Folk Fest 2010 - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

algernon · 07-22-2010, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

Remember Kris Kristofferson's (sp?) gig a few years back? That was pretty incredible. Heck, even Don Maclean wasn't all that bad.

Yeah, KK was incredible. I didn't really know much about him before that.

I thought he was just the pretty boy in the Highwaymen with Willie, Johnny and Waylon. I actually was a little choked up watching him up there,he was such a massive presence. Then, I saw the Life and Times of Guy Terrifico, and was floored by his coolness in that flick.

Countdown timer engaged...

tete · 07-22-2010, 03:14 PM

Go see Haydamaky - they're a great Ukrainian rock/punkish band. They take Ukie folk songs and amp them up. Lots of energy. Wish they were just playing a regular venue instead of the Folk Festival and I'd be there for sure.

afc wimbledon · 07-22-2010, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tete

Go see Haydamaky - they're a great Ukrainian rock/punkish band. They take Ukie folk songs and amp them up. Lots of energy. Wish they were just playing a regular venue instead of the Folk Festival and I'd be there for sure.

Enter the mosh pit at a folk fest and you'll never wash off the reek of petula oil.

Ford Prefect · 07-22-2010, 03:27 PM

I really hate giving Edmonton credit for anything, but when it comes to folk fests the Edmonton Folk Fest has always kicked Calgary's butt. Gotta give credit where credit is due though.

This year's performers include Alejandro Escovado, Ben Harper, Van Morrison, Jakob Dylan, John Prine, Tom Russell, Patrick Watson, Ron Kavana, Levon Helm, Dave McCann, Terry Morrison, Melanie, John Hammond, Ray Bonneville ... just to name a few.

Here's their full lineup for this year ... http://www.edmontonfolkfest.org/004.....programme.htm

Now that's a folk festival lineup.

algernon · 07-22-2010, 03:44 PM

Well, I'd rather ________, then go to Edmonton.

Good for them.
They need something that delivers up there.

Ford Prefect · 07-22-2010, 04:00 PM

Yeah. Sucks that it's the folk fest though. I'd much rather see that lineup in Calgary than in Perogyville. I'd rather see them have the best hot dog eaters convention or something useless and in character like that.

Cyclops · 07-22-2010, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

I really hate giving Edmonton credit for anything, but when it comes to folk fests the Edmonton Folk Fest has always kicked Calgary's butt. Gotta give credit where credit is due though.

This year's performers include Alejandro Escovado, Ben Harper, Van Morrison, Jakob Dylan, John Prine, Tom Russell, Patrick Watson, Ron Kavana, Levon Helm, Dave McCann, Terry Morrison, Melanie, John Hammond, Ray Bonneville ... just to name a few.

Here's their full lineup for this year ... http://www.edmontonfolkfest.org/004.....programme.htm

Now that's a folk festival lineup.

Is it really better? You say Ben Harper but I think it's Ben Harper & The Relentless Seven....they are brutal.

Ford Prefect · 07-22-2010, 04:14 PM

I don't mind Ben Harper regardless of which incarnation it is, including the Blind Boys stuff. And there are a few other names on the list than just Ben Harper. If you check the full list a lot of the Calgary and Canmore performers will be in Edmonton as well, and neither Calgary or Canmore have the likes of Van Morrison, Jakob Dylan, John Hammond, Alejandro Escovedo, John Prine, Tom Russell, etc. etc. etc. So yeah, I'd say the Edmonton list of performers pretty much out classes Caglary's by several magnitudes. Edmonton sucks maggots. But their Folk Fest is vastly better and always has been.

algernon · 07-22-2010, 04:29 PM

I say next year we have CP meet up at Mulletville's FF next year to class up the joint a little.

octothorp · 07-22-2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

I don't mind Ben Harper regardless of which incarnation it is, including the Blind Boys stuff. And there are a few other names on the list than just Ben Harper. If you check the full list a lot of the Calgary and Canmore performers will be in Edmonton as well, and neither Calgary or Canmore have the likes of Van Morrison, Jakob Dylan, John Hammond, Alejandro Escovedo, John Prine, Tom Russell, etc. etc. etc. So yeah, I'd say the Edmonton list of performers pretty much out classes Caglary's by several magnitudes. Edmonton sucks maggots. But their Folk Fest is vastly better and always has been.

Pretty sure Tom Russell is at Calgary as well, and Alejandro Escovedo is through Calgary enough that it's not really that much of a coup to have him in a folk-fest lineup. John Prine and Levon Helm are the only two on Edmonton's lineup that would really get me excited to see.

Cyclops · 07-22-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

I don't mind Ben Harper regardless of which incarnation it is, including the Blind Boys stuff. And there are a few other names on the list than just Ben Harper. If you check the full list a lot of the Calgary and Canmore performers will be in Edmonton as well, and neither Calgary or Canmore have the likes of Van Morrison, Jakob Dylan, John Hammond, Alejandro Escovedo, John Prine, Tom Russell, etc. etc. etc. So yeah, I'd say the Edmonton list of performers pretty much out classes Caglary's by several magnitudes. Edmonton sucks maggots. But their Folk Fest is vastly better and always has been.

