1974 main stage audio from the artist Humpty Dumptruck.
A Folk Legacy Begins
A Grassroots Gathering that has Defined Generations
It was 1974, and you arrived at the first-ever Winnipeg Centennial Folksong Festival - or, for some, a free Bruce Cockburn concert at Birds Hill Provincial Park. Fiddles, mandolins, and drums filled the warm August air as thousands of people gathered, united by a shared love of folk music and everything it represents. This was the birth of the Winnipeg Folk Festival, an event that would grow to define Winnipeg’s music scene and foster a close-knit community of folkies for decades to come.
What started as a grassroots gathering quickly became a highly anticipated annual celebration, drawing music lovers from all over to Birds Hill Provincial Park. With only four stages and a 42-act lineup, the Festival captured the spirit of the folk music revival in North America.
Throughout the weekend, you grabbed food from the Kinsmen Club of Fort Garry or the Cherry Tree, or maybe just a snack from the popcorn machine. You took in a workshop—new to Manitoba but a long-standing tradition at folk gatherings across the continent. You sat right next to the stage, maybe chatted with the artists after the show, or got roped in by a friend to help out. And just like that, you became a volunteer.
The notoriously unpredictable weather wasn’t a deterrent. One day, Festivalgoers huddled under tarps and umbrellas to escape the downpour while volunteers gripped the poles of the Main Stage canopy, battling winds that threatened to bring it down. And the next day, they baked beneath the blazing sun that turned grass to gold beneath dancing feet. But no matter the weather, everyone was just happy to be there.
The sense of community that defined Folk Fest was unmatched–a place where trust was instinctive, and thousands of strangers looked out for each other all weekend. By 1976, the Winnipeg Folk Festival had already been recognized as one of North America’s premier folk music celebrations, setting the stage for upcoming years of growth and transformation.
After experiencing the extraordinary music and magical atmosphere of Folk Fest, many early attendees felt inspired to get involved. They returned as volunteers, learning on the fly—flipping burgers for the first time, managing logistics, and forming lasting friendships along the way. It became a yearly reunion–a chance to reconnect with people they only saw during this weekend, picking up conversations where they had left off the year before.
The 1970s were a decade of world-building and identity creation. The Winnipeg Folk Festival laid the foundation for its future success and symbolized a broader movement for celebrating folk music and culture–one that celebrated music, community, and a shared connection to tradition and creativity.
This was only the beginning.
Gallery
Check out photos from the past. Click to enlarge the image and get more information.
Timeline
Keep scrolling for some select highlights from over the years.
1974
August 9-11
3 days
4 stages
42 artists
48 volunteers
30,000+ attendees
Artistic Director - Mitch Podolak
Fun Facts
- Festival was held on a site north of Birds Hill Lake.
- The Folklore Centre opened and ran until 1978. This centre sold instruments and folk music products in Osborne Village.
1975
July 18-20
3 days
5 stages
57 artists
Fun Facts
- Festival moved to present day Festival site.
- Campground is in the field east of the Bird's Hill Provincial Park Campground.
- Children's workshops were added to the schedule.
- Indigenous programming was introduced to the lineup.
1976
July 9-11
3 days
5 stages
69 artists
Fun Facts
- Festival finds its weekend home during the second weekend in July.
- Expanded programming to year-round venues with 20 folk music concerts and workshops around Winnipeg, including one at Stony Mountain Penitentiary.
- Tom Jackson was named the Assistant Artistic Director (Indigenous Programming)
1977
July 8-10
3 days
5 stages
64 artists
164 Volunteers
Fun Facts
- Year-round programming is officially added to the organization through a winter concert series and Folk School.
1978
July 7-9
3 days
7 stages
79 artists
178 Volunteers
Fun Facts
- Two more daytime stages were added to the Festival site.
1979
July 6-8
3 days
7 stages
83 artists
276 volunteers
Fun Facts
- The Children's Village is established.
- Expanded to 16 volunteer crews.
- Hosted a preview concert in Old Market Square (Exchange District, Winnipeg).
Through The Years
Explore past Festival posters, program books, and artist lineups.
