demand for a longer gathering, according to Tamara Kater, Executive Director. “With the support of staff and volunteers, we’re thrilled to expand our celebration so that festival fans, new and old alike, can be with us for one more day. We exist to bring music into people’s lives: how could we say no to one more day of magic?”

The new Wednesday evening performance will be ticketed separately. Four-day pass holders can add on the evening for an additional $20. Single-day admission for non four-day pass holders is $40. Tickets for the new Wednesday date go on sale Saturday, May 16 at the Winnipeg Folk Festival Music Store and through Ticketmaster.

Costello and The Imposters top the list of the festival’s second round of artist announcements that includes Grammy-award winning reggae act Burning Spear; former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page; Portland, Oregon indie-folk sensation Mirah; Bronx-based turntable maestro DJ Logic; Nashville singer-songwriter Tom House; acoustic reggae-blues group Digging Roots; and Manitoba artists Ridley Bent, Jackpine, Fred Penner, Alphabet Soup and Dominique Reynolds.

The new line-up joins an already impressive Winnipeg Folk Festival roster that includes roots chanteuse Neko Case; acclaimed Texas singer-songwriter Hayes Carll; folk legend Arlo Guthrie; cult hero Iron and Wine; Nigerian supergroup King Sunny Adé & His African Beats; Grammy-winning songwriter k.d. lang; bluegrass masters the Del McCoury Band; indie-rockers Okkervil River; New Zealand world-music trio Pacific Curls; Australian didgeridoo legend Xavier Rudd; world-renowned songwriter Josh Ritter; legend Loudon Wainwright III, bluesman Watermelon Slim and many more.

Costello is a true giant in the music community. He hit the ground running in 1977 with his fiery debut My Aim is True and hasn’t slowed down since. In his 32-year career he has released more 30 albums covering the stylistic gamut from punk to roots and everything in between. His new album, Secret, Profane & Sugar Cane, will be released June 2. He is well known for his collaborations in almost every genre from country to world music, and has worked with artists such as Paul McCartney, Emmylou Harris, Tony Bennett, Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch.

The 54-year-old recently started hosting his own television show, Spectacle: Elvis Costello With…, featuring interview and performance segments with other musical giants. The series can be seen in Manitoba on CTV.

Early Bird tickets for this year’s Winnipeg Folk Festival are on sale until May 31 at the Winnipeg Folk Festival Music Store, 211 Bannatyne Ave. (at Albert Street), (204)-231-1377; or at all Ticketmaster Canada outlets, ticketmaster.ca and (204)-780-3333/1-888-655-5354. Four-day passes for adults are $152, $79 for youths (15-17) and seniors and $10.50 for children (5-14). Day passes for adults are $54. A camping pass is $28. Admission for Wednesday, July 8 must be purchased separately from festival passes.

Visit winnipegfolkfestival.ca for ongoing updates, artist bios and detailed information about ticket packages, camping and other exciting Winnipeg Folk Festival events.

See you at Birds Hill Park, July 8-12, 2009.

For more information please contact:
Tutu Ilelaboye, Marketing and Publicity Manager
204-231-0096, ext. 227
marketing@winnipegfolkfestival.ca

  

Sheena Grobb & Allison Lickley Live at the Folk Exchange

Published by Artistic on April 22, 2009 in Concerts & Events, Featured Artist, Live @ The Folk Exchange and Upcoming Events Calendar. 0 Comments
May 14, 2009
7:30 pmto9:30 pm

sheena/aPoster

Sheena Grobb & Allison Lickley Live at the Folk Exchange

May 14, 2009
7:15pm Doors, 8:00pm Show
Tickets on Sale now at the Winnipeg Folk Festival Music Store $15 advance, $17 at the Door

Two of Canada’s emerging singer/songwriters are joining forces on a tour of Western Canada this Spring and what better way to kick off the tour than a small intimate performance at the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s always cozy venue, The Folk Exchange.

Montreal-based singer/songwriter Allison Lickley, originally from Sudbury, ON, has just been nominated for Best Vocal Performance, Best Songwriter and Best Album at the 2009 Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards; Lickley is the first artist to be nominated for three awards in one year.  This chemist turned musician was born in Edmonton, raised in Sudbury, schooled in the Maritimes, and finally moved to Montreal to start her music career in 2005.  Lickley’s music is regularly played on CBC Radio One and Two (including the Vinyl Café) and has received placement in films.  Following the release of her first full-length album, ‘You Might Find Me Here’, CBC Radio wrote that “Allison Lickley has a haunting quality to her voice and lyrics that compel you to play every track on her disc.”

With interest growing outside of Canada, Manitoban Sheena Grobb is attracting ‘one to watch’ status on many fronts. Recognized by the Los Angeles Music Awards with a nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year, and a semi-finalist finish in the 4th Annual Williamsburg Live Songwriters Competition in New York, Grobb is taking her music to an even wider audience. Her accolades in Canada are equally impressive. Grobb’s debut EP “Safe Guarded Space” received undeniable buzz at the Western Canadian Music Awards in 2007 after her nomination for Outstanding Pop Recording of the Year. Her follow-up full length album “Layers and Lines” to be released in late summer 2009 was co-produced by Grobb and 8-time Juno award- winning producer Dan Donahue, quoted saying this project was “quite possibly the best album I’ve ever been part of.”  Known for her haunting vocals that rip and soothe simultaneously, Grobb’s acclaimed songwriting is marked with a distinctive musicality and unique lyrical prowess. 2009 promises to be an exciting year for Grobb, who is quickly discovering her place in the Canadian Music Industry.

At each performance the artists will be collecting anonymous handwritten “notes from the heart” from audience members; the notes will be used in an online scrapbook at the end of the tour.

For more information or to order your tickets call 231-1377