The Sound of Community
Building Traditions at Folk Fest
As the final notes from the Main Stage faded into the night, the energy at the Winnipeg Folk Festival didn’t wind down. Adrenaline and excitement carried festivalgoers into the late hours, drawing them to a hill in the campground where music, laughter, and the strumming of guitars collided. Some danced barefoot under the starry skies, while others rolled down the hill together.
By the 1980s, Folk Fest had become more than just an event — it was a reunion, a tradition, and a home. As one of six major music festivals in Canada, its reputation continued to grow, and offerings expanded to meet the demands of its ever-growing audience.
With the Festival’s growth came a busier schedule. New stages, more workshops, and a packed daytime lineup left attendees with less downtime to grab a meal at their cars or campsites. Fortunately, the Festival introduced the semi-permanent Food Village, where sweet and savoury aromas drifted through the Festival grounds, offering flavours from around the world.
Meanwhile, the Hand-Made Village was gaining international recognition. Now a well-known artisan showcase, it attracted over 100 applications from across North America hoping for a spot at one of the coveted 39 booths. Yet, the Festival remained committed to its local roots, with two-thirds of the selected artisans still Manitoban.
Another feature became the Children’s Village. Initially intended as a one-time feature in 1979, its overwhelming popularity secured its place as an integral part of the Festival by 1981. Located along the path to Stage 4 (Shady Grove Stage), it became a lively hub where music mingled with the sounds of jugglers, clowns, storytellers, puppets, and magicians, filling the space with laughter and wonder.
Despite its success, the Festival faced challenges. A few years of bad weather led to financial strain, and in some instances, accumulated debt, requiring volunteers to rally for donations to keep it alive. There were many growing pains, and a bit of experimenting on what a “music festival” should be.
The Festival experimented with various ideas, such as a short films tent featuring 14 films throughout the weekend, while a Jam Session tent encouraged spontaneous sing-alongs. Another year, a Vaudeville stage showcased theatre and film presentations, later followed by a busker stage to encourage the practice of busking. One year, an “Old Time Medicine Show” entertained folks at the Main Gate. Though not all these ideas became annual traditions, music and people remained at the heart of it all.
Among the most beloved traditions were the workshops quintessentially “Folk Fest.” The idea was simple yet extraordinary: gather musicians on stage, hand them instruments, and watch as they created something magical in real time. These impromptu collaborations led to unforgettable moments, drawing applause and leaving audiences in awe.
At night, musicians would informally jam together at parties. These late-night sessions often hinted at the next day’s collaborations, even if they weren’t officially scheduled to perform together.
By the end of the decade, the Winnipeg Folk Festival had transformed once again. It celebrated its 10th and 15th anniversaries, expanded to a four-day event, embraced experimentation, and even planted trees to root itself deeper into Birds Hill Park.
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.
1980
7th Edition – July 11-13
3 Days
7 Stages
78 Artists
342 Volunteers
17 Crews
5 Food Vendors
33 Hand-Made Village Artisans
Fun Facts:
- A Winnipeg Folk Festival preview concert takes place in Old Market Square on the Thursday before the festival.
- The legendary Pete Seeger makes his first Winnipeg Folk Festival appearance. He would go on to play again in 1985.
- First year out of a deficit.
- The Music in the Schools program begins, bringing artists to Winnipeg classrooms.
1981
8th Edition – July 10-12
3 Days
7 Stages
35,000+ Attendees
96 Artists
394 Volunteers
20 Crews
8 Food Vendors
40 Hand-Made Village Artisans
Fun Facts:
- Record-breaking attendance of over 35,000 folkies.
- First year of volunteer staffing at the campground.
- Weekend passes cost $25 (approximately $80.00 in 2025 dollars)
- Friday workshops begin and remain to this day.
- First year hosting 40 Hand-Made Village Artisans.
1982
9th Edition – July 9-11
3 Days
7 Stages
85 Artists
492 Volunteers
23 Crews
9 Food Vendors
35 Hand-Made Village Artisans
Fun Facts:
- A semi-permanent food village is added to the festival site.
