Brandon Folk, Music and Art Festival has more country flavour this year

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This article was published 18/07/2017 (2977 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This year’s Brandon Folk, Music and Art Festival will have a little bit of a country feel in addition to stellar performances by international folk icons.

The 33rd annual festival is kicking off Friday, providing an opportunity for local acts and international performers to share the same stage.

“The music is top tier — it can compete against any major folk festival going on across Canada,” festival artistic director Shandra MacNeill said. “This year, we have a lot of artists who performed at Dauphin’s Countryfest … we’re really excited to have a few more country artists on the bill because we know that Brandon has a real fondness for country music.”

English singer-songwriter Richard Thompson, named one of the Top 20 Greatest Guitarists by Rolling Stone Magazine, will be headlining the festival alongside American singer-songwriter Greg Brown and Manitoba group The Madtrappers, fronted by Richard Inman.

Juno Award-winning Leaf Rapids are also included in this year’s lineup, fronted by husband and wife duo Devin and Keri Latimer. The Manitoba band recently released a new album, “Lucky Stars.”

Other acts include Carly Dow and The Whole Damn Band, Kayla Luky, Joey Only, The Micah Erenberg Band, Bobby Dove, Nation of Two, Sebastian Owl, Dwayne Dueck, Katie MacDonald Band and Vince Andrushko.

“I don’t book anybody who I don’t firmly believe in and am really excited to see, so there’s some young performers I’m just as excited to see as the headliners,” MacNeill said. “Everybody who is booked this year is of incredible quality.”

Ever since volunteering when she was 15 years old, MacNeill has been involved with the Brandon Folk Festival — taking the position of artistic director in 2008.

Organizers keep the best elements that work every year, MacNeill said, while continuing to improve and grow.

“Brandon (audiences) are pretty specific about what they enjoy and what they want, and it’s really just good live music outside during the summer. We try to do the best of that as possible,” MacNeill said. “I enjoy how it brings the community together to celebrate. It also brings in a lot of people from out of town — like hundreds of people from out of town come to Brandon — and I think it’s really good to have excited, fresh faces around during the year.”

This year, the festival also received a record number of applications for Under the Canvas, the community marketplace where artists, craftspeople, and community not-for-profits display and sell their work.

Food vendors are also lined up, including Charming Spot Chinese food, Little Europe and Forbidden Flavours.

Like every year, the festival aims to provide a relaxed atmosphere — where people can enjoy music, the beautiful weather and a delicious dinner in the same venue, MacNeill said.

“It’s a little more relaxed, a little less intense and more intimate. You’re closer to the stage because there aren’t 30,000 people around you,” MacNeill said. “You’re still getting the same quality of performer, you just happen to be 15 feet from them.”

Tickets are still available online, with special early bird prices — $69 for a regular weekend pass, $59 for students/seniors — available until the end of Thursday. Day passes are also available online, as well as campground passes.

For tickets and more information, visit brandonfolkfestival.ca.

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