Thursday, May 29, 1997
The Edmonton Folk Music Festival could do with a new slogan: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
During a press conference yesterday, folk fest producer Terry Wickham focused more on what hasn't been changed than what's new for this year's festival, running Aug. 7-10 in Gallagher Park.
First, the lineup.
As in previous years, it's star-studded enough to practically guarantee a sellout for the third year in a row (Wickham said he's taking bets), but not too mainstream to compromise the 18-year-old festival's integrity.
Canadian country-rock stalwart Blue Rodeo closes off opening night on Aug. 7; Pope-ripping songstress Sinead O'Connor performs Aug. 8; Iris DeMent headlines Aug. 9; John Hiatt closes out Aug. 9 with a solo set; reggae-meister Lucky Dube plays the Aug. 10 afternoon and "Americana" legend John Prine closes off the festival that evening.
Joe Ely returns, this time with his band. Juno award winner Fred J. Eaglesmith is back. And Wickham even booked Chip Taylor, the man who wrote Wild Thing.
Dozens of other acts - from Colin James to Colin Linden, from Great Big Sea to Gatemouth Brown, from Marc Jordan to Edward II, from Mara! to Maracujah! - promise the same rich variety of music the folk fest has been known for. There's something for the rock crowd, the blues crowd, the country crowd, the bluegrass crowd and even the jazz crowd.
Folk music, said Wickham, can transcend such genres.
"I don't like to describe people as crowds," he said. "I think they're fans of music. Folk can break down those boundaries. We've got Mose Allison, who might be considered jazz; we've got Sinead O'Connor, who some people consider rock. We don't break it down into those kind of categories.
"We want fans of music more than fans of a particular genre - and fans of the event."
As in previous years, paid attendance will be capped at 10,000, although it's likely to be close to double that amount given the fact that seniors and kids under 12 are admitted free.
The most noticeable change this year is a $5 increase in ticket prices for adults. It's now $75 for an adult pass until the end of June, and, if there are any left, $85 in July. Youth prices remain at $45.
No service charges or GST are added.
Folk fest fans would probably pay even more - as it is, it works out to a mere $19 a day - "but what we're known for is being fair," Wickham said, also noting that you won't find beer or T-shirts any cheaper at other festivals. "We keep our prices deliberately low. And the fact is, we're improving the show."
It's as sure as sugar we'll all join hands and sing Four Strong Winds when it's all over.
Tickets for the Edmonton Folk Music Festival go on sale June 2 at Ticketmaster (451-8000) and various other outlets. Call 429-1999 for more information.