Performers
Alan Mills
Angele Arsenault
Barry O’Neil
Bill Russell
Bob King
Booker White
Bram Morrison
Bruce Cockburn
Carol Brant
Cathy Fink & Duck Donald
Curly Boy Stubbs
David Rea
Eagle Creek Band
Enoch Kent
Eric & Martha Nagler
Fraser & DeBolt
Glen McCabe
Humphrey & the Dumptrucks
Jean Carignan
Jim Donahue
John Allan Cameron
John Hammond
Len Udow
Leon Redbone
Liam Clancy
Lou Killen
Michael Cooney
Mike Seeger
Mimi Farina
Monte Dunn & Karen Cruz
Murray McLauchlan
Norma-Jean McCreedy
Original Sloth Band
Oscar Brand
Peter Gzowski
Peter Mathieson
Raffi
Ray Materick
Rick Neufeld
Roosevelt Sykes
Ryan’s Fancy
Shirley Eikhard
Stringband
Sylvia Tyson
Ted MacGillivray
Tom Jackson
Tom Kines
Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy
Performers
Angele Arsenault
Big Dave McLean
Bill Usher
Bob Ruzicka
Bram Morrison
Bruce Cockburn
Cathy Fink & Duck Donald
Chris Rawlings
Christian Chauvot
Curly Boy Stubbs
Dan Donahue
Dave Nicol
David Amram
David Essig
Don Cullen
Duke Redbird & Winston Wuttunee
Friends of Fiddler’s Green
Gilles Losier
Glen McCabe
Good Brothers
Gord Kidder
Grant McLean
J.P. Ringwort
Jack & Ulrike
Jean Carignan
Jim Donahue
Jim Marnoch
John Allan Cameron
John Hammond
Kathy Reid
Len Udow
Leon Redbone
Luke Gibson
Margaret Christl
Michael Cooney
Mike Jones
Mike Seeger & Alice Gerrard
Mimi Farina
Original Sloth Band
Perry Freidman
Peter Gzowski
Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
Rick Neufeld
Robbie MacNeil
Ronny Abramson
Roosevelt Sykes
Rudy Wall
Ryan’s Fancy
Sam Chatmon
Shingoose
Stan Dueck
Stan Rogers
Steve Goodman
Stringband
Sylvia Tyson
Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy
Valdy
Performers
Alistair Anderson
Archie Fisher
Big Dave McLean
Bill Garrett
Bill Russell
Bill Steele
Bill Wallace
Blind Jim Davis
Bob Evans
Bob Ruzicka
Brian Glow
Cast Iron Potty Band
Cathy Schmidt
Colin Linden
Colleen Peterson
Curly Boy Stubbs
Dale Russell
Dan Donahue
David Amram
Don ‘Fiddler’ Zueff
Don Cullen
Enoch Kent
Eric & Martha Nagler
Floyd Westerman
Friends of Fiddler’s Green
Gene Bretecher Bluegrass Group
Gerry & Ziz
Glen McCabe
Glenn Ohrlin
Gord Kidder
Graham Shaw
Grant McLean
Hedy West
Humphrey & the Dumptrucks
Jack Tobi
Jerry & George Saddleback
John Hartford
John Roberts & Tony Barrand
Johnny Shines
Lou & Sally Killen
Louis Dubé & Dennis Connelly
Luke Gibson
Marc LaFrance
Margaret Christl
Martin, Bogan & The Armstrongs
Mary Faith Rhoads
Mimi Farina
Paul Geremia
Paul Hann
Paul Ritchie
Peter Gzowski
Rick Taylor
Saul Broudy
Shirley Eikhard
Raffi
Stan Rogers
Stan Winistok
Steve Goodman
Tex Konig
The Duck Mountain Bluegrass Band
The Irish Rovers
The New Nation Chanters & Dancers
Tom Jackson
Tom Paxton
Utah Phillips
Valdy
Vera Johnson
Wendy Grossman
Winston Wuttunee
Performers
Alanis Obomsawin
Angele Arsenault
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Cast Iron Potty Band
Chris Rawlings
Christopher Kearney
Claudia Schmidt
Colleen Peterson
Curly Boy Stubbs
Dale Miller
Dale Russell
Danny Greenspoon
David Essig
Debby McClatchy
Don Cullen
Doug McArthur
Duke Redbird & Winston Wuttunee
Edith Butler
Gamble Rogers
Gene Bretecher Bluegrass Group
Gerry & Ziz
Gilles Losier
Hedy West
Houndog
Humber River Valley Boys
J.D. Crowe & The New South
Jan Ungar & Lyn Hardy
Jeremiah Puddleduck
Jim Donahue
John Allan Cameron
John Hammond
John Jackson
John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Wyne Jr.
