Island MusicFest executive producer Doug Cox went to the well one more time for the final headlining act of the 2018 event, as Arlo Guthrie will return to the scene of his 62nd birthday party.

Guthrie played at the 2009 festival, and is looking forward to spending time with friends when he returns to the Comox Valley in July.

B次元官网网址淭his year thereB次元官网网址檚 some old friends IB次元官网网址檓 looking to catching up with - Ry Cooder, David Amram, Josh White Jr., are just a few that come to mind,B次元官网网址� he said in an interview with The Record. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e known and loved these guys for most of my life. ThatB次元官网网址檚 one great reason for coming this year.B次元官网网址�

Much like Arlo, whose father, Woody Guthrie, was one of the founding superstars of contemporary folk music, Josh White Jr. also comes from folk stardom. His father, Josh White, was one of the first African American performers of contemporary folk music.

The ageless Amram was also from that era. The 87-year-old multi-instrumentalist has played with everyone from Pete Seeger to Dizzy Gillespie, and will share the stage with Arlo and White, Jr. for a special collaboration at MusicFest.

B次元官网网址淭he three of them, along with Eliza Gilkyson, are going to do a tribute to Woody Guthrie at our festival, which will be pretty amazing,B次元官网网址� said Cox. B次元官网网址淎rlo often gets asked to do tributes to his father, but probably not often with people who knew his father.B次元官网网址�

Guthrie said the festival ambience is always appealing to him, and gives him a chance to spend time with other musicians he might not otherwise get a chance to socialize with.

B次元官网网址淯sually festival performances are somewhat shorter, as there are many other performances within the same time frameB次元官网网址� So [I have] the ability to hang out with performers I donB次元官网网址檛 usually get to be with. I love being backstage meeting younger people, and sharing some time with old friends.B次元官网网址�

The family-oriented atmosphere of Vancouver Island MusicFest is a perfect fit for Arlo GuthrieB次元官网网址檚 philosophy of his music.

B次元官网网址淔olk music has always been family-oriented,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淔rom learning to play it, to appreciating it later in life, there is a thread that connects generations of people. For me, thatB次元官网网址檚 one of the unique joys of doing what we do.B次元官网网址�

His current touring band is very much a family affair, with his son, Abe, his daughter, Sarah Lee, B次元官网网址渁nd our buddy Terry Ala Berry.B次元官网网址�

He said he will have some spare time this year, to catch not only some of the other acts, but some of the area as well.

B次元官网网址淚 always try to catch other performers when weB次元官网网址檙e doing the same gig B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 really the only time I get to do so,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that he will be arriving in the Comox Valley the day before the festival begins, and staying until the day after his performance.

ItB次元官网网址檚 been 51 years since the release of GuthrieB次元官网网址檚 iconic album, AliceB次元官网网址檚 Restaurant. When asked about the lasting ability of the title song, AliceB次元官网网址檚 Restaurant Massacree, he was ever-philosophical.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been thankful for the enthusiasm with regard to AliceB次元官网网址檚 Restaurant but thereB次元官网网址檚 always a difference between whatB次元官网网址檚 popular, whatB次元官网网址檚 important, and whatB次元官网网址檚 now. Sometimes theyB次元官网网址檙e all the same, but not often.B次元官网网址�

At 70 years old, Arlo Guthrie continues to tour and fans are still discovering his music. While his career is closer to its end than its beginning, Guthrie said he has no concerns of the folk music genre lasting; itB次元官网网址檚 a style that carries on in perpetuity.

B次元官网网址淚 stand on the shoulders of giants of the generation that came before me, Lead Belly, Pete Seeger, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson - the list is fairly long. Those are some that I actually knew. There are many others I admired and learned from, like Lord Buckley. However, I never associate folk music as being a genre. For me it was always the way someone learned to feel about music in general - any kind of music, from symphonic to some kid humming a tune. That kind of feeling you discover becomes part of your life, and as long as thereB次元官网网址檚 people, there will be some who discover the treasure and language of music.B次元官网网址�

Arlo GuthrieB次元官网网址檚 main stage performance will be Sunday, July 15.

Weekend passes are available at