- Jann Arden - Behind the powerful voice is a friend of Alberta's folk festivals, a CKUA supporter and a gifted singer/songwriter who has remained rooted in Alberta. Edmonton's favourite Calgarian returns to close mainstage on Sunday night.
- Balfa Toujours plays infectious accordion-led numbers and heart-felt twin fiddle pieces, all played with the relentless emotional edge characteristic of the Cajun tradition.
- Barachois plays Acadian traditional music-a rhythmic high voltage style of Celtic origins born in the heart of a tiny French community on PEI.
- Moe Berg - Pursuit of Happiness leader returns to the EFMF with his unique take on life, love and politics.
- Ray Bonneville is an accomplished guitarist and harmonica player, mixing musical styles, blending blues, country and rock elements to an intoxicating down home cocktail.
- Bill Bourne - A festival favourite returns with his brilliant songwriting and musicianship.
- Billy Bragg - We've waited for a long time to present one of the best songwriters in the world. At last...
- Richard Buckner is a singer/songwriter in the country-folk vein with a sandpaper baritone. His shimmering guitar work delivers his material with a frayed, convincing passion.
- Buckwheat Zydeco - The pride of Lafayette, Louisiana and his band lock into a ferocious groove of accordion-powered Creole dance music.
- Capercaillie - Karen Matheson's vocals highlight the music of Scotland's foremost traditional folk group.
- Susan Crowe - Elegant and understated, Susan Crowe's music possesses a poet's sensibility and a precise musicality. She will be joined by John Reischman (mandolin) and Brent Gubbels (bass).
- The Dead Reckoners - Nashville's super group is made up of Kevin Welch, Kieran Kane, Tammy Rogers, Mike Henderson, Harry Stinson and Alison Prestwood. Superb.
- Edmonton Art Gallery - This year EAG will host the Loonie Art Laboratory in the family area. Great for artists of all ages.
- Ramblin' Jack Elliot is a Grammy award winner who personifies the footloose, carefree, hitchhiking sing-for-your-supper troubadour.
- Jay Farrar (of Son Volt) - Lead singer/songwriter of Son Volt makes a rare solo acoustic appearance. An EFMF debut.
- The Festival House Band - Amos Garrett (guitar) returns with Kit Johnson (bass), Ron Casat (piano), Rusty Reed (harmonica), Michelle Josef (drums), and Dave Babcock (horns).
- Norman Foote - His clever songs, outrageous props and an offbeat sense of humour have delighted audiences across North America.
- Roy Forbes - Known for his intense guitar playing and a voice part Roy Orbison, part Billie Holiday, Roy Forbes makes a welcome return to the EFMF.
- Jennifer Gibson returns to this year's festival on the heels of her new recording Be The Woman. Her music explores themes of independence, love won and love lost
- Arlo Guthrie is a singer/songwriter who grew up surrounded by the legends of North American folk music. Arlo has developed a distinctive style of his own over the past 30 years. An EFMF debut.
- Emmylou Harris - For over 20 years multi-Grammy award winner Emmylou Harris has nourished the souls of people hungry for great music. A highly anticipated return to the EFMF.
- Alvin Youngblood Hart became an acknowledged leader in the current revival of acoustic country blues following the release of his stunning 1996 debut Big Mama's Door.
- Colin Hay was lead singer/songwriter of Australia's Men at Work. A unique and powerful voice backed with skilled instrumentation delivers his songs straight to the hearts and minds of any audience.
- Chester Knight and the Wind - Juno Award nominee Chester Knight and the Wind fuses folk, roots with Aboriginal beats and melodies. Songs of desperate heartache to a tribute to Tecumseh, are woven together by Chester's haunting voice.
- The Holmes Brothers are a unique blend of blues, gospel, soul, R & B and country that "suggests holiness but breathes the late-night juke joint air."
- Imagination Market - Show off your creative side with the re-use of wonderful and unusual reclaimed discards at the imagination market.
- Jerusalem Ridge only reunite for special occasions. We are delighted to have Canada's top bluegrass band.
- Paul Kelly is a brilliant Australian singer/songwriter and a dynamic live performer. He makes a welcome return to the EFMF.
- Luann Kowalek - Her instinct for imagery, melodies and honest lyrics make her an EFMF favourite. She returns this year, with new songs from her latest release, Late Night Heroes.
- Jennifer Kraatz played violin, clarinet and saxophone before graduating to guitar and songwriting in 1993. A festival debut for an artist born and raised in the folk-based community of Riverdale.
- Lhasa first appeared on a Canadian stage in 1992. Her innate sense of theatre grabs a hold of the audience. Her dramatic performances bring her audience to its collective feet, demanding more and more songs, each time she appears anywhere.
- The Lonesome River Band - Exceptional songwriting, coupled with vocal and instrumental prowess have made this group the leading contemporary band in bluegrass music.
- Baaba Maal Featuring Daande Lenol (Band) combines the timeless Fulani musical traditions of the tiny northern Senegalese villages with the cutting edge of contemporary Western music.
