Quote:
Originally Posted by peter12
I've only been a regular for 5 years, but I'm not sure I entirely agree. Every year has its ups and downs, but the only year that I can remember that was a definite flop was 2008. The rest have all had a good combination of bigger-name acts as well as good up and coming folk-type groups. I especially like how the festival incorporates a lot of international folk into the mainstage. One my favourite acts last year was Sankofa Strings, a group of young black musicians that played old African American folk songs. They actually spent time going through the old hills of the American South "collecting" these songs from older rural folk performers.
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I've gone to 10 or 12 dating back to the very first one, which was in 1980 I think. IMO the lineup is not what it used to be. There are no big international folk fest names like John Renbourn, Paul Bady, etc., and the local, Canadian and US performers aren't of the same stature as they used to be either.
At least the headliner isn't some lame geriatric rock band like the Doobie Bros this year.
I guess it's all a matter of taste and opinion, but I don't think there's going to be someone like Stan Rogers performing this year. Seeing Stan put on an hour and half set as the closing performance one night at the first Calgary folk fest, or seeing someone with the instrumental mastery of John Renbourn or Jerry Douglas were defining moments of the folk fest which seem to be lacking in past 10 years or so.
Edit: They used to have more international acts too. I miss that as well.