'We're very happy': Edmonton Folk Fest ready to welcome music fans on the hill
For the next four days, the hills at Gallagher Park are going to be packed with folk music fans.
One of the capital city's most popular summer events, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, starts Thursday night and runs until Sunday.
"Everything's going well. Ticket sales are great. Weather forecast is great. Doesn't get any better. We're very happy. We're really happy. The smoke stayed away," festival producer Terry Wickham told CTV News Edmonton at Gallagher Park on Wednesday.
"What we don't like to see is 35 C. It sparks forest fires that can affect us with smoke, and it's really hot to deal with. We're looking at 23 to 25 C temperatures, which actually is perfect."
Wickham is also excited about the lineup, which includes headliners Black Pumas, Blue Rodeo, and Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.
"There's all sorts of Grammy Award winners," he said. "Black Pumas are very popular. We had them confirmed in 2020, but of course, that festival didn't happen. So delighted to see them back. Ben Howard has been here before, very popular. Blue Rodeo, of course. There's only about 80 tickets left now for Blue Rodeo tomorrow night. And of course, the closing Alison Krauss with Robert Plant. Alison's been with us a few times before, but Robert, it's his first time at the festival, so we're really, really pleased about that."
The festival is offering free admission for Jasper residents Thursday night after wildfire destroyed part of the mountain town.
Wickham hopes the gesture will help Jasper residents find a "sense of community" as they remain away from their homes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada says government should be ready to prevent pilots from striking
Air Canada said on Thursday that the federal Canadian government should be prepared to intervene to prevent a pilots' strike that could begin as early as next week.
Earthquake rattles the Los Angeles area
An earthquake was felt widely in the Los Angeles area Thursday morning.
Ontario woman misses flight to funeral due to airline ticket typo
An Ontario woman admits she was flustered and stressed trying to book an airline ticket when she found out a close relative had died last month.
'An unfortunate waste of resources': Ontario woman facing criminal charge following water gun incident
A Simcoe, Ont. woman is facing an assault with a weapon charge after she said that she accidentally sprayed her neighbour with a water gun over the Labour Day weekend, a situation that at least one legal expert says amounts to an ‘unfortunate waste of resources.’
The man who discovered Churchill's picture was stolen was treated like a suspect; now he's being honoured
When the 'Roaring Lion' portrait of Winston Churchill is returned to the Fairmont Château Laurier, a 68-year-old man once considered the prime suspect in the heist will have the honour of replacing it.
What passengers need to know about their rights ahead of a potential Air Canada pilots strike
While Air Canada has shared advice for travellers ahead of a possible pilots strike, an airline passenger rights advocate has more tips for Canadians who may be affected.
WATCH LIVE @ 12 EDT Consul general to New York to answer questions over $9M luxury condo purchase
After weeks of pressure, Canada's consul general Tom Clark will testify on Thursday before a House of Commons committee about the purchase of his new official residence in New York that generated a lot of political attention over the summer.
Sobeys parent company Empire reports $207.8M Q1 profit, sales up from year ago
Empire Co. Ltd. says it earned $207.8 million in its latest quarter, down from $261 million a year ago as its sales edged higher.
Ottawa resident who tested positive for mosquito-borne virus dies, public health says
An Ottawa resident who died of a viral encephalitis this summer tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV), the first human case of the virus in Ottawa.