- Celso Machado is a Brazilian guitarist and composer who blends Moroccan, Egyptian, Portuguese and Brazilian influences into his own sound.
- Ashley MacIsaac and the Kitchen Devils - A very welcome EFMF debut to this young talented musician who has introduced the fiddle to a whole new generation of music lovers.
- Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited - Thomas Mapfumo's consistent visionary outlook and musical innovations have made him a guiding spirit of Zimbabwean music and culture.
- Terry McDade and the McDades - Harpist Terry will be joined by family members Solon and Jeremiah, along with fiddler Shannon Johnson and percussionist Dwayne Hrynkin.
- Mike McDonald - Former leader of Junior Gone Wild, singer/songwriter Mike McDonald plays this year as a solo performer.
- Big Dave McLean has been playing and singing the blues for close to three decades and was the 1998 recipient of the "Great Canadian Blues Award" on CBC.
- Jay McShann - With a half a century in the music industry as pianist, singer and band leader, he retains the ability to impress audiences with his powerful keyboard work, amiable and laid-back vocals, and his ability to swing a band.
- Buddy & Julie Miller - Singer/Songwriters, husband and wife, the Millers will bring their talents of writing and voice to the EFMF for the first time.
- Mortal Coil is known for brilliant stilt performances in stunning costumes. A touch of magic for our festival.
- Mountain Song - Contemporary music blended with traditional native dances and songs create a vivid theatrical experience.
- Maria Muldaur - If popular music has a Renaissance woman, most likely it is Maria Muldaur. Blues, rock, jazz, big band swing, folk, Broadway tunes, gospel, country and children's fare...Maria sings it all brilliantly.
- Muzsikás and Márta Sebestyén- Long celebrated as one of the world's great traditional singers, Sebestyén is the featured vocalist on The English Patient's Soundtrack and is joined by Hungary's premiere folk group.
- Nomos - Formed in Cork, Ireland in 1990, Nomos are simply one of the most exhilarating traditional bands on the Irish music scene.
- Joan Osborne - Incorporating everything from gospel to Appalachian country vocal techniques, this native of Anchorage, Kentucky belts out an amazing range of music rooted in her powerful voice and her stunning lyrics.
- Dan Penn/Spooner Oldham - Major songwriter (Dark End of the Street) is joined by super session keyboardist along with the Festival House Band for a very special occasion.
- Mike Plume Band has been described as alternative country with an edge. Bob Seger's crusted croak mixed with Springsteen images translated into a Canadian sensibility.
- Wyckham Porteous is one of the most gifted singer/songwriters on the scene today. With songs rich in vivid details and characterization, Wyckham seeks knowledge, wisdom and refuge with the same breath.
- The Duke Robillard Band - Duke's signature guitar sound, flawless taste and unflagging invention has been acknowledged by Bob Dylan and Stevie Ray Vaughan and led Muddy Waters to say "Duke, if I had you, I'd rule the world."
- Don Ross is a Montrealer who has established himself as one of the world's premiere acoustic guitarists. He was the first Canadian to win first place at the US National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship.
- Yan Kuba Saho is a master Kora player from Gambia who performs songs honouring patrons, friends, and historical figures.
- Martin Sexton is a master of dynamics who can reduce an audience to silence with his blustering baritone and tease that silence with a fluttering falsetto.
- Silk Road have met with success playing bold and colourful arrangements of Chinese traditional music mixed with western performance techniques.
- Martin Simpson is a guitar player's guitarist. His consummate skill and depth of playing is matched only by the range of his material and the passionate expression he brings to each performance.
- Chris Smith - Guitarist and singer/songwriter in his own right, Chris brings his musical talents to the EFMF.
- Chris Smither makes a welcome return to this year's festival. He is a consummate singer/songwriter and musician. "A one-man band to the bone."
- Bob Snider is a brilliant and hilarious songwriter and charming live performer who was nominated for a Juno in 1998.
- Spirit of the West - Fresh on the heels of one of their finest albums Weights and Measures, Geoff, John, Tobin, Vince and Hugh make a long awaited return to the EFMF.
- Mark Sterling Band - Mark will be joined by Edmonton's Calvin Volrath (fiddle), Mike Lent (bass) and Gordie Matthews (guitar).
- Sweet Honey in the Rock is the most famous group of African American a capella women singers in the world of folk music. Simply spellbinding.
- Tapia Eta Leturia - High energy music from Basque. The pair's musical performance has been described as "rousing the denizens of hell and raising priestly hackles with their wild fandangos." A feast for the ears.
- Tarika is roots music from Madagascar. Expect virtuoso traditional music with the energy of punk rock.
- Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir - Linda Tillery's own music reflects both her extraordinarily eclectic interest and her restless inquiries into African American culture. This a cappella group will dazzle once again.
- Toots and the Maytals - It doesn't get any better in the world of Reggae. Toots is a powerful vocalist and performer and a reggae legend.
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