Edmonton Folk Music Festival lineup: Allison Russell, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Taj Mahal join The Roots and Mt. Joy

Calgary Herald

28-05-2025

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As far as general operations go, no big announcements this year — more food trucks, some extra shade, that sort of thing — though we did get a bit doomy talking about worst-case scenarios if fire season forced a cancellation due to air-quality safety.
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'A couple of rainfalls this week were good,' says Wickham. 'The farmers need rain, the gardens need rain — it just makes the place look better. But I don't think that's going to have any impact on August.
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'We're in for a dry spell coming up, so we'll see if things start to spark up.
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'I mean, wildfire smoke is an existential threat to all the festivals outdoors.'
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That consideration aside, costs have also been reliably rising, especially headliner fees.
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'It's doubled or quadrupled, post pandemic,' notes the producer of the non-profit festival. 'Dynamic pricing, excess demand, etc. And it won't stop until people stop buying tickets at crazy prices.'
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This makes it especially noteworthy that ticket and pass prices this year are holding steady, no increases.
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'We could go up and people would grumble,' says Wickham, but I'm so tired of inflation everywhere, that at least one place, for one year, we can hold the line.'
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He notes the folk fest will always continue to do what it can, and that 'money is not everything to all the artists.
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'They do look for special places to play,' says Wickham, noting Ben Harper once said it was his favourite. 'And I did hear two band members from The National talking and saying, 'Which is your favourite, here or Red Rocks?' So that kind of thing is nice to hear.'
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Bringing it home, the local acts include AV & the Inner City, St. Albert's Current Swell, Nîpisîy, Secondhand Dreamcar and let's note Shaela Miller's country music by way of Lethbridge. School of Song will also highlight local talent Asiah Holm, Halfway Home, Sam Steffen and Tayler Grace, and the Nikamowin indigenous programming will spotlight even more locals by the fest's central tipi.
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'There's a lot of great talent out there,' says Wickham. 'I said yes to a lot of people who have been knocking on the door for a few years.
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'About 60 per cent of the artists have never played here before. We haven't been too nostalgic. So I feel good.'
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Pre-GST and fees, adult personal weekend passes (25-64) are $234, single tickets Thursday or Friday are $109, and Saturday or Sunday $115.
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AHI
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Allison Russell
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AV & the Inner City
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Aysanabee
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BALTHVS
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Blackburn Brothers