Canmore Folk Music Festival July 30 to Aug 1 2011

Folk fans who just didn’t quite get their fill last weekend at the Calgary Folk Festival are going to be flocking down the highway this week for the 34th annual Canmore Folk Music Festival, July 30 to Aug. 1 in Canmore’s downtown Centennial Park.

The longest-running folk festival in Alberta, the Canmore Folk Festival is renowned for its intimate atmosphere, superb music selection and unparalleled backdrop of majestic mountains. Featuring more than 50 craft, community and food vendor booths, three workshop stages, three evening concerts and a free children’s concert, the festival annually draws 3,000 to 5,000 fans daily.

This year, kids will be entertained with crafts, a climbing wall, bouncy castle, clowns, jugglers, story tellers and much more.

Throughout Sunday and Monday on the workshop stages, magic happens regularly when musicians from around the world meld their talents and create the kind of impromptu kitchen party music of which memories are made.

This year’s line-up includes Canadian ukulele maestro James Hill, California’s David Lindley, Vancouver based band Delhi 2 Dublin, Canada songwriter Joel Plaskett and pride of Newfoundland, the Once.
For a full line-up, visit the festival website at www.canmorefolkfestival.com.

The weekend kicks off with a free Festival Friday at the Canmore Civic Centre, where Andy Donnelly from CKUA’s The Celtic Show will be broadcasting live from 6pm to 8pm, followed by live music from Michael Bernard Fitzgerald. On the same evening at 8.30pm there will be a U22 Showcase concert at the Communitea Café showcasing some of Alberta’s most promising young talent. Ken Whiteley entertains the young ones Saturday from 1 pm to 2pm in a free Children’s Concert at the Canmore Seniors Centre, and the advance ticket gates open Saturday at 3.30pm for the first of three nightly concerts.

Advance tickets are on sale via TicketPro on the Festival website, the Tin Box, Stonewaters Home Elements, or the Phone Store in Canmore or the Phone Store in Banff. The final chance to buy tickets at the advance ticket price will be Friday night (July 29) at the street event outside the Canmore Civic Centre. Tickets will also be available at the gate Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

For more information about the Canmore Folk Music Festival, including the schedule of events visit www.canmorefolkfestival.com.