The gates closed on Saturday during last yearB次元官网网址檚 first annual FolkWest Festival, capping off a successful day in Royal Athletic Park for organizers B次元官网网址� but they couldnB次元官网网址檛 have predicted just how electric the night show that followed would be.
FolkWest artistic director Oliver Swain found himself swept up into the moment when Irish band Martin Nolan, Pierre Schryer and Adam Dobres packed LoganB次元官网网址檚 Pub and brought the house down with a dance set.
B次元官网网址淭hat dance floor was just pumping so hard and that was as thrilling to me as anything that happened on the main stage,B次元官网网址� said Swain, who will take his banjo, bass and vocal stylings to LoganB次元官网网址檚 with Emily Braden during the first night of the festival, Aug. 10. B次元官网网址淭hose little moments just came out of nowhere.B次元官网网址�
Swain will continue his long history of performance with Braden the following day when he joins the powerhouse vocalist on the main stage.
FolkWest forges ahead into its second year with 23 performance troupes and almost 40 hours of programming B次元官网网址� including a mix of international and local performers at Royal Athletic Park and three bands nightly at LoganB次元官网网址檚 once RAPB次元官网网址檚 gates close. Emily Braden and the Deepdowns, the Breakmen and Caravan headline the pub Friday through Sunday.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of great local talent and many of them are in demand all over the world,B次元官网网址� Swain said. B次元官网网址淭he concept of the festival is that we have all this great local talent that we want to mix in and celebrate.B次元官网网址�
In an effort to bring a platform for traditional and contemporary folk music back to Victoria following the loss of Rootsfest and FolkFest events in 2002 and 2006, respectively, Swain, along with friends Bryan Skinner, Joelle May, Kelly Sherwin and Adam Bailey, began fundraising in 2009. The Lower Island FolkFest Society gained official status in May, 2010.
Last AugustB次元官网网址檚 event had a stronger focus on local musicians B次元官网网址� a decision based partially on a desire to promote local performers and somewhat on the budgetary confines of launching a festival.
FolkWest 2012 builds on last yearB次元官网网址檚 success B次元官网网址� the event drew 4,500 visitors over the weekend, supported by a crew of 300 volunteers B次元官网网址� and includes more international headliners alongside Victoria acts, such as The Archers and West My Friend.
L.A.B次元官网网址檚 The Milk Carton Kids and Joy Kills Sorrow of Boston are on the lineup, along with the gypsy jazz of Caravan (Marc Atkinson, Chris Frye, Joey Smith and Daniel Lapp), the West African amasumbou music of Aboubacar Camara and Doundounba and Adonis Puentes Band.
B次元官网网址淲hat we really try to do is get together, celebrate and enjoy great, great music in this beautiful city and everything that we have to offer. Bring your family, bring your friends and come celebrate.B次元官网网址�
The celebration includes local artisans, food vendors curated by the Island Chef Collaborative and plenty to keep the kids entertained with MerlinB次元官网网址檚 Sun Puppetry, Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, Sunshine Clowns and the award-winning childrenB次元官网网址檚 artists The Kerplunks on the bill.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e figured out just about every way to have fun on a field, all the different ways you can have fun with grass between your toes.B次元官网网址�
More information can be found on the FolkWest website at FolkWest.ca.