- The Home-Made Music Store opens in Winnipeg, selling albums from festival artists, instruments, and folk publications.
- Family Area programming takes place on Friday for the first time.
1983
10th Edition – July 7-10
4 Days
7 Stages
27,500+ Attendees
123 Artists
616 Volunteers
21 Crews
9 Food Vendors
45 Hand-Made Village Artisans
Fun Facts:
- The festival reaches its 10th anniversary milestone.
- Students from Katimavik School help plant the first batch of new trees.
- First time hosting over 100 artists on festival stages.
- Sunday night after-parties at The Norwood Hotel begin.
- This was the hottest Winnipeg Folk Festival of the decade, with a high of +33°C on Sunday, July 10.
1984
11th Edition – July 12-15
4 Days
7 Stages
109 Artists
791 Volunteers
25 Crews
8 Food Vendors
42 Hand-Made Village Artisans
Fun Facts:
- Coldest festival of the decade, with a low of +5°C on Friday, July 13.
- On September 16, 1984, Pope John Paul II celebrates a large outdoor mass at Birds Hill Provincial Park from the hilltop now known as Pope’s Hill.
1985
12th Edition – July 11-14
4 Days
7 Stages
22,000+ Attendees
106 Artists
742 Volunteers
24 Crews
4 Food Vendors
43 Hand-Made Village Artisans
Fun Facts:
- Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang makes her Winnipeg Folk Festival debut. She would return in 2011.
- Evening concerts take place on all seven stages on Saturday night.
- The festival benefits from the Pope’s visit the previous year. His former security shack is converted into the festival’s site office, and the festival gets its first phoneline—eliminating the need to send messages back and forth via shuttle vans.
- The festival features the Anishinaabe/New Nation Village, where Beatrice Culleton performs.
1986
13th Edition – July 10-13
4 Days
9 Stages
16,000+ Attendees
101 Artists
689 Volunteers
24 Crews
13 Food Vendors
42 Hand-Made Village Artisans
Fun Facts:
- Most rainfall at a Winnipeg Folk Festival this decade, with 47.6 mm of rain. Attendance drops from 22,000 in 1985 to 16,000.
- Mitch Podolak makes a plea to the audience for donations, and many folkies step up.
- This marks Mitch Podolak’s final year as Artistic Director.
- Rosalie Goldstein and Doug McArthur are hired as Associate Directors.
1987
14th Edition – July 9-12
4 Days
9 Stages
90 Artists
586 Volunteers
26 Crews
15 Food Vendors
43 Hand-Made Village Artisans
Fun Facts:
- Rosalie Goldstein takes over as Artistic Director.
- South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo performs at the festival.
- Bus service from the city to the festival site is introduced.
- This year welcomes the most food vendors to date, totalling 15.
1988
15th Edition – July 7-10
4 Days
9 Stages
103 Artists
667 Volunteers
31 Crews
13 Food Vendors
47 Hand-Made Village Artisans
Fun Facts:
- Festival offices in Osborne Village are destroyed in a fire on January 5.
- Offices are relocated to 264 Taché Avenue on March 1.
- A jam session tent is introduced to the festival site.
- Minnesota Public Radio live-broadcasts the festival.
- A local bar band called The Crash Test Dummies makes its festival debut.
1989
16th Edition – July 6-9
4 Days
9 Stages
28,950+ Attendees
98 Artists
778 Volunteers
34 Crews
14 Food Vendors
52 Hand-Made Village Artisans
Fun Facts:
- The festival introduces a Buskers Stage.
- Billy Bragg makes his first festival appearance.
Through The Years
Explore past Festival posters, program books, and artist lineups.
