#VFMF

[jminter]

Vancouver Folk Music Festival returns for the 46th year with an impressive line up

The 46th annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival returns this July 14-16 at Jericho Beach Park, thanks in no small part to audiences’ huge support and a groundswell of support. The 2023 edition of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival carries on the great legacy of musical excellence and eclectic discovery the annual summer tradition is renowned for bringing to the park.  From July 14-16, some of the world’s finest traditional and contemporary folk, world and roots music artists will spend the weekend bringing their works to friends, fans, appreciators of music and those who love the magic of this festival are invited to gather again to celebrate.

Board member and Programming Committee Chair, Fiona Black says: “This festival is a touchstone in the lives of so many of its far-reaching community: long-time and new audience members, out-of-town visitors who come year after year, volunteers, donors, sponsors, artists and so many more. I think this year everyone appreciates this iconic festival a little more. None of us take it for granted. For the VFMF, “folk music” is an inclusive term that encompasses as broad a range of roots-based music from around the world as you can imagine. The beauty of this festival is that it brings such an extensive range of artists together for three days of connecting with each other, inspiring unique collaborations and making lasting memories for the amazing gathering of folks that unite every year to celebrate life, community and music. That tradition continues this year with these artists, and we welcome everyone back to the park this summer to be part of this joyful experience.” Some 40 music acts from 10 countries, 6 states and 8 provinces will be found performing on the Festival’s three daytime stages and an evening stage over the summer  weekend. Additional artists will be announced shortly. The festival’s gates open at 3pm on Friday, July 14, and music runs on Saturday and Sunday, July 15 & 16 from 11am to 11pm. This year's lineup includes a number of acclaimed artists known to many in the festival’s audience, including: Arizona’s Tex-Mex outfit Calexico, women’s music icon Ferron, the multi-faceted Joachim Cooder, the award-winning William Prince, and two genuine music legends, Joe Henry and Albert Lee. Music from around the world takes centre stage at the festival as well, including a towering figure in the world of traditional Persian music, Kayhan Kalhor and, among other international visitors, three groups who live for the music of the dance. From Italy’s Kalàscima, teaming up at the festival with stunning singer, Andrea Ramolo comes the passion and energy of the tarantella; the Cláudio Rabeca Quartet with special guest, Serena Eades play forró, the popular dance music of Brazil, and; we’re exciting to share the remarkable collaboration in the Melón Jiménez & Lara Wong Flamenco-World Trio. From south of the border, a number of artists are slated to bring the sounds of the US to the Jericho stages. Including one of zydeco and Cajun music’s great accordionists, Cedric Watson, who performs with fiddler Jourdan Thibodeaux; East LA’s Las Cafeteras’ son jarocho tunes will sure to bring folks to their feet; and folk music treasure, Aoife O’Donovan, brings her beautiful voice. Emerging artists are also on the roster including the Berklee College vocal trio and internet sensations, Tiny Habits; a strong and clear voice for social justice, Tré Burt, and BC’s own hip hop adventurer, Ruby Singh and The Future Ancestors. Homegrown talents are well represented on this year’s roster, including Jim Byrnes, The High Bar Gang, Jill Barber, The Sojourners, Ceileigh Cardinal and Newfoundland’s Rum Ragged and many more. This year's Vancouver Folk Music Festival curates an event that offers a truly global spirit, broad and eclectic in range, with something for everyone of all ages. In addition to whetting your musical appetites, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival offers a wide range of ways to feed you soul with food and artisan vendors as well the festival prides itself on its environmental awareness, sustainability initiatives, and accessibility.  With over 30, 000 people expected to descend upon the park get your tickets soon. Find the full Festival line-up and information about performers, vendors and artists at thefestival.bc.ca https://youtu.be/G_tDW04H6P0 Read the full article

[rickchung]

2023 Vancouver Folk Music Festival x Jericho Beach Park.

The festival’s organizers have regrouped with renewed energy and enthusiasm to bring music back to the beach this summer. VFMF plans to have around 40 live outdoor performances across a trio of daytime and one evening stage during the three-day festival weekend.

Festival scheduled from July 14–16.

[andiamsoawkward]

folk festin in beautiful vancouver. future home (probably a van parked somewhere but same same)

[thepermanentrainpress]

Gallery: Vancouver Folk Music Festival featuring Tal National and The Rad Trads @ Jericho Beach Park - Vancouver, BC Date: July 21st, 2019 Photographed by: Moe Yang

[vfmfmemoryproject]

New Pornographers at an afternoon stage in 2016. They're playing an amazing acoustic version of their original song Spanish Techno.

[latestcanadaposts]

Neko Case unveiled on Vancouver Folk Music Festival line-up

Neko Case unveiled on Vancouver Folk Music Festival line-up

Neko Case is the second artist to be announced on the Vancouver Folk Music Festival line-up. Gerry Kahrmann / PNG

Neko Case is the second artist to be announced on the Vancouver Folk Music Festival line-up.

Case will perform on the festival’s main stage on Friday, July 13 as part of her 2018 tour behind her upcoming release Hell-On.

