This weekend is the Regina Folk Fest and I made a playlist to get a taste of what will be happening here in Regina. For one year only, they added a Thursday night to the Regina Folk Festival! They have partnered with Vancouver, Calgary, Canmore and Winnipeg Folk Festivals for a special Canada 150+ project: Canada Far & Wide: Grands Esprits. This collaboratively curated project celebrates key songs from Canada’s history, performed by seasoned and emerging artists through a quintessential Canadian Songbook selected by the five artistic directors of the participating prairie folk festivals. Through the power of song and the magic of music festivals, this project invites us all to come together in an enriching way to create a better, more inclusive, Canada. It was supposed to be the supergroup of Cris Derksen, Melisende (electrotrad) and DJ Shub joined by local talent Kiera Dall’Osto and Blake Berglund. Unfortunately DJ Shub was unable to attend as his father was having a complicated surgery and he wanted to be by his side. Apparently the surgery went fine and his father is improving. Good news!

Toronto’s Choir! Choir! Choir! were joined by 2 local choirs to feature 3 quintessential Canadian Songs and Dirty Catfish Brass Band got in there as well. This was followed by Vox Sambou, Kacy & Clayton and Eekwol. It was a fun free evening and a good start to the festival!

Another addition is the Friday afternoon Thank Folk It’s Friday workshop of local artists and the beer gardens will be open for business in the afternoon. Friday night main headliners are Coeur De Pirate, Ponteix and Lights. Saturday nights main headliners are Jose Gonzalez and Tegan and Sara. Sunday nights are Marty Stuart and Buffy Sainte-Marie. The day stage workshops run at 3 stages and a children’s stage on Saturday and Sunday. These are often where the magic moments happen. Here’s hoping I find that moment this year. Check out the playlist to find what other artists will be playing or check out the line up at the RFF website.

I must admit I wasn’t very excited about the line up for this years RFF but as I listen to the playlist I felt more hopeful. DJ Shub was the artist I was most looking forward to seeing but there is some talented artists coming to share their music with us. I am keeping my mind and my ears open to what they bring. So far so good.