The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is a highlight of summer in Vancouver and has been for almost half a century. This year’s Folk Fest, which took place from July 17 to 19, marked the music festival’s 49th year. Next year, the VFMF will celebrate the milestone of 50 years sharing and celebrating folk and roots music.
Folk History
Founded in 1978, the first year of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival was held in Stanley Park but every subsequent festival since has been held at Jericho Beach Park. This location is ideal. The festival grounds are sprawling and reach from Fourth Avenue all the way to the sand at Jericho beach. Within this space are live music stages, markets, multiple beverage gardens, shaded tables, a pond, a children’s area, as well as plenty of space to stand, sit, and dance.
The fest has three smaller stages in addition to the big main stage. The smaller South and East stages are nestled in the woods while the backdrop of the main stage is the beach, the ocean, and the North Shore mountains. To be a part of the dancing crowd painted gold by the setting sun while a band plays the main stage is an unforgettable and quintessential VFMF experience.
Live Music From Day to Night
The location is partly why the VFMF is such a pleasure to attend. Of course, the high calibre of the contemporary folk and roots musicians who take the stage(s) is the main reason. Each year, the Festival welcomes tens of thousands of attendees to experience the music of more than forty international, national, and local acts.
“This year’s schedule really reflects the spirit of discovery, connection and community that defines the Vancouver Folk Music Festival,” said Fiona Black, Artistic Director of the VFMF.
Attendees can choose to check out as much or as little of the three day festival as they wish. You can buy tickets for the whole weekend of just one day. The advantage to having a pass for the whole weekend means you can come and go as you wish.
Programming stretches from 10:30am to 10:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. During the day, musicians play at the smaller stages and then main stage performances begin at 6pm. The energy, vibe, and style of musicians can vary depending on the stage. For example, the forested smaller stages are well suited for more intimate and emotional performances. While the West Stage has the most room for dancers to gather so the acts there tend to have higher energy.
Program Highlights
I caught singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and anti-racism activist Bia Ferreira on the West Stage in the early afternoon on Saturday, July 18 and the crowd was enthralled. Ferreira defines her music as MMP: Música de Mulher Preta (Black Woman Music) and it is impossible to hear it without dancing, whether in your seat or on your feet.
Another wonderful feature of the VFMF is that different bands come together for special festival-only performances. Global Ties That Bind was hosted by Empanadas Ilegales who brought Maruja Limón, El Balcón, and Yagódy together for a latin-inspired dance party. This joint performance had the crowd moving as one like a pulse.
More mellow daytime tunes were found at the East Stage where ex-school teacher Jeffrey Martin paired his gruff voice with only his guitar in songs about heartbreak and his hometown of Portland.
As day turns to evening, the Main Stage performances commence. On Friday night, Sweden-based, Australian-born Hazlett drew a slightly younger crowd. Mitchell Lewis and his band shared songs from their latest album last night you said you missed me with the enthralled audience.
While Billy Bragg was perhaps the most hotly anticipated headliner of the festival, I most enjoyed Tami Neilson. Her latest album Neon Cowgirl encapsulates her Country and Rockabilly style. Neilson is a Canadian-born talent and her powerful voice carried far across the beach.
A Festival For All Folks
The VFMF programming team ensures there is something at the festival for everyone. More than just a music festival, the VFMF is a community-based celebration and all are welcome.
Children who can attend the festival for free get to explore the Little Folks Village. This vibrant, creative, and playful space has activities and programming geared specifically towards little ones.
When it comes to welcoming everyone, accessibility is a high priority for the VFMF. Priority seating and assistance are available. Plus, the festival offers enhanced audio accessibility for hard-of-hearing patrons. Because of the efforts that organizers put into accessibility, the atmosphere of the VFMF is inclusive and the audience is diverse.
To feed this diverse audience, the VFMF brings local food trucks on-site. They offer a wide range of food including vegan and vegetarian options.
If you’re a Vancouver Folk Festival regular, you know just how magical it is. And if you’ve never attended, it is worth experiencing because it is rightfully an iconic Vancouver summertime event that is fun for the whole family.
