At this summer’s Regina Folk Festival, you’ll have a smile on your face listening to Alan Doyle, but you won’t have four walls around you at Victoria Park.
The 52nd version of the festival has former Great Big Sea frontman Doyle and other headliners like The Strumbellas, Grammy-nominated Allison Russell, and the Halluci Nation.
But that’s not all that’s there, according to Amber Goodwyn, Festival Artistic Director.
“This year as well, our festival’s name is Web of Life: Music and Community in Harmony with the Earth, so we’ve had some artists that have been brought in by our guest curator, Music Declares Emergency,” she said.
Those acts include Logan Staats and The Weather Station.
Other artists include artists suggested through the Regina Folk Festival community wishlist survey.
Re-imagining the festival after a two-year-hiatus due to the pandemic, wasn’t east in 2022. Some volunteers had major changes in their lives, some of their suppliers went out of business and businesses changed. Goodwyn hopes this year will be a smoother ride behind the scenes.
Of course, if you’ve been before you can count on the things you love.
“Which is, three main stage concerts, two wonderful afternoons of free music and cultural programming all in Victoria Park,” Goodwyn said. “We’re going to be having after-parties at the Artesian each of the main stage nights, and also an online panel about climate and music and how they intersect, and lots lots more.”
The festival includes a youth stage, free daytime concerts and workshops, a children’s area with music, dance and crafts and many other activities.
“Last year and this year, what we’re doing with the youth stage is we’re increasingly trying to have young people program (and) decide who’s going to be on that stage from year to year,” Goodwyn said. “As well as have older youth and teenagers on that stage.”
Goodwyn said they have Regina band The Whats on stage, as well as young poets on Sunday.
Tickets are available at the Folk Festival’s website: reginafolkfestival.com
