• British Columbia,  Grade A Festivals

    Vancouver Folk Music Festival

    The Vancouver Folk Music Festival (Vancouver, BC) July 17-19, is a Canadian cultural institution; a unique community-based celebration internationally renowned for presenting the finest traditional and contemporary folk and roots music from around the world. Each year, the Festival draws more than 40,000 enthusiastic attendees to beautiful Jericho Beach Park. Two and even three generations of families join friends and fellow community members to experience the music and culture of more than 40 international, national, and local artists. They come together to dance and to enjoy food and children’s activities – and the magical ambience of the Festival. The Vancouver Folk Music Festival has received an ‘A’ grade on the…

  • Grade A Festivals,  New Brunswick

    Tay Creek Folk Festival

    Started in 2008 by Jenifer Jobbins, the Tay Creek Folk Festival (Tay Creek, NB) July 17 – 19, is an annual opportunity for New Brunswick musicians to gather & perform in a beautiful country setting. Tay Creek Folk Festival has received and ‘A’ on the Canadian Festival Report Card for the past two years. Visit their website for tickets and lineup info! http://taycreekfestival.ca/

  • Grade A Festivals

    Dawson City Music Festival

    The first Dawson City Music Festival (July 17-19, 2020, Dawson City, Yukon) took place in 1979. It was an intimate, two-day affair among friends, comprising a jam session on a West Dawson farm and a dance at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s. Quickly realizing that the Festival was too good a secret to keep, an enterprising band of local volunteers incorporated the Dawson City Music Festival Association in 1980, and received charitable status in 1986. Since then, the event Vancouver’s Georgia Straight dubbed as “Canada’s tiny, perfect Festival” has developed a reputation as one of the nation’s premiere musical events, but its strengths have remained the same: unparalleled intimacy, grassroots spirit, fabulous Klondike hospitality,…

  • Grade A Festivals,  Saskatchewan

    Ness Creek Festival

    Ness Creek Cultural and Recreational Society presents the Ness Creek Festival (Saskatoon, SK) July 16-19, is reputed as “The best time you can have in one weekend!” Four Magical Days celebrating Music, Arts, Community and Ecology in the breathtaking setting of the Boreal Forest. Over 30 Main Stage performances, Workshop stage, Eco-Village, Artisan Market, Community Kitchen, Children’s Area, Drum and Dance Circle, Community Sharing Circle, After Hours Tent, and more. Immerse yourself in the Magic of Ness while staying in our rustic campgrounds. The best part is that camping is free with a weekend pass! Feel the sunshine on your face, dance to the beat of live music, breathe the fresh…

  • Grade A Festivals,  Newfoundland & Labrador

    Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival

    The Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Arts Society Festival (St. John’s, NL) July 10-12, is an incredible weekend of entertainment for the whole family. Spread out over three exciting days, the Festival is the coming together of community and culture. Come and enjoy a weekend of celebrating Newfoundland & Labrador’s unique culture with great traditional music, interactive workshops, local art work and craft and plenty to eat, drink, see and do. This is a friendly festival that attracts people from all over the world, and it is heralded as one of the province’s premiere cultural events. The Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival has received an ‘A’ grade on the Canadian Festival…

  • 2018 festival report card
    Articles,  Canadian Festival Report Card

    2018 Canadian Festival Report Card

    The 2018 Canadian Festival Report Card is here, and the results are heartening. Canadian Festival Report Card: 2018 Highlights 57 festivals were graded at an ‘A,’ up from 34 in 2017 113 festivals were graded Every province and territory in Canada is represented in this report card As a group, these 113 festivals get a ‘B’ grade, booking 43% women-identifying or non-binary artists (up from 36.5% women-identifying or non-binary artists in 2017) This is a big improvement, but we have questions: are women getting headlining slots? Are racialized and LGBTQ artists getting booked? Are women, racialized people, and LGBTQ people getting paid equally in comparison to their white, straight, Cis,…