With the 45th annual Calgary Folk Music Festival set to hit Prince’s Island Park July 25 to 28, The Scene offers a starting point to help you navigate your way around the island as you take in some of the 70 artists and more than 80 shows that comprise this year’s fest. And if you’re on your way to one show and get snagged hearing music at a different stage on your way by, no matter. That’s the essence of folk fest — wandering and wondering as you fall in love with bands and artists you’ve never heard of.
Thursday, July 25
The Mariachi Ghost
9:25 to 10:30 p.m., National Stage 4
This Winnipeg outfit takes their musical musings beyond songs, as they dress in mariachi-inspired clothing, Mexican Day of the Dead calaka-inspired makeup, and feature other-worldly dancing.
Friday, July 26
GHOSTWOMAN
5:00 to 5:50 p.m., Community Natural Foods Stage 6
Something about this Alberta-rooted duo’s psychedelic musings, updated for this era, makes you want to park in their garage for a while with the tunes cranked all the way up.
Cowboy Junkies
8:50 to 10:05 p.m., ATB Mainstage
In 2021, when Folk Fest held a COVID-modified version of the festival called Summer Serenades, Cowboy Junkies were the sweethearts of the event for good reason, just as they were sweethearts of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Their simple, stripped-down songs have staying power because they speak to the ages. We’re thrilled to see them back for the full meal deal festival.
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
10 to 11 p.m., National Stage 4
When these Austin musicians create a beautiful musical car crash at the intersection of soul, garage rock and funk, they pick up whatever pieces they want from the wreckage and keep strutting.
Saturday, July 27
Move on Up
Black Joe Lewis, Robert Finley, Charlie Parr
12:55 to 2:05 p.m., Field Law Stage 3
This trio of wise souls in variegated bodies offers a liberal dose of food for thought along with their melodies.
Sunny War, 3:20 to 4:05
Community Natural Food Stage 6
Nashville-born, street-worn singer Sunny War has much to say about beauty and injustice, and she’s equally adept at saying it with her voice and her guitar-callused fingers.
Deer Tick
10 to 11 p.m., National Stage 4
These Providence boys take a staggering, tilt-a-whirl swirl with their naked folk roots showing beneath their crown of punk. With eight studio albums ripe with gems to pick from and a penchant for playing Nirvana and Hank Williams covers, they can’t miss — and you shouldn’t miss them!
Sunday, July 28
Divine Intersection
Julianna Riolino, Deer Tick, Kue Varo, MOONRIIVR
10:30 to 11:40 a.m., Field Law Stage 3
Wobbly pop between grungy cranks of guitar and revelations clear and true as the stars, these artists will indeed turn any place they meet up into something divine. Extra points for seeing Calgary’s simultaneous fire god and goddess, Kue Varo. You’ll be hooked.
Pipe Up!
Kue Varo, NYSSA, Sunny War, Allegra Kreiger
4:20 to 5:30 p.m., Community Natural Foods Stage 6
With Varo’s let-it-fly musical diamonds, NYSSA nuzzling Patti Smith for inspiration, the sky falling into War’s fingers and coming out though her guitar, and Krieger exposing life’s startling little truths with detached aplomb, this is the place to get your ya-ya’s out ‘cause winter’s always coming.
Fantastic Negrito
7:35 to 8:40 pm, ATB Mainstage
This California any-which-way groover stole the show at last year’s fest. People came to the island without knowing his music and left with his name on their lips and his songs in their hips.
Booker T presents: A Stax Revue
8:55 to 10:15 p.m., ATB Mainstage
From his Green Onion origins far in the misty past to his current 10-piece, horn-laced band who turn up the Stax flame, classic is as classic does, and classic rules when it’s Booker T.
Visit calgaryfolkfest.com for more information and tickets.
