What's On

Vancouver Folk Music Festival at Jericho Beach Park

2017/07/01 (Saturday)

40th VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL

Jericho Beach Park

Thursday, July 13: Free Opening Night Concert

Friday, July 14 - Sunday, July 16: All Weekend Workshop & Concert Schedules Now Online

Tickets & info: www.thefestival.bc.ca

Vancouver, BC - July 7: The opening night of the 40th Anniversary Vancouver Folk Music Festival is less than a week away, and all systems are go! The festival starts in earnest on Friday, July 14 and runs to Sunday, July 16. Here's an update of the amazing show that's in store next weekend:

Thursday, July 13

Canada Far & Wide: Grands Esprits

7:00pm, Main Stage, Jericho Beach Park

The VFMF presents a FREE opening night concert celebrating its first 40 years and Canada's 150.

The concert showcases an eclectic range of amazing Canadian artists performing songs written by some of Canada's most renowned and talented composers - and making each of those songs their own!

The evening features performances by Cris Derksen, Mélisande [électrotrad], Cold Specks, C.R. Avery, Katie Moore, Jim Byrnes, Women in the Round, Carolyn Mark, Leonard Podolak, The Funk Hunters and Paul Pigat. There's even a sing-along portion, with Toronto's Choir! Choir! Choir!, where everyone gets to join in. Tickets are free and available at www.thefestival.bc.ca

Friday, July 14 - Sunday, July 16

The full weekend daytime workshop and concert stage schedule, as well as the evening concert and Main Stage schedules are now online. 

The festival starts on Friday afternoon, July 14. Gates open at 1pm, with six afternoon workshops starting on three festival stages at 2pm. On Saturday and Sunday, stages start at 10pm and run through to 11pm.

The festival schedule reflects a diverse and talented line up of over 65 artists and groups from more than 20 countries performing on 7 summer beachfront stages. Included are six day stage workshops (sessions or gatherings of different festival artists around a particular theme, shared style or content, or for a range of other interesting reasons). At these workshops, considered by many to be the heart and soul of the VFMF experience, old musical friends connect again and fall into a familiar groove; other artists meet  for the first time on stage to learn about each other and seek common ground. Each workshop is a unique coming together - a one-time, live, event.

Festival audiences can also thrill to concert performances by festival artists - a chance to get to know each and every one of them better - on both daytime and early evening stages.

This year, there are around 50 different workshops and about the same number of individual concerts over festival weekend, plus over 14 evening Main Stage performances.

The full Main Stage line up is on the festival website, as well.

The mix, as always, is a rare feast of brilliant music and incredible variety that showcases a world of music in our own back yard.

Also on tap at the festival:

Gallery 40 - an on-site tent/exhibition featuring 40 years of great images, artwork and memorabilia.

Little Folks Village - with performances and fun activities for kids of all ages.

The Francophone Jam Tent - with activities, jams, workshops and more highlighting the influence of francophone culture at the festival.

The Community Village - featuring local organizations working to make the world a better place.

The Artisan Market and Folk Bazaar - an ample array of one-of-a-kind and imported treasures for the shoppers among us.

Food Area - a roster of delicious international options to tempt every diet and palate.

Check the website often for updated festival news and join the newsletter - sign up online at www.thefestival.bc.ca.