The VFMF date is one of only a…

[katespoke]

Maria masters the recycled bike frame music maker #vfmf #folkfest #vancouver

[aklonyc]

@vfiles #runway #vfmf #BTS @fengchenwang

[asskparis]

ASSK in VFiles Made Fashion

[yearofpennyhartz]

So this also happened this past weekend. Thanks again to the lovely @maiaisamermaid and @hebaloves for getting these signed for me while I was volunteering. My name is even spelled properly. And by next year, I'll fit that tshirt again #vfmf #vfmf2015 #alwaysvinyl #somethinginthewater #inthespring

[thepermanentrainpress]

Gallery: Vancouver Folk Music Festival featuring Rebirth Brass Band and Rosie & the Riveters @ Jericho Beach Park - Vancouver, BC Date: July 21st, 2019 Photographed by: Moe Yang

[vfmfmemoryproject]

A 26-year VETERAN VOLUNTEER'S MEMORIES

Beginning with VFMF #2, I'd been an inveterate, constant volunteer with the festival, eagerly waiting for that happy weekend in July every year. My family and friends knew that this yearly festival was my pilgrimage not to be interfered with.

My 26 years were filled with various committees, including Gate, Media Relations, Postering and office work, Admin, Dugg's Angels, and, in the last years, finally proudly coordinating my own committee, the T-Shirt Angels. Staff and committee coordinators, the GM and Artistic Directors got so used to seeing me around that they'd feel free to call on me to pitch in if they found themselves short of person power, and so I'd gladly put in double time working the Gate or running errands for Admin. Working with hundreds of volunteers, coordinators and staff was always a special time reconnecting with these folks, and we all shared the common love of the festival, the music, the artists, and the entire experience of just being there. Music from the most remote regions of the world like Mongolia, South Sea Islands, African, Egyptian and Middle Eastern communities as well as local Canadian artists like Katari Taiko, Sawagi Taiko (with whom I performed  during an amazing afternoon workshop), Ian Tyson and African American groups like Sweet Honey in the Rock, The Linda Tillery group thrilled me (and continues to do so) to the spine. 

Friends and family who would come out to visit me from out of town would be told that this was the time and place where love and respect would override anything negative, that it was the happiest place to find one's own belongings still remaining on the blanket in front of main stage after several hours of abandonment. And people you'd pass by would have smiles on their faces, which compelled everyone to smile and acknowledge one another purposely, to spread goodwill throughout the park. Throngs of gay and lesbian people could congregate at this park and be left alone to happily be themselves without fear of ridicule or harassment.

There was a basic trust between people not easily found in other public gatherings. One year I noticed a little girl on a nearby blanket pathetically trying to scoop out her yogurt with a plastic fork. So I ran as swiftly as I could to our volunteer mess tent and grabbed her a spoon, and gave it to her...her parents returned shortly and noticed this and weren't disturbed that their child would accept something given by a total stranger. Probably it had something to do with the volunteer Tshirt I was wearing.

Spending time in the volunteer/artist food tent was always a highlight for me, and sweet memories of talking with a flirtatious Greek pianist, sitting with Melanie of the Linda Tillery group and humming "My Girl" with her, chit chatting with Heather Bishop and Janis Ian...as special as making small talk with Buffy Ste. Marie in the CD tent. After giving Keola Beamer the Hawaiian "hang ten" sign at the conclusion of his Slack Key Guitar workshop, he smiled and then introduced me to his mother; he certainly lived up to his last name, the personification of the warm Hawaiian Island spirit.

Lining up for the volunteer/artist meals was always an event, getting my ID badge clipped by the smiling clown hostess, bestowing glowing compliments to the kitchen committee people, jokingly harassing Linda the visually impaired coordinator of the Disabled Access Committee about her not eating enough vegetables...through the years, this would become a yearly tradition for us both, my going up to her in the line and muttering in her ear about vegetables and her recognizing my voice immediately and giving me a boisterous laugh.

Decades ago, my brother told me he was planning his wedding for a certain weekend in July, and I simply told him that I couldn't be there for it, as it was the weekend for the Folk Festival, and that if he wanted me to be there, he'd have to choose another weekend. Rather annoyed, he then picked another weekend, and I consented to attend. Unfortunately, the Folk Festival lasted longer than his marriage, which did not surprise me. 

These days I am not able to volunteer, as rheumatoid arthritis has stolen my ability to use my hands and feet effectively and without chronic pain. So every July there is a lump in the pit of my stomach, knowing and seeing all the changes the festival has gone through all these years I've not been able to participate and I try my best to just remember the happy things I was able to experience way back then. And I think, if this new generation of volunteers and audience people are as blown away from being there as I was at the start, then that's a whole lotta more love out there for this special weekend in July. Remind you of the 60s? Well, I'm stuck in the 60s and proud of it! For me, the Festival was the closest thing I've experienced to give me back that fundamental love of music, peace and goodwill.

[georgiastraight-blog]

Couldn't make it out last weekend? You missed six stages of music at the Vancouver Folk Fest at Jericho Beach Park. 

Allen Trottier was there and caught a few moments of the show on Instagram. Here’s your concert pic of the morning. The 2015 Vancouver Folk Music Festival at Jericho Beach Park the weekend of July 17, 2015. 

Thanks Allen!

Most weekdays and occasionally on the weekend, the Straight highlights a shot from one of the previous night's music events. It's our Concert Pic of the Morning. Interested in submitting your photos for consideration? Check out our Flickr group or post your stuff on Twitter or Instagram and tag the act's name.

[madeofmoonbeams]

Making friends at the folk fest.🌻✌🏻️ #VFMF #vancitybuzz #vancouver #kitsilano #bcliving #folkmusic #summertime #quayaustralia #sunnies #zaleska #peace #love #jericho #beach (at Folk Festival Jericho Beach)

[campeeelo]

#vancouverfolkmusicfestival #folkmusicfestival #folkmusic #vfmf #vfmf2015 #folk #music #festival #show #concert #sky #tree #crowd #fan #fans #band #vancouver #vancity #britishcolumbia #bc #canada #ohcanada (at Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Jericho Beach)