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| John Rutherford, Mighty Popo, Des Temps Antan, Deep Dark Woods |
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| This girl is with Alpha Yaya Diallo and it is amazing to watch her dance |
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| Tim Robbins |
This year I became a newbie volunteer for the Edmonton Folk Fest. This was the 31st year for the festival and it has grown into one of the best in the world. Word is the musicians love the festival and want to come here. Check the web page to see the line up
http://www.edmontonfolkfest.org/
One of the great things about this festival is the location. it is on a ski hill in the City's river valley. 14,000 paying customers cover the site. Over 2,000 people volunteer to make the festival happen. Janiva Magness was very thankful to the amazing organization that happens every year and the wonderful job done by the volunteers. I agree. Seeing it from the inside this year, it is amazing.
The crowd that goes to the folk fest are a very seasoned crowd. They know the music. They know the routine. They come prepared for anything. As can be expected in Edmonton, the weather can change in an hour, so you need to be ready for anything. Saturday night was no exception. In the middle of the evening main stage show, there was a deluge of rain. It is quite a sight to see all the rain gear come out and change the landscape on the hill within seconds. No one left. It could have rained all night. They would still be there.
My job was driving shuttle vans for volunteers and performers. I did drive a few of the performers. The biggest name that I delivered to the site is Tim Robbins and his band. You know Tim Robbins from the movies - Bull Duram and Shawshank Redemption. Shawshank is one of my all time favourite movies, so to have one of the stars in that movie in my van, sitting beside me. Very very cool. But then he didn't say hi, ask how's it goin, nor did he even say thanks. I didn't think it was my place to be intrusive either. so it was a quiet ride. Many of the other performers did talk along the ride and were very friendly and appreciative for the ride. But then, they weren't big movie stars either. they are working musicians and nice people.
The festival has 7 stages. 6 side stages and the main stage. During the day, all 6 side stages are active and picking which one to go to is quite difficult. there is good stuff happening at them all. Here's a few photos of the performers I did get to see.
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| Janiva Magness |
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| Guy Clark |
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| Mary Gautier |
At the end of each night the music doesn't stop. The volunteers and performers head to the after party. It ends some time after 4 am. That's when I left.
One of the great things about this festival is the location. it is on a ski hill in the City's river valley. 14,000 paying customers cover the site. Over 2,000 people volunteer to make the festival happen. Janiva Magness was very thankful to the amazing organization that happens every year and the wonderful job done by the volunteers. I agree. Seeing it from the inside this year, it is amazing. 
The crowd that goes to the folk fest are a very seasoned crowd. They know the music. They know the routine. They come prepared for anything. As can be expected in Edmonton, the weather can change in an hour, so you need to be ready for anything. Saturday night was no exception. In the middle of the evening main stage show, there was a deluge of rain. It is quite a sight to see all the rain gear come out and change the landscape on the hill within seconds. No one left. It could have rained all night. They would still be there. 
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