Filed under: Festivals
Let's start with some honesty: the original version of this 2019 Winnipeg Folk Festival preview piece was almost complete when a couple accidental clicks of the mouse sent hours of work into the digital ether. So while we're extremely excited for the 46th edition of this incredible music festival to be upon us, we're also tired and frustrated and ready to get out to Birds Hill Park and let the music heal us.
Luckily, there are very few things more certain than the music of the Winnipeg Folk Festival doing just that!
Some of our all-time favourite artists are making their way to the centre of North America over the next four days, along with many new discoveries and soon-to-be discoveries. Practically nothing in the world beats sitting under some trees at the Shady Grove stage and hearing one of your favourite songs performed by the genius who wrote it -- and every one of the eleven years we've been covering the Winnipeg Folk Festival has had memorable moments like that.
But before we look to all the artists to check out this year, we always like to take a look back at last year's festival. Our 2018 compilation is accompanied by a live performance of the song "Colourblind" from Winnipeg singer/songwriter Taylor Janzen. Taylor has blown up over the last year since she participated in her second Young Performers Program, releasing a pair of EPs, being all over CBC Music, performing at SXSW, and even interviewing one of her idols (Dennis Quaid) for Paste Magazine (she also named a song after the actor and musician). She'll cap off an incredible last 12 months with the main stage kick-off slot at this year's festival, tonight (July 11) at 6:00 PM!
And just to keep on the Taylor Train for a bit longer, here's a throwback to our interview with her from last year's festival.
If you're in Manitoba and heading out to the 2019 Winnipeg Folk Festival, the below list is just a starting point to the dozens of great folk, indie rock, bluegrass, country, soul, world music artists that you'll get to experience over the weekend. And if you're elsewhere, you'll likely see us post videos and photos of these acts and more on our Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for the next few days.
Info on the Winnipeg Folk Festival -- tickets, performers, schedules, food vendors, and more -- can be found at www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca. For anyone heading out to Birds Hill Park this weekend, Happy Folk Fest!
Tags: Winnipeg Folk Festival, Death Cab for Cutie, Hawksley Workman, Kacey Musgraves, Lucy Rose, Taylor Janzen, Danny Michel, Kathleen Edwards, Alvvays, The Lone Bellow
Paul Little is the founder and Managing Editor of ShowbizMonkeys.com. When not interviewing his favourite musicians and comedians, he can also be found putting on and promoting music and comedy events with The Purple Room in Winnipeg, or co-producing the live comedy game show Pants on Fire. (@comedygeek)
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