Time to pack up your boots and haul out your festival chair. The 34th Annual Calgary Folk Music Festival is around the corner (July 25-28, 2013) and Prince’s Island Park is a go following the great flood of June 2013.
This year, look forward to seven stages, a talk tent, global eats and of course the tree-shaded beer garden. One of the stages and the artisan market will be located across the bridge at Eau Claire due to the flood.
As always, in addition to the straight up performances by the bands, artists will collaborate onstage in unique “arranged marriages” of sorts.
As a primer, here are some highlights from the Mainstage:
Thursday
M. Ward – This singer-songwriter hails from Portland, has played Glastonbury and has guest recorded for Cat Power (see Saturday). He famously recorded the duet She & Him with Zooey Deschanel. Check out his show for “piano-driven tunes and ruminative, dark songs with spare arrangements plus intriguing electric-guitar shuffles and angelic orchestral, vocally-layered sounds.”
Alabama Shakes – A score for the Fest, they’ve eschewed the world of complicated genres and call themselves Rock and Rollers. Their first single was “Hold On” and they’ve skyrocketed to success. Check them out for heart-rending lyrics, groove and space-laden songs.
Friday
Bahamas – From Toronto, this is Afie Jurvanen’s solo project. He’s played guitar for Feist and Howie Beck, and is described as “a stripped-down, contemplative sound” with “stylish retro-minimalist and fluid folk rock [that] envelop themes of longing and lost relationships”.
Thievery Corporation – This this group is headed up by DC-based recording artist and DJ duo Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, along with a cast of supporting artists. It’s part electronica, part downtempo space rock. If you’re down with funk, soul, dub or reggae, check out these skilled session players.
Saturday
The Cat Empire – The Aussie funk/rock/ska crew is described as a “wild spontaneous explosion of melody and rhythm containing many flavours and a beat owned by no single nation.” They’ve been together since 1999, have heavy Latin influences and a lot of horns.
Steve Earle – The roots singer-song writing Grammy-winning legend will grace the main stage Saturday at 9:50pm for his fifth appearance at the Folk Fest. He was last at CIFF in 2005, and the crowd can look forward to his political edge and country/roots rock sound.
Sunday
World Party – This British alt rock solo project of Karl Wallinger has been around since the 80s. He cites being influenced by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys and Neil Young. He’s recovered from a brain aneurysm and is back with his “cerebral, erudite pop essays, drenched in gorgeous melodies.”
Kurt Vile and the Violaters – A former member of the indie band The War on Drugs, the artist has material ranging from reflective psychedelic to vividly intense. Check out a tune and circle them on your festival schedule.
Creedence Clearwater Revisited – No need for a time machine; these rock and roll hall of famers have revived the classic songs of CCR with this new chapter of their legacy. Here’s hoping they play Green River on the Island formerly covered by the river.
For full schedules and tickets, call 403-233-0904 or visit calgaryfolkfest.com.