Beverly Cotten
Big Dave McLean
Bill Garrett & Curly Boy Stubbs
Bill Staines
Bryan Bowers
Chai Folk Ensemble
Cindy Mangsen
Dan Crary
Dan Donahue
David Amram
Denis LePage & Limited Edition
Doc Watson
Don Cullen
Don Lange
Felix Possak
Foxglove
Frank Ferrel & Bertram Levy
Frankie Armstrong
Fred Holstein
Gamble Rogers
Gilberte Bohemier
Harry Muir
Heather Bishop
Holly Arntzen
Ian Johnstone
James Durst
Jan Marra & George Russell
Jeff Cahill & Van Mertz
Jim Donahue
Jim Post
Joe Heaney
John Allan Cameron
Kate Wolf
Ken Bloom
Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe
Leon Rosselson
Les Danseurs de la Riviére Rouge
Ludmila & Her Gypsies
Margaret Christl & Alex Sinclair
Matante Alys
Mick Moloney & Eugene O’Donnell
Mike Seeger
Monique Jutras
Norman & Nancy Blake & James Bryan
Original Sloth Band & The Honolulu Heartbeats
Oscar Brand
Paul Siebel
Pete Seeger
Peter Alsop
Peter Gzowski
Peter Paul Van Camp
Priscilla Herdman
Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
Richard LePage & Mitch LePage
Rob Wallinger
Robin Williamson
Ryan’s Fancy
Saul Broudy
Si Kahn
Silly Wizard
Spider John Koerner
Stan Rogers
Stephane Grappelli
Sylvia Tyson
Teresa Doyle
The Backwoods Band
The Doug Dillard Band
The Harmony Sisters
The James Cotton Band
The Meros Leckow Ukrainian Dancers
The Red Clay Ramblers
The Tannahill Weavers
Tom Jackson & Kansas City Kramer
Tom Paxton
Tony Bird
Trapezoid
Utah Phillips
Winnipeg Steel Orchestra
Al Simmons
Alain Lamontagne
Amos Garrett
Angele Arsenault
Ann Latouche
Art Thieme
Battlefield Band
Bent Mountain Band
Beverly Cotten
Billy Faier
Billy Novick & Guy Van Duser
Bob Carpenter
Bob King
Bob Schneider
Bob Suckiel
Bosom Buddies Stringband
Brent Titcomb
Bruce Steele
Cathy Fink
Cathy Winter & Betsy Rose
Cirque Alexander
Claudia Schmidt
Dakota Dave Hull & Sean Blackburn
Dan Casavant
Dance All Night
David "Honeyboy" Edwards Blues Band
David Essig
David Mallett
Diamond Joe White
Dick Weissman
Doc Tibbles
Don Sponcia
Donna Green
Doug McArthur
Edith Butler
Eritage
Ferron
Fiction Brothers
Fiddle Puppets
Fraser & DeBolt
Fred Penner
Graham Shaw
Grubstake
Gumboot Lollipop
Hadley Castille & Cajun Grass Band
Happy Trashpicker
Heather Bishop
Humber River Valley Boys
Jan Ungar & Lyn Hardy
Jane Voss & Hoyle Osborne
Jarvis Benoit Quartet
Jessie Mae Hemphill
Jim Post & Randy Sabien
Joe & Antoinette McKenna
Joel Mabus
John Hammond
John Herald & Horse Country
Kapelye
Karen Howe
Laduvane
Len Udow
Manitoba Puppet Theatre
Martin Carthy & the Watersons
Matante Alys
Michael Cooney
Michael, McCreesh & Company
Millarapue
Mitch Greenhill & Mayne Smith
Na Cabarfeidh
Nick Seeger
Odetta
Peter Alsop
Pop Wagner
Randy Eros
Randy Raine-Reusch
Rick Neufeld
Rider Jim Riley
Riders in the Sky
Robin & Linda Williams
Roy Forbes (Bim)
Sally Rogers
