The Regina Folk Festival (RFF) is officially back for its 51st edition in Victoria Park this August 5 to 7, unveiling the first wave of performers today.
It's already shaping up to be a jam-packed weekend: so far, the lineup includes the New Pornographers, Lido Pimienta, Cadence Weapon, Julie Doiron & Dany Placard, Andy Shauf, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jeremy Dutcher, Begonia, Dominique Fils-Aimé, PIQSIQ, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Belle Plaine, Frazey Ford and Leanne Betamosake Simpson, who will also serve as the festival's first-ever guest curator.
"After reading Leanne's book Islands of Decolonial Love: Stories and Songs in 2016, I had to listen to the accompanying nine-track album. It was such a gift to hear her profound and poignant blend of words and music," RFF artistic director Amber Goodwyn said in a statement. "When Leanne's album Theory of Ice was released last year, I was bowled over by its artistry. Unsurprisingly, it was widely recognized as an important album and shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, as well as won the Prism Prize. I can't wait to experience her poetic musicality live at the festival this summer."
In a press release, Goodwyn elaborated on the "Redreamings" theme for this year's fest:
Before plans are made, before bags are packed and instruments tuned; before song takes shape in the mindmouthmusicalbody there is an open space. The beginnings of something unexpected can arrive thanks to the absence of plans, like a dream to a sleeper.
After two years of pause we found a place to imagine newness. Could a festival be a poem? What might a thousand-sided dream sound like?
Through absence and empty stages, we have learned deep lessons about the importance of music, art, and culture. To be human is to be in relationship with one another and ourselves. We make plans to see one another when the time is right and when we meet again in Victoria Park, art is at the heart of what we share: a music festival-as-ritual to help us mark the passage of our summers, our lives.
Let this poem of a festival be a restorative and joyous dream.
To celebrate its long-awaited return after hosting its 50th anniversary iteration in 2019, RFF Lovers' Weekend Passes are on sale here for the next week or until they sell out — whichever comes first.
The rest of the lineup details will be announced on May 3. In the meantime, you can learn more at the festival's website.
It's already shaping up to be a jam-packed weekend: so far, the lineup includes the New Pornographers, Lido Pimienta, Cadence Weapon, Julie Doiron & Dany Placard, Andy Shauf, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jeremy Dutcher, Begonia, Dominique Fils-Aimé, PIQSIQ, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Belle Plaine, Frazey Ford and Leanne Betamosake Simpson, who will also serve as the festival's first-ever guest curator.
"After reading Leanne's book Islands of Decolonial Love: Stories and Songs in 2016, I had to listen to the accompanying nine-track album. It was such a gift to hear her profound and poignant blend of words and music," RFF artistic director Amber Goodwyn said in a statement. "When Leanne's album Theory of Ice was released last year, I was bowled over by its artistry. Unsurprisingly, it was widely recognized as an important album and shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, as well as won the Prism Prize. I can't wait to experience her poetic musicality live at the festival this summer."
In a press release, Goodwyn elaborated on the "Redreamings" theme for this year's fest:
Before plans are made, before bags are packed and instruments tuned; before song takes shape in the mindmouthmusicalbody there is an open space. The beginnings of something unexpected can arrive thanks to the absence of plans, like a dream to a sleeper.
After two years of pause we found a place to imagine newness. Could a festival be a poem? What might a thousand-sided dream sound like?
Through absence and empty stages, we have learned deep lessons about the importance of music, art, and culture. To be human is to be in relationship with one another and ourselves. We make plans to see one another when the time is right and when we meet again in Victoria Park, art is at the heart of what we share: a music festival-as-ritual to help us mark the passage of our summers, our lives.
Let this poem of a festival be a restorative and joyous dream.
To celebrate its long-awaited return after hosting its 50th anniversary iteration in 2019, RFF Lovers' Weekend Passes are on sale here for the next week or until they sell out — whichever comes first.
The rest of the lineup details will be announced on May 3. In the meantime, you can learn more at the festival's website.
