I was asked to do some reviews as well as photograph a couple of days at the recent Edmonton Folk Music Festival. I was thrilled to do so as I was once a long time supporter of this event.
I went every year from 1989 to 2006. It was for many years the highlight of my summer.
Many great memories:
My dad had a tarp with our family name and phone number written on it. I’m sure there were more than a few people calling or walking by looking to score pot.
A friend brought a thermos full of coffee and whiskey (Rye) one year. Swore it was great. If you haven’t tried it, don’t. It was vile and he was passed out drunk by 2:00 in the afternoon.
Walking by John Mann (RIP) of Spirit of the West and saying hi. Him returning the greeting and having my sister say to me “Jesus Christ! Do you know everyone?” Of course I didn’t know him. It was the Folk Fest and we were all friends for that weekend.
Our Welsh flag that all of our friends looked for year after year.
So many great memories.
Something changed in the early part of the century. It might be me as I started travelling more and was able to experience festivals in different parts of the world, but the festival lost its charm to me. It felt rigid and way too busy. It wasn’t the number of people per se but the limited space we were herded into. I’ve been to festivals with more people but I haven’t felt as confined as I started to feel at the Edmonton festival.
It wasn’t the restrictive nature of the Alberta liquor laws confining the beer consumption to one small area of the site or the smoking laws that made it increasingly difficult for people with bad habits to be able to relax and enjoy themselves either.
It was something else. There was one year that they dubbed the festival “Harmony” and suddenly there were fights on the hill over tarp space.
There were people getting increasingly intoxicated in the beer garden (sometimes myself included) because if we left the beer garden we wouldn’t get back in due to the crowds of thirsty folk festers.
It just wasn’t as fun. People change. Perhaps I was changing too. My needs were changing and my children were growing. Life was still good.
I started going less frequently to the festival. Maybe a handful of times in the last few years, but to me things hadn’t improved. Still restrictive liquor licensing. Fewer places to smoke. More crowds. Less people I knew were going. I was ageing out I guess.
Maybe not. My father still went as he had been going since 1980. He was a lifer. The only reason he doesn’t go now is that the cruelest of diseases, Alzheimer’s, has taken him mostly away.
There have been a few standout years lately; The year one of my sons turned 18 was a great one.
The recent pandemic has also changed many of us in ways we are only now discovering. My hearing has gotten worse over the last few years. All the complaints 😉
But I digress. I was willing and hopeful that post pandemic Johnny was ready to enjoy the EFMF in all its restored glory.
I was wrong.
I hadn’t been there 5 minutes and my thought was “the more things change… (hopefully you know and can fill in the rest of the quote).
First up though. Back to my griping. The powers that be in liquor licensing have finally joined the 20th century (you read that right) and have allowed consumption mostly site wide, with the exception of the children’s area which is for the best. However, one giant bar at one end of the grounds is a bit ridiculous when you take into consideration the time it takes to line up, order and then walk for up to 10 minutes to the furthest stage. Please understand that most of my gripes are pointed at bureaucracy and logistics, not the festival itself. It is the nature of putting on events like these.
Now then. The real reason I’m writing this. The music.
As I realise I might be sounding like a bit of an old grump already, I’ll keep it up.
To me, folk music at its heart has always been about the human condition. The everyday things that make us tick but also an act of defiance as needed and these days we need a lot more of that.
The music here and the newer bands I hear seem to be missing that important part. At least in delivery. Some of the lyrics still scream against injustice but the sound is saying please.
Not to take anything away from the talent I saw but it left me wanting more. I guess I should stick to shooting punk shows.
All in all, the festival will be deemed a success and it will continue to sell out for many years to come. It is a well oiled machine and is deserving of much of the praise it receives. It is world class. The natural beauty of the amphitheatre that is Gallagher park along with that stunning Edmonton skyline is unparalleled. The calibre of musicians that this event attracts is top notch.
The music is just missing a little bit of angst in my opinion.
James Keelaghan
Long time festival favourite whose stories about the songs are as entertaining as the relatable troubadour songs themselves.
Maria Dunn
Local favourite and Juno award winner Maria Dunn was joined onstage by members of local folk stalwarts the McDades. A fine blend of North American Folk and traditional Celtic Folk music.
Jill Barber
Three time Juno Award nominated singer songwriter from East Van mixes folk, jazz & pop with plenty of humour thrown in.
Le Vent Du Nord
Probably my favourite band of the weekend, Quebec’s Le Vent Du Nord play irresistibly danceable Quebecois folk music with excellent and educational storytelling between songs.
Greensky Bluegrass
Direct from Kalamazoo Mi. (I’ve always wanted to type that), this fine quintet, play some mighty fine bluegrass (the hint is in the name I guess) with incredible jams thrown in the mix.
Margo Price
Calls her music “Psychedelic Country” and performs it with pure Rock’n’Roll enthusiasm. Great live set. A highlight of the weekend.
Gregory Alan Isakov
Born in South Africa and raised in the States, Grammy Award nominated Gregory splits his time between creating music and farming in Colorado.
Some of the artists that played the festival Main Stage had either limited or no media access but that’s OK. I prefer shooting smaller venues and showcasing bands that might not get the attention otherwise.
