Matt Andersen (Canada/NB)
Matt has a larger than life showmanship that has been earning him a fervent and steadfast audience wherever he graces the stage. His sprawling blues, roots and rock musical hybrid with his sorrowing and soulful voice and astonishing guitar-playing make his appearance at the EFMF highly anticipated.
Karla Anderson (Canada/AB)
Karla’s live performance exudes a genuinely passionate delivery, and holds a powerful connection with her audience. She is truly a gifted performer who leaves audiences wanting more.
Aurelio and Garifuna Soul (Honduras)
Aurelio Martinez is one of the most extraordinary and passionate Garifuna artists of his generation. He follows in the footsteps of the legendary Paranderos of the Carribean coast of Central America to become the new voice of Parandea. Acclaimed for both his preservation and modernization of the Paranda musical tradition, Aurelio’s virtuosity is found in his distinctive, penetrating vocals and his talent as a composer.
Baka Beyond (UK)
are musicians from six countries on the Celtic fringes of Europe and the West coast of Africa who join together to play the most original live world fusion sound around. The spirit of the music lives in the rhythm. All Baka Beyond’s rhythms are played by human beings, not machines.
Del Barber (Canada/MB)
Born and raised on the prairies, Del Barber has found a new home on stage, winning audiences across Canada and the United States with raw talent and ample doses of charm. This is his EFMF debut.
Keola and Moana Beamer (USA)
are Hawaii’s First Couple, touring the world to present their unique vision of Hawaii’s cultural arts. Keola is a master of Slack Key, the mellow, melodic guitar style indigenous to Hawaii, and Moana is renowned for her mastery of authentic Hula dancing.
Andrew Bird (USA)
is a Chicago-based American musician, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He sings, he whistles, he shifts from violin to guitar to glockenspiel. His distinctive style has been described as updating the traditions of small-group swing, German leider, and New Orleans jazz, mixing gypsy, folk, and rock.
Blackie & the Rodeo Kings (Canada/ON/NS)
originally formed in 1996 when Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson came together to record what was supposed to be a one- off tribute album to the great Canadian songwriter Willie P. Bennett. Their 2011 release Kings & Queens pairs the band with some of their favourite female singers and friends.
Bill Bourne (Canada/AB)
was raised in a musical family in rural Alberta. When he was 2 years old, he was known to sleep behind the piano at country dances. The love of nature, music and of people gathering for celebration has been with him for his whole life.
Pieta Brown (USA)
Distinguishing herself from the crowd of singer/songwriters Pieta is being called “one of the best modern songwriters” (Sonic Boomers) and “a genuine talent” (iTunes). Or, as one of Pieta’s own songwriting heroes, Iris DeMent, put it, “one of the best poets I’ve heard in a long damn time.”
Ane Brun (Norway)
is a songwriter, guitarist and vocalist originally from Norway. Since 2000 she has lived in Stockholm. She has received rave reviews all over the world and received a Norwegian Grammy for best female artist in 2005. This is her EFMF debut.
Brandi Carlile (USA)
After her stellar performance at last year’s festival, Brandi Carlile makes a welcome return to the EFMF. The Seattle-based singer-songwriter was named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 10 artists to watch for. Elton John said “Brandi has an amazing voice, she’s a great songwriter and has a tremendous career ahead of her.”
Guy Clark (USA)
doesn’t merely compose songs; he projects images and characters with the kind of hands-on care and respect of a literary master. Clark works slowly and with strict attention to detail, and has produced an impressive collection of timeless gems, leaving very little waste behind.
JP Cormier and the Elliott Brothers (Canada/NS )
began playing guitar, self taught, at the age of 5 and quickly became immersed in the rich musical heritage of his Cape Breton roots. Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, sideman, innovator, recording artist, award winner. His names are many and wherever he goes he brings his unique brand of joy to audiences.
Amelia Curran (Canada/NF)
A songwriter by trade, but a writer at heart, Curran believes language is everything. She describes the craft of songwriting as an act of “expressing the inexpressible, a means of describing the indescribable.”
Kat Danser (Canada/AB)
Edmonton-based guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Kat Danser throws down funky, laidback rhythms and thought-provoking lyrics. Her Swamp Blues style, steeped in early roots and blues traditions, distills a