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Mission Folk Music Festival line up revealed

The festival brings blues, folk, trad, gospel, country, honky-tonk, Celtic, old-time, and world music from the Cascadia region.
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Attendees at this year’s Mission Folk Music Festival

The Mission Folk Music Festival (MFMF) has announced its line up for the 29th annual event, to be held July 22-24 in Fraser River Heritage Park.

The festival brings blues, folk, trad, gospel, country, honky-tonk, Celtic, old-time, and world music, with over 20 acts, all from the Cascadia region.

New general manager Michelle Demers Shaevitz is steeped in the music of the Pacific Northwest through her long association with the MFMF, her work with Northwest Folklife in Seattle and many other festivals west of the Rockies.

“We are blessed with a rich musical diversity,” she said. “Many of our performers this year are very well known by our audiences, others will be completely new. That’s what this festival is renowned for, those exciting moments of discovery.”

Highlights include Canadian icon Shari Ulrich with her daughter Julia Graff, blues legend Jimmy D. Lane, Lion Bear Fox, the gospel of The Sojourners and the west coast Cuban sound of La Candela.

Country star Angela Harris joins in on a special edition of the venerable Grrrls with Guitars series hosted by Nadine Davenport.

There will be plenty of cross-pollination on other collaborative stages from the Indo-folk of singer/songwriter Ranj Singh to the percussion madness of world artist Boris Sichon.

Workshops include Hawaiian steel guitar with master luthier Michael Dunn; French Canadian stepdance, Northwest style with Podorythmie and a chance to be part of the MFMF choir.

The newly minted Children’s Area features the pure magic of storyteller Jean Pierre Makosso and much more.

Friday and Sunday events are by donation as organizers ask patrons to “pay what you can.” Saturday’s show is $29 per person (+GST) in recognition of the festival’s 29th year. Youth rate (13-18) is $10 and children 12 and under are admitted free.

On-site camping will be offered on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets for Saturday and camping are on sale now at missionfolk.brownpapertickets.com

For the full line up visit missionfolkmusicfestival.ca.