| VOLUME 21 #7 As the 38th annual Folk Harbour Festival draws near, we continue to highlight musicians who will be on the stage from August 10 to 13, 2023. We also remind you of the great music available every Saturday this summer though our Saturdays in the Park series.  Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival 2023: August 10 to 13—Music by the Sea!  Wharf Stage, David and Freda Baillieul photoFull Festival schedule The full schedule for the Folk Harbour Festival weekend is available here. As usual, there will be concerts, song circles, talks, participatory workshops in singing and dancing, and of course, the Sunday morning gospel concert. Please note that schedules and lineups are subject to change. Passes and individual tickets for the Folk Harbour Festival can be purchased at the Folk Harbour office, 125 Montague St., Lunenburg, (902) 634-3180. The office is open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Purchases can also be made online through Ticketpro. 2023 Festival passes and tickets  All ticket sales are final. Biographies of Folk Harbour Festival musicians Previous editions of Folk Lines have highlighted some of the musicians that will be on our Festival stages in August; more musicians’ biographies are given here.  Lennie Gallant A native of Rustico, PEI, Lennie Gallant has released fourteen albums (11 in English and three in French), has performed with symphonies and for troops in Afghanistan, has participated in tributes to the Titanic and Canada’s hockey heritage, and has even had his music sent to the International Space Station.  Photo by Raez ArgullaKaia Kater A Montreal-born Grenadian-Canadian,Kaia Kater grew up between two worlds: the Canadian folk music scene, where her family has deep ties, and the years she spent soaking up Appalachian music in West Virginia. Her old-time banjo-picking skills, deft arrangements, and songwriting abilities have garnered her widespread critical acclaim. Her 2018 recording, Grenades, was nominated for a JUNO and was long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize.  Photo by Irene YoungHolly Near with Jan Martinelli After 50 years of bold work, Holly Near remains a consistent, well-informed, and powerful voice for change. Many of her songs are anthems. In response to the slaughter of students at Kent State in 1970, she wrote “It Could Have Been Me”, and her song, “Singing For Our Lives”, has become an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community.  Crys Matthews & Heather Mae Crys Matthews was nothing short of a sensation when she performed at the 2022 Folk Harbour Festival, and she was immediately invited for a return engagement, this year appearing with Heather Mae. Both Crys and Heather unabashedly tackle social justice themes including Black Lives Matter, Me Too, LGBTQ+ equality, mental health, women’s rights and more. Together, they are two forces of nature, spreading their messages of social justice, hope, and love.  Hauler Hauler is a group that seamlessly blends and bends roots, rock, and traditional Cape Breton Celtic music into a sound like no other. Made up of members of Atlantic Canada’s reggae-rock band, Slowcoaster (singer and guitarist Steven MacDougall and bassist Mike Le Lievre) and fiddler Calen Kinney of The Stanfields, Hauler delivers entertaining and energetic stage shows.  Red Moon Road Red Moon Road is a Winnipeg-based trio consisting of Sheena Rattai (vocals, percussion), Daniel Jordan (vocals, guitar, bass, drums), and Daniel Péloquin-Hopfner (vocals, mandolin, banjo, lap steel, keys, and synthesizers). Evolving from acoustic folk-roots, their sound currently integrates Sheena’s powerful vocals with lush pop harmonies and nuanced arrangements that combine percussion, banjo, slide guitar, and synthesizers. Folk Harbour’s Festival artists As of the this year’s Folk Harbour Festival, everyone who was scheduled to play at the cancelled 2020 Festival has had the opportunity to appear on our Festival stages (unless the group disbanded in the meantime). We are proud to fulfill our obligations to the hard working, touring musicians who keep the industry vibrant.To hear samples of the musicians who will be taking to the stage during the Folk Harbour Festival, check out this Spotify playlist or this shorter playlist.  Volunteer at the Wharf in 2022, David and Freda Baillieul photo Volunteer opportunitiesAs a Festival that is largely powered through volunteer efforts, we are always looking for people who have the time, interest, and energy to help. There are available roles in almost every area: box office, hospitality, site, and more!We have a particular need for people to drive musicians to and from the airport…it’s a great opportunity to get to spend time with some of our Festival musicians! Contact the Folk Harbour office at (902) 634-3180 or logistics@folkharbour.com for more information. Saturdays in the Park, 2023 Every Saturday until September 2, we will present a free, open-air concert from 2 to 3 pm at the Bandstand in Lunenburg (with the Lunenburg Opera House as a rain venue). On July 1, Skellum (Eilidh Campbell, Charlie Wilson, Andy Webster, and RJ Genge) appeared in what was a joyous and uplifting concert. On July 8, Newfoundlanders Rosemary Lawton and Clare Follett treated us to traditional ballads and original tunes. See the schedule below for the rest of the amazing lineup.  Skellum, Garry Woodcock photo  Rosemary Lawton and Clare Follett, Garry Woodcock photo Saturdays in the Park schedule July 15 — Geoff Arsenault July 22 — Ced, Marty, and Dave July 29 — HuDost August 5 — Brigid August 19 — Ol Billy Bob Boy August 26 — Kim Dunn September 2 — Moira & Claire We gratefully acknowledge our Saturdays in the Park sponsors who allow us to offer these concerts free of charge: TD Bank Group, the Town of Lunenburg, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, and Kinley Drug PharmaChoice Lunenburg.  The 38th annual Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival takes place from August 10 to 13. The next Folk Lines will be a special edition full of useful information about the Festival.  |
Folk Lines – July 2023
Folk Lines – July 2023
Folk Harbour
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization. They are focused on preserving and celebrating the tradition of folk music through educational programs, youth scholarships and showcasing world-class musicians from across Canada, United States and beyond.