Organizers for the long-running Ottawa Folk Festival have rebranded the event for 2015, announcing a new name and location for the next instalment. Re-imagined as CityFolk, the festival will be taking place at Lansdowne Park in the new year.
The festival's executive and artistic director Mark Monahan noted that the new location is more central and easier to get to, insisting that the move is a "positive" change.
"Our decision was also influenced by the fact that it's a beautiful new facility — situated downtown with the canal running alongside it — and it offers all kinds of options and infrastructure for staging the event," Monahan said in a statement. "We have a longstanding and very productive relationship with the City of Ottawa as well, and as an anchor event this move has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm on their part."
Mayor Jim Watson approved the move, saying: "This is exactly the kind of event that will help showcase and celebrate this unique new community gathering place."
As for the new name, Monahan feels that the new location presented a fresh branding opportunity. "Since we're moving to the heart of the city, and we want all music fans in Ottawa to feel a kinship with the festival," he said. "We felt CityFolk would resonate with them."
The event will take place from September 17 to 20 with a lineup announcement scheduled to arrive in the spring. Last year's event featured performers like Lorde, Neutral Milk Hotel, the National, and much-publicized performances from Sun Kil Moon and the War on Drugs.
The festival's executive and artistic director Mark Monahan noted that the new location is more central and easier to get to, insisting that the move is a "positive" change.
"Our decision was also influenced by the fact that it's a beautiful new facility — situated downtown with the canal running alongside it — and it offers all kinds of options and infrastructure for staging the event," Monahan said in a statement. "We have a longstanding and very productive relationship with the City of Ottawa as well, and as an anchor event this move has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm on their part."
Mayor Jim Watson approved the move, saying: "This is exactly the kind of event that will help showcase and celebrate this unique new community gathering place."
As for the new name, Monahan feels that the new location presented a fresh branding opportunity. "Since we're moving to the heart of the city, and we want all music fans in Ottawa to feel a kinship with the festival," he said. "We felt CityFolk would resonate with them."
The event will take place from September 17 to 20 with a lineup announcement scheduled to arrive in the spring. Last year's event featured performers like Lorde, Neutral Milk Hotel, the National, and much-publicized performances from Sun Kil Moon and the War on Drugs.
