We are 'beloved'

The Herald this Sunday chose a photo of the folk festival as one of 25 photos that define Calgary.

Here's what it said....

"Calgary has grown into a mosaic of cultural and multicultural showcases that are as cosmopolitan in makeup as they are community-minded in ethos. The beloved folk fest has led the change, becoming a Prince’s Island institution and sparking a multitude of other festivals to dream big."

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Photos+That+Define+Calgary/2977030/story.html

Kerry on Key of A May 15

Our artistic director Kerry Clarke will be on CBC Radio One's Key of A on May 15 to discuss our lineup and profile Alberta artists coming to this year's fest. Tune in!

CFMF named in top 25 International festivals by Songlines

We're excited to hear we'll be part of Songlines UK's festival issue, as one of the top 25 destination festivals.

The April/May 2010 #67 issue of Songlines comes with a compilation CD featuring tracks from the ten Top of the World albums, including Balkan Beat Box, Asha Bhosle and Asere. The CD also includes a guest playlist by actor, comedian and Grammy-Award winner Steve Martin. The issue also comes with a bonus 2nd CD of Iranian Underground music.

Get it from your better booksellers (do those even exist anymore?) or check out their terrific digital edition at www.songlines.co.uk

Win a chance to blog at the festival!

No Depression magazine wants to send you to the folk fest as a blogger. Here's the deets from their website:

We're teaming up to give a lucky ND community member a trip to the festival, where they'll be our on-site blogger for the duration. Included in this covetable prize package is:

Press pass to all four days of the festival
Three-four nights lodging at the Westin Hotel
Access to press tent
Access to side stage viewing area
Access to artist for interviews
Invite to VIP after parties

To enter, create a blog post on this site to talk about any of the artists on the Calgary lineup or an experience you've had at this festival in the past. You are welcome to enter more than once, but make sure the title of your blog post(s) includes the phrase "Calgary Folk Festival" so that we can know it's an entry in this contest. You must be able to actually attend this festival, as you'll be expected to blog about your experience, to share it with the community. (Transportation is not included, and will be your responsibility if you win.)

More info at http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/win-tickets-to-the-calgary

Our 2010 image!

The talented and charming Jon Langford has hit it out of the park again. We are pleased to present the 2010 Calgary Folk Music Festival poster design....

Extended programming Friday July 23!

The Folk Festival gives you permission to call in sick Friday July 23.

How else will you enjoy our extended daytime programming, with three stages presenting concerts and sessions from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm? That adds up to 9 hours of additional programming!

We know many of you are already at the festival Friday afternoon patiently waiting for the gates to open, so wait no longer!

CBC Radio 3 Searchlight: The Best Music Festival in Canada

The Calgary Folk Music Festival has been nominated in CBC Radio 3's Searchlight competition. Now music fans from across the country will determine which fest is the best. Voting takes place at radio3.cbc.ca by clicking on the searchlight promo.


Three years ago, the Globe and Mail declared the Calgary Folk Music Festival to be ‘one of the seven musical wonders of the world.’ A nod from CBC Radio 3 would be the icing on our kudos cake.


And why might we be among the finest festivals in Canada, perhaps even THE BEST? It could be due to the setting: Prince’s Island Park, a forested retreat nestled downtown which houses our 7 stages, family area, beer garden and arts and food markets. You can’t beat the ambiance, setting and array of offerings at Calgary’s annual musical antidote to Stampede mayhem.


Or maybe it’s the cool, relaxed vibe. Here, hippies and CEOs co-exist; the audience ranges from babies to seniors. We’ve been called the loosest and tightest festival, thanks to our organization, great recycling program and contributions of our 1500 community volunteers. It's a safe haven where the usual laws of order, decorum and fashion are temporarily suspended for the weekend.


But of course, it’s really about the music. It has been said that the Calgary Folk Music Festival has the best programming of any of the post-folk music fests; a genre-bending program that cleverly combines roots, world and indie artists from around the globe. It’s the city’s largest annual gathering of original, independent artists. From influential artists who began making music in the ‘60s to innovative artists whose music was created in the last decade, the Festival is a wonderful journey into the heart and soul of the roots and evolution of the music we like to call folk.


Ever-evolving programming pairs musicians in magical collaborations where one-time ensembles are created as artists trade songs and back each other up. Where else can you find Dick Gaughan jamming with Arrested Development, Jason Wilson and Mutabaruka?


Make the 31st annual Calgary Folk Music Festival the soundtrack to your summer, and vote for us every day at radio3.cbc.ca.