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 Peterborough Folk Festival set for this weekend 'We’re not just looking for the grey ponytails and Birkenstocks’ It’s not all about hippies and folk music. The 15th annual Peterborough Folk Festival, set for this weekend, is intended to be an experience for all members of the community to enjoy, says the vice-chairperson of the volunteer committee that brings the event to the city each year. “I think it’s essential we provide a place where people can express their own creativity,” says Michael Martyn. “We provide a forum where all of these different things can be expressed. If we can facilitate that, it’s an essential community service,” he says. “We’re not just looking for the grey ponytails and Birkenstocks.” The Sunday festival, from noon to 11 p.m. in Rotary Park, features 20 artists with a diversity of genres of music. This year’s festival celebrates the music of contemporary, aboriginal artists, says Michael. Canadian finger-style acoustic guitarist Don Ross, blues guitarist George Leach, folk artist Leela Gilday and harmonica player Dave Mowat are on the bill. The event gets underway with The BeBop Cowboys, a country/swing band from Toronto. The free festival began 15 years ago with a few artists congregating in Del Crary Park. It’s grown considerably since, and organizers are always planning years ahead. “We’re a small, free festival. We’re always starting on next year.” For example, in 2005, the City’s centenary year, the Festival will feature only local bands. But it’s not only about music. There’s a healing arts fair, where practitioners will offer free demonstrations of massage, reiki and other alternative healing modalities. “It’s really an integral part of this festival.” The venue for the folk festival, like others, has always been outdoors. “When you’re outside, there’s less demand for structure. For a folk festival specifically, so much of the music and creativity revolves around grassroots inspirations. You find you have to have that interconnectedness you have outside when you’re exposed to the earth.” Michael says the folk festival cultivates a different side of people in an atmosphere that encourages openness. “People are more relaxed and less self-conscious.” “We’re creating a cultural space for the community,” says Michael. “That goes a long way to creating a peaceful community.” Events on Friday and Saturday evening pay for the festival. Murray McLauchlan and Anne Lindsay play Showplace Peterborough on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $27 at Showplace. On Saturday, residents can take part in the Club Crawl, which features 15 acts at five venues. Tickets are $15 and available at Titles Bookstore, Moondance and Bluestreak Records, all located on George Street North. For more information, visit www.peterboroughfolkfestival.org |
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