Scott Alarik
Sharon, Lois & Bram
Stefan Grossman
Steve Goodman
SUMK Ukranian Dancers
Sunnyland Slim
Sweet Honey in the Rock
The Green Grass Cloggers
The Hoodoo Men
The Legendary Blues Band
The New Prairie Ramblers
Tim Harrison
Tom Dundee
Valdy
Wheatland Country
Alan Stivell
Alexander Illitch Eppler
Ar Log
Big Dave McLean & Dave Burgin
Bill Hinkley & Judy Larson
Bob Berky
Bob Bovee & Gail Heil
Bob Brozman
Bobby Wiseman
Brian Glow
Brian Torff Group
Bright Morning Star
Charlie Maguire
Chris Rawlings
Colin Linden
Connie Kaldor
Dalglish Larsen Band
Denise Larson
Dolly Hopkins
Dolores Keane & Reel Union
Double Decker Stringband
Dougie MacLean
Duck Donald Band
Eclectricity
Eddie Jeff Cahill
Eric Bogle & John Munroe
Friends of Fiddler’s Green
Gary McMahan
George Gritzbach
Ginni Clemmens
Guyap Rhythm Drummers
Harry Tuft & Dick Weissman
Heather Bishop & Lauri Conger
Holly Near & Adrienne Torf
Hotfoot Quintet
Janette Carter
Jay Peterson & Jane Kopiska
Jim Ringer & Mary McCaslin
Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys
John Lee Hooker & The Coast to Coast Blues Band
Ken Hamm
Ken Whiteley & Friends
Kevin Burke & Michael O’Domhnail
Kevin Roth
Koerner, Ray & Glover
La Bottine Souriante
Laura Simms & Steve Gorn
Laurie MacKenzie & Friends
Lou Killen
Louis Dubé & Dennis Connelly
Magpie
Mary Faith Rhoads & John Pearse
Maurice Paquin
Meadowlark
Meg Christian & Diane Lindsay
Michael Sector & Bob Notkoff
Mike Cross
Mimi Farina
Mulligan Dancers
Murray McLauchlan
Norrlator
Paul Hann
Puppetmongers Powell
Queen Ida & the Bon Temps Zydeco Band
Raffi
Reilly & Maloney
Retaguardia
Rick Avery & Judy Greenhill
Rick Riewe
Rita MacNeil
Rodney Brown
Roy Book Binder
Sandy Byer
Santiago Jimenez Jr. & Su Conjunto
Steve Cormier
Steve Hansen
Stevie Beck
Stoney Lonesome
Stringband
Tatiana Wowk
Ted Houle
Tony Molesworth & Debbie Denomy
Touchstone
Tracy’s Family Band
Walter Lysack
Al Simmons
Alain Lamontagne
America Libre
Andy Cohen
Anita Best
Anne Hills
Apple Chill Cloggers
Artis The Spoonman
Avner the Eccentric
Barde
Bayou Seco
Beverly Cotten
Bill Garrett
Bill Steele
Blowzabella
Blue Flame Stringband
Bob Carpenter
Bob Franke
Bob Gibson
Bob King
Brent Titcomb
Bryan Bowers
Cathy Fink
Charlie Murphy & Jami Sieber
Claudia Schmidt
Colleen Peterson
Connie Kaldor
Conrad Flapps
Corky Siegel
Curly Boy Stubbs
Dakota Dave Hull & Sean Blackburn
Daniel Koulack
Daniel Womack
Darcie Deaville
Dave Van Ronk
David Essig
David Grisman Quartet
David Mallett
Debby McClatchy
Denis LePage & Limited Edition
Dick Nevell
Doc Tibbles
Don Cullen
Don Freed
Don Lange
Don McLean
Duck Donald Band
Elias, Schritt & Bell
Eric Bogle & John Munroe
Eric Nagler
Faith Petric
Finjan
Folle Avoine
Fred Penner
Free Hot Lunch
Gamble Rogers
Geoff Panting
George Gritzbach
George Russell
Gerald Laroche
