WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA – For release Saturday, March 14, 2009
Unforgettable female vocalists, new alt.folk sensations, compelling singer-songwriters, and legends of African music, folk, and bluegrass – all these and more are coming to the 36th annual Winnipeg Folk Festival July 9-12 in Birds Hill Park.
It should come as no surprise that this year’s artists are a diverse and talented group of performers, whether they are long-time folk friends or up-and-comers waiting to be discovered on a workshop stage.
Leading the way is prairie girl and multiple Grammy and Juno award winner k.d. lang, back for the first time since 1985, when she appeared with The Reclines. Lang will close the show Sunday night, following a must-see performance by folk legend and political activist Arlo Guthrie, who is appearing at the festival for the first time.
Two more distinctive female voices will rise up from the festival’s main stage: that of Neko Case, performing songs from her critically acclaimed CD, Middle Cyclone; and Toronto’s Serena Ryder, who will leave festival goers wanting more of her husky vocal delivery and distinctive self-penned songs.
This year’s festival welcomes a new generation of musicians who masterfully blend musical styles and put their unique stamp on the familiar: Josh Ritter with his thoughtful lyrics, Toronto’s Great Lake Swimmers with their heartfelt alt.folk sound, and festival favourite Xavier Rudd from Australia, with his socially conscious themes and, of course, his didgeridoos.