I agree with the Ben Harper comment but his new project is awful, saw them play live and if you are a big fan of someone trying to impersonate Lenny Kravitz then you might enjoy, otherwise it's bad.

As for Jakob Dylan, is he really a big name? New album is okay but as a comparison the Avett Brothers are a better option and they are not in Edmonton. Is Van Morrison relevant anymore? How old is he? Has he put any music out in the last decade? That show was on Wednesday as a seperate concert as well. I'll give you John Prine but Tom Russell is in Calgary.

Po' Girl, St. Vincent, The Swell Season, United Steelworkers of Montreal and Finley Quaye (too bad about him cancelling) are all stellar acts. I'll agree that the pit north of Calgary does get some good acts but Calgary gets some great ones too, the lineups are similar in my opinion.

peter12 · 07-24-2010, 08:21 AM

Did anyone go last night? Holy smokes, I know I'll make some enemies here but I don't get the hype behind Michael Franti. Sure, he's great with the crowd, all friendly and personal, but his songs have about the same content as Fred Penner's.

Swarly · 07-24-2010, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

Did anyone go last night? Holy smokes, I know I'll make some enemies here but I don't get the hype behind Michael Franti. Sure, he's great with the crowd, all friendly and personal, but his songs have about the same content as Fred Penner's.

you will make enemies with talk like that, careful what you say about my man Fred.

MarchHare · 07-24-2010, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

Did anyone go last night? Holy smokes, I know I'll make some enemies here but I don't get the hype behind Michael Franti. Sure, he's great with the crowd, all friendly and personal, but his songs have about the same content as Fred Penner's.

You're not the only one who feels that way. My wife and I went home about 25 minutes into Michael Franti's set. All his songs were upbeat pop melodies (nothing wrong with that per se) with lyrics the likes of which you'd hear on Sesame Street. I wasn't impressed at all, but most of the crowd seemed to love it, so what do I know?

octothorp · 07-24-2010, 09:54 AM

Yeah, I wasn't a fan of Franti last night. What did others think about the guy from Swell Seasons complaining about people talking during his music? On the one hand he was definitely right, we were sitting toward the back and on quieter songs we heard more from the beer gardens then the stage. Still seemed like a bit of a primadonna the way he went about it though.

rubecube · 07-24-2010, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

Did anyone go last night? Holy smokes, I know I'll make some enemies here but I don't get the hype behind Michael Franti. Sure, he's great with the crowd, all friendly and personal, but his songs have about the same content as Fred Penner's.

I can't speak for what was performed last night as I wasn't there, but most of the songs off of his latest album are pretty poptacular and a little weak on the lyrics. Most of the songs off of his previous albums are pretty political.

peter12 · 07-25-2010, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octothorp

Yeah, I wasn't a fan of Franti last night. What did others think about the guy from Swell Seasons complaining about people talking during his music? On the one hand he was definitely right, we were sitting toward the back and on quieter songs we heard more from the beer gardens then the stage. Still seemed like a bit of a primadonna the way he went about it though.

I thought it was pretty unacceptable and egotistical. They played a good set, but jeez, don't act like you're the Stones or anything.

Just came back from Saturday's lineup. Goddam, none of these guys have the pure talent of Ian Tyson. I went to his workshop and saw his set on the mainstage and damn, there are very few greater.

Corb Lund was also superb, as usual. I love the representation of Alberta folk music.

algernon · 07-26-2010, 06:58 AM

I'll have to agree...
This year's lineup was a little weak.
Did anyone see the fist fights that were incited by Mr. Swell Season? A buddy told me the singer told everyone to rush the barricade. I guess some people didn't like their tarps being trampled? It takes a special kind of athol to make hippies fight.

Highlights for me;
Ian Tyson/Tom Russel/Corb Lund/Geoff Muldaur
Collooloosh and Shakura S'aida at the Westin afterparty Saturday night
DJ Logic/Coolooloosh/Natacha Atlas
Haydamaky

I think I figured out why Franti was lacking. He lost his edginess after last year's Appendectomy, which forced him to miss the FF. That, and he used to play a much more electronic sound, which he's got away from.

peter12 · 07-26-2010, 08:18 AM

The best day was Saturday by far.

Highlights for me:

Tyson/Russel/Lund/Muldaur
Avett Brothers
Frank Turner
Hill Country Revue

It was a decent year, but a bit on the weak side, I'd agree. What was with all the Calgary acts?

Weiser Wonder · 07-26-2010, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

Did anyone go last night? Holy smokes, I know I'll make some enemies here but I don't get the hype behind Michael Franti. Sure, he's great with the crowd, all friendly and personal, but his songs have about the same content as Fred Penner's.

I've seen him, wasn't impressed. Not my scene.