Ken Bloom
Larkspur
Len Udow
Leon Redbone
Loreena McKennitt
Mary Faith Rhoads
Michael Cooney
Mose Scarlett
No Relation
Original Sloth Band
Paul Hann
Peter Gzowski
Peter Paul Van Camp
Ralph McInnis
Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
Reg Gibson
Rick Neufeld & Prairie Dog
Roosevelt Sykes
Rudy Wall
Ryan’s Fancy
Stephen Wade
Strange Creek Singers
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Taj Mahal
The Central Continental Cowpokes
The Red Clay Ramblers
The Village Green County Dancers
Tom Paxton
Utah Phillips
Walter Lysack
Performers
Alain Lamontagne
Alanis Obomsawin
Alistair Brown
Amos Garrett & Geoff Muldaur
Apple Chill Cloggers
Art Thieme
Barde
Big Dave McLean
Bill & Livia Vanaver
Bill Garrett
Bill Hinkley & Judy Larson
Bill Price
Billy Britton & Wilmer Baptise
Boys of the Lough
Breton & Cyr
Brian Glow
Bruce Cockburn
Bryan Bowers
Cathy Fink & Duck Donald
Claudia Schmidt
Colin Linden
Country Gazette
Curly Boy Stubbs
Dakota Dave Hull & Sean Blackburn
Dan Donahue
Daniel Koulack
Dave Van Ronk
David Amram
Dennis & Lucille Francis
Dixie Flyers
Don Cullen
Ed Trickett
Edmond & Quentin Badoux
Floyd Westerman
Folktellers
Fred Penner
Gamble Rogers
Garth Neel
Gary Preston
Graham Shaw
Heather Bishop
Hotmud Family
Houndog
Ian Tamblyn
Jim Ringer & Mary McCaslin
John Hiatt
Ken Bloom
Laylum
Lee Cremo
Leon Bibb
Lou Killen
Lucille Emond
Marie-Lynn Hammond
Marshall Dodge
Norman & Nancy Blake
Odetta
Owen McBride
Paquin & Paulin
Paul Geremia
Paul Ortega
Peter Gzowski
Peter Paul Van Camp
Pop Wagner
Raffi
Ray Mantilla
Robert Paquette
Robin & Linda Williams
Rosalie Sorrels
Sam Chatmon
Saul Broudy
Stan Rogers
The Red Clay Ramblers
Tom Jackson
Tom Paxton
Utah Phillips
Valdy
Vera Johnson
Willie P. Bennett
Winnie Winston
Performers
Al Simmons
Alain Lamontagne
Alex Campbell
Alice Gerrard
Andy Cohen
Bai Konte
Barde
Bob King
Bram Morrison
Brian Glow
Cathy Fink & Duck Donald
Charlie Maguire
Cody
Colleen Peterson
David "Honeyboy" Edwards Blues Band
David Essig
David Jones
De Dannan
Debby McClatchy
Dermot’s Illustrated Ballad Book
Diamonds in the Rough
Don Cullen
Ed Desjarlais
Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten
Eric Andersen
Eric Nagler
Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger
Flying Mountain
Fred Penner
Gary Preston
Glen Zaretski & Joy Riglin
Gordon Bok
Gospel Jubilators
James ‘Pigmeat’ Jarrett
Jan Ungar & Lyn Hardy
Jerry Rau
Jim Brewer
Jim Post
John Hammond
John Renbourn
Josh White Jr.
Kay Stone
Ken Hamm
Klezmorim
Lauri Conger
Les Danseurs de la Riviére Rouge
Lisa Null & Bill Shute
Mary Faith Rhoads & The Dobbs Brothers
Michael, McCreesh & Company
Nancy White
Nick Seeger
Norman Kennedy
Papa John Kolstad
Patricia Reynolds
Patrick Sky
Peter Bellamy
Peter Gzowski
Peter Paul Van Camp
Pied Pear
Retaguardia
Rodney Brown
Roy Book Binder
Sally Rogers
Scott Alarik
Shari Ulrich
Sneezy Waters
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Sparky Rucker
Stork McGillvray
Stringband
Sukay
Sundance
Suzanne Jeanson & Norman Dugas
Tahuantinsuyo
The Green Grass Cloggers
The New Lost City Ramblers
Tim Harrison
Tom Paley
Tony Bird
Valdy
Village Green Dancers & Morris Men
Wendy Grossman
Whetstone Run
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