Grupo Aymara
Houndog
Hugo Torres
J.P. Ringwort & the Heartbreak of Psoriasis
Jane Voss & Hoyle Osborne
Jarvis Benoit Quartet
Jethro Burns
Jim Payne
Jim Post
John Allan Cameron
John Ashton
John Hartford
John Pattison & Garloo
John Roberts & Tony Barrand
Kelly Russell
Koko Taylor
Larry Hanks
Lem Snow
Len Udow
Leo Kottke
Les Danseurs de la Riviére Rouge
Loudon Wainwright III
MacLean & MacLean
Margaret Christl
Mike Seeger
Natch Gloria
Norman Dugas
Peter Alsop
Peter Gzowski
Peter Paul Van Camp
Queen Ida & the Bon Temps Zydeco Band
Reilly & Maloney
Richard LePage & Mitch LePage
Richard Thompson
Rick & Lorraine Lee
Robin & Linda Williams
Rosselson, Bailey & Armstrong
Roy Forbes (Bim)
Rufus Guinchard
Sando Counts
Sandy Greenberg
Sharon, Lois & Bram
Sneezy Waters
Son Seals
Star & Mehalick
Steve Cormier
Steve Goodman
Sukay
Taj Mahal
The Dillards
The Doug Dillard Band
The Ladies Choice Bluegrass Band
The Red Clay Ramblers
The Roches
Tim Harrison
Tom Paxton
Tony Bird
Touchstone
Twelve Moon Storytellers
Valdy
Vassar Clements
Village Green Morris Men
Walter Lysack
African Heritage
Airs & Graces
Al Simmons
Alexander Illitch Eppler
Allynn Gooen
Anonymus
Ar Log
Artis The Spoonman
Bertram Levy
Big Dave McLean & Gord Kidder
Bill Hinkley & Judy Larson
Billy Novick & Guy Van Duser
Bob Bovee & Gail Heil
Bob Brozman
Bob Carpenter
Bodie Wagner
Brass Monkey
Brownie McGhee
Bruce Brackney
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Steele
Caroline Simonds & Leslie Yudelson (Pandemonium & The Dragonfly)
Chuck McCandless
Cilla Fisher & Artie Trezise
Cindy Mangsen
Cody
Cranberry Lake Jug Band
Critton Hollow Stringband
Curly Boy Stubbs
Dan Ar Bras
David Amram
David Sereda
Dick Weissman
Doug McArthur
Easy T’s
Eclectricity
Eddie Jeff Cahill
Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten
Erwin Helfer & Angela Brown
Fiddle Puppets
Finjan
Garnet Rogers
Ginni Clemmens
Girls Who Wear Glasses
Grubstake
Guy Clark
Happy Trashpicker
Hawks & Eagles
Heather Bishop
Holly Arntzen
Holly Near
Hotfoot Quintet
Jamie Oliviero
Jane Sapp
Jay Peterson & Jane Kopiska
Jim Post
Jim Ringer & Mary McCaslin
Joan MacIsaac
Johnny Comeau & Kenneth Saulnier
Jon Sirkis
Jud Hepburn
Judy Small
Kenneth & Johnny
Kin-Lalat
Koerner, Ray & Glover
Laughing Moon Theatre
Leo Gosselin
Louisiana Aces
Malicorne
Mel Brown
Moon Joyce
Mose Scarlett
Moshé Le Nuage
Moz Wright
Muddy York
Murray McLauchlan
Nancy White
O.J. Anderson
Patrick Sky
Patsy Montana
Peter Paul Van Camp
Pop Wagner
Randy Raine-Reusch
Reel World String Band
Reilly
Reverend Chumleigh
Richelle Desrosiers
Rita MacNeil
Robin Flower Band
Rodney Brown
Saheeb
Sally Rogers & Howard Bursen
Saul Broudy
Scott Alarik
Shuffle Creek Dancers
Stringband
Tailor’s Twist
Tamarack
Teddy Boy Houle & The Red River Jiggers
Teresa Trull & Barb Higbie
The Washington Squares
Tom Paxton
Tony Trischka & Skyline
Toshi Reagon
Travelling Blues Revue
Utah Phillips
Winston Wuttunee
Yank Rachel
Yolocamba Ita
Al Simmons
Andy Stewart & Manus Lunny
Anne Hills
Anonymus
Arlene Mantle
Balkan Rhythm Band
Bill Garrett
Bill Morrissey
Bill Staines
Boys of the Lough
Bram Morrison
Brent Parkin & the Stingers
Bruce Brackney
Cathy Fink
Charlie Maguire
Chuck McCandless
Chuck Suchy
Circus Shmirkus
Colin Linden
Critton Hollow Stringband
Crossover
Curly Boy Stubbs
Dakota Dave Hull & Sean Blackburn
Darcie Deaville
David Holt
David Massengill & Lisa Tribble
David Wiffen
Debby McClatchy
Ellipsis
Eric Bogle & John Munroe
Eric Nagler
Eric Peltoniemi
Erwin Helfer & Angela Brown
Fiddle Puppets
Finjan
Folle Avoine
Four the Moment
Free Hot Lunch
Gary Fjellgaard
Geof Morgan
George Gritzbach
Greg Brown
Guardabarranco
Hawks & Eagles
Hinode Taiko Drummers
Holly Arntzen
Horse Sense
Ian Robb & Alistair Brown
Ian Saville
Iowa Rose
J.B. Freeman
Jack Curtice & Whitney Evans
Jackie Torrance
Jim Post
John Fahey
John Herald & Horse Country
Judy Small
k.d. lang & The Reclines
Kate Wolf
Larry Fisher
Larry Long
Leftwich & Higginbotham
Los Folkloristas
Magpie
Marcy Marxer
Margaret Christl
Margret Roadknight
Marie Clarke
Michael O’Reilly
Mimeworks
Moshé Le Nuage
Nanci Griffith
Norman & Nancy Blake & the Rising Fawn String Ensemble
Odetta
Paddy Tutty
Paul Cameron Miller
Pete Seeger
Peter Bellamy
Peter Paul Van Camp
Peter Rowan & Mark O’Connor
Preston Reed
Red Hot Peppers
Riders in the Sky
Rory Block
Sabia
Salvador Bustos
Sandra Gish
Scartaglen
Shingoose
Short Notice
Steve Chmara
Stevie Beck
Teresa Trull & Barb Higbie
The Frank Wakefield Band featuring Summit
The Horseflies
The Richard Chapman Trio
The Ruth MacKenzie Trio
Tim Harrison
Tom Paley
Tony Bird
Trapezoid
Travelling Blues Revue
Valdy
Vizonto
West-End String Band
Whiskey Jack
Aileen & Elkin Thomas
Apple Chill Cloggers
April & Susan
Archie Fisher
B. Bop Beluga
Barkin’ Kettle
Berline, Crary & Hickman
Bev Ross
Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows
Bill Garrett & Curly Boy Stubbs
Bob Bovee & Gail Heil
Bob Carpenter
Bob King
Bob Suckiel
Bodie Wagner
Brian Glow
Bruce Steele
Catskill Puppet People
Chris Rawlings
Christine Lavin
Chuck Suchy
Claudia Schmidt
Connie Kaldor
Cuban Fence Climbers
Dan Deurbrouck
David Amram
David Essig
David Mallett
David Wilder
Denis LePage & Limited Edition
Eddie Jeff Cahill
El Grupo Moncada
Ellen McIlwaine
Elmer Bird
Fiddle Puppets
Fred J. Eaglesmith
Fred Small
Gamble Rogers
Garnet Rogers
Hamish Imlach
Heather Bishop
Hugo Torres
Jan Marra & George Russell
Jerry Rau
Jhankar
Jim Donahue
Jim Post
John Gorka
Ken Perlman
LeRue
Les Danseurs de la Riviére Rouge
Linda Morrison
Mary Faith Rhoads & John Pearse
Matt Reimer
Michael Cooney
Mick Moloney & Eugene O’Donnell
Mike Cross
Mimeworks
Mitch Greenhill & Mayne Smith
Mr. B
Muddy York
Murray McLauchlan
O.J. Anderson
Paradise Ranch
Paul & Win Grace and Family
Peggy Atwood
Peter Alsop
Peter Paul Van Camp
Peter Sussman
Pop Wagner
Pops & Timer
Prairie Oyster
Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
Richie Havens
Rick Neufeld
Rod MacDonald
Roy Forbes (Bim)
Rude Girls
Ruth Pelham
Sally Rogers & Howard Bursen
Sandy Byer
Saul Broudy
Shady Grove Band
Si Kahn
Skyline
Smith Sisters
Spirit of the West
Steve Chmara
Steve Gillette
Sukay
Sweet Honey in the Rock
The Big Zucchini Washboard Bandits
The Red Clay Ramblers
The Romaniac Brothers
The Washington Squares
Tim Harrison
Tom Dahill
Tom Paxton
Utah Phillips
Village Green Morris Men
Wholesome Bluegrass
Al Simmons
Amos Garrett
Aztec Two-Step
Barbara Dane
Bertram Levy
Big Dave McLean & Gord Kidder
Bill Garrett & Curly Boy Stubbs
Bob Bossin
Brent Parkin & the Stingers
Brian Cox
Brian Glow
Bruce Steele
Canadian Content
Capercaillie
Carla Sciaky
Carol Montag
Casselberry-DuPree
Colin Linden & The Immortals
Contrevent
Dave Moore
David Lindley & El Rayo-X
David Olney
David Roth
David Williams
Dead Reckonin
Donovan
Doug Sahm
Easy T’s
Ed Lamont
Ellen McIlwaine
Eric Bogle
Ferron
Fiddle Puppets
Finjan
Fred Small
Garrett, Sahm and Taylor Band
Gene Taylor
Guy Clark
Habr
Hans Theessink
Hazel Dickens
Holly Near
Hugh Moffatt
Joe Heukerott
John McCutcheon
Jonathon Richman & The Modern Lovers
Junior Jug Band
Katy Moffatt
Ken Whiteley’s Roots Revue
Kit Johnson & Bohdan Hluszko
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Len Udow
Les Danseurs de la Riviére Rouge
Lyle Lovett
Margaret Christl
Maria Muldaur
Matt Reimer
Mimeworks
Mr. B
Murray McLauchlan
New Grass Revival
Orealis
Paul Cameron Miller
Peter Ostroushko
Preston Reed
Richard Flohil
Rotondi
Runrig
Shingoose
Soupe du Jour
Spider John Koerner
Spirit of the West
Steve Cormier
Sylvia Tyson
T.R. Ritchie
Terry Garthwaite
The Barrett Sisters
The Blarney Band
The Canadian Aces
The Gospel Ambassadors
The Mando Boys
Tom Chapin
Tom Dundee
Townes Van Zandt
Tracy Nelson
Trapezoid
Uncle Bonsai
Valdy
Wholesome Bluegrass
Young Latins
3 Mustaphas 3
Alain Lamontagne
Ali Farka Toure
Anne Hills
Bayou Rhythm
Big Dave McLean & Gord Kidder
Bill Garrett & Curly Boy Stubbs
Bill Miller
Bob King
Boiled in Lead
Bonnie Koloc
Bonnie Raitt & Johnny Lee Schell
Brave Combo
Brenda Baker
Brent Cohen
Brent Parkin & the Stingers
Brian Cox
Bright Morning Star
Bruce Steele
Byron O’Donnell
Canadian Content
Christine Lavin
Chuck Suchy
Clive Gregson & Christine Collister
Connie Kaldor
Cris Williamson
D.J. & Friends
Daisy De Bolt
Danny Greenspoon
David Essig
David Lindley & El Rayo-X
Ed McCurdy
Electric Arab Orchestra
Ellen McIlwaine
Expresso S.V.P.
Guy Clark
Hazel Dickens
Heather Bishop
Hugo Torres
Ian Tyson
J.D. Steele Singers
J.J. Reneaux
James Keelaghan
Jane Siberry
Jerry Jeff Walker
Jesse Winchester
Jim Rooney
John Gorka
John Hammond
Johnny ‘Clyde’ Copeland
Julian Kytasty
Ken Bloom
Ken Lonnquist & Doug Brown
Ken Whiteley
Kit Johnson & Bohdan Hluszko
Laurie Lewis
Len Udow
Les Danseurs de la Riviére Rouge
Linda Hirschhorn
Little Charlie & The Nightcats
Little Charlie & The Troublemakers
Lloyd Peterson
Lo Jai
Loudon Wainwright III
Lyle Lovett
Manteca
Maura O’Connell
Melanie Chartrand
Michael Smith
Mimeworks
Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper
Murray Evans & Mr. Tuba
Murray McLauchlan
Nashville Bluegrass Band
Nouveau Station Wagon
Oasis
Ossian
Peter Case
Peter Ostroushko
Peter Paul Van Camp
Richard Flohil
Riders in the Sky
Robert Earl Keen Jr.
Rory McLeod
Shingoose
Slavek Hanzlik
Sotavento
Teresa Doyle
The Barra MacNeils
The Blarney Band
The Bobs
The Jayhawks
The Original Balkan Jam
The Red Clay Ramblers
Tim Harrison
Tom Jackson
Tom Rush
Tommy Thompson
Tony Bird
Uncle Bonsai
Vince Bruce
Wally Landreth
Washington Sisters
Al Simmons
Alain Lamontagne
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Ann Reed
Ashwin Batish
Bell & Shore
Bill Garrett & Curly Boy Stubbs
Bill Henderson
Bill Usher
Billy Bragg
Blue Tremblay
Bob Franke
Buddy Mondlock
Byron O’Donnell
C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band
Canadian Content
Casselberry-DuPree
Celtic Elvis
Chuck Pyle
Clarence Fountain & The Five Blind Boys
Clive Pig
Colleen Peterson
Corky & The Juice Pigs
Crash Test Dummies
D.J. & Friends
Dan Deurbrouck
Danny Greenspoon
David Essig
Dianne Davidson
Easy T’s
Eric & Caitlin Von Schmidt
Eric Bogle
Eyuphuro
Finjan
Fred Koller
Fried & Scrambled Pandemonium Review
Garnet Rogers
Gary Fjellgaard
Guy Clark
Hal Michael Ketchum
Hotfoot Quartet
Hugo Torres
Ian Tamblyn
Jake Chénier
Jane Siberry
Jim Rooney
John Prine
John Roberts & Tony Barrand
Kate & Anna McGarrigle
Kay Stone
Kit Johnson & Bohdan Hluszko
Laurie MacKenzie & Friends
Les Misérables Brass Band
Lights in a Fat City
Lillian Allen
Lloyd Peterson
Loreena McKennitt
Lorraine Segato & Big Jump
Magpie
Marc Bristol
Marie-Lynn Hammond
Marti Jones & Don Dixon
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Moon Joyce
Morris Goldberg
Moses Rascoe
Oysterband
Patty Larkin
Peter Case
Peter Ostroushko
Philip Tabane & Malombo
Prudence Johnson
Robert Earl Keen Jr.
Roy Forbes (Bim)
Royal Canadian Legion Pipe Band
Shangoya
Shari Ulrich
Shingoose
Si Kahn
Sneezy Waters
Spirit of the West
Stephen Fearing
The Beat Farmers
The Chenille Sisters
The Cowboy Junkies
The Douglas Brothers
The Horseflies
The Razorbacks
The Red Clay Ramblers
The Washington Squares
Tom Jackson
Tom Lewis
Tom Russell
Toshi Reagon
Valdy
Victoria Williams
Weddings, Parties, Anything
Willie P. Bennett
Winnipeg Folk Festival Live Journal
Share your favourite Winnipeg Folk Festival stories with community and read the incredible stories from others over the last 50 years!
Share to your favourite social media platform (Facebook or Instagram) using the hashtag #FolkFest50 and your story will be shared here with the community!
Please note: Live journal contributors must have public accounts.
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