Edmonton folk fest organizers unveil 'dream' lineup for summer 2022 return
Edmonton Folk Music Festival's 2022 lineup includes acts organizers have been trying to snag for years.
Festival producer Terry Wickham revealed the event's full lineup on Wednesday, adding to the list of knowns – including The National, Buffy Sainte-Marie, The War on Drugs – headliner Canadian country musician Orville Peck, string band Old Crow Medicine Show and San Franciscan La Doña.
"Because of our budget and because there's so much good music out there, every year we have at least a very good lineup. But some years we have a great lineup, and this year is a great lineup," Wickham said at a news conference Wednesday morning, noting several featured bands have declined previously.
"The National, that's a dream come true for us. We've been trying it, as I say, for a long, long time. Couldn't quite believe it when they said yes," Wickham commented.
The American rock band will close Saturday night.
Old Crow Medicine Show, along with Mick Flannery and Susan O'Neill and Lord Huron, will close the festival on Sunday.
"We've been trying to get [Old Crow Medicine Show] for a long time, so that's going to be exciting."
Wickham attributed the big lineup to luck and momentum.
"It seemed like we got one or two big names, the others seemed to come along," Wickham recalled. "2020 wasn't that kind of year. It was a struggle to get the lineup I wanted."
The main stage will also host KALEO, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Allison Russell, Larkin Poe, and Matt Andersen.
Altogether, there are nearly 60 scheduled performances, plus the event will feature "impromptu" performances from Indigenous artists throughout its site.
NO RESTRICTIONS, JUST 'ADVICE'
Although there are no government mandated COVID-19 restrictions, organizers of the folk festival are implementing some precautions, like switching to compostable plates instead of reusable plates and encouraging payment by card.
"We're outdoors, that'll help. We'll be looking at shuttle vans and points of contact. We're mask friendly. But we won't have any restrictions for the audience. Just advice and signage. If you're going into the porta potty, I'd wear a mask. Maybe two," Wickham joked.
The festival has maintained a dynamic health policy, so protocol could change if organizers deem it necessary. But they're hopeful they won't.
"It's time to celebrate, time to come back together as a community," Wickham said.
"You know, I think this town needs the folk festival."
Tickets to the 43rd festival go on sale online June 4. Ticket prices are available online.
Organizers announced in February the festival would happen after being cancelled for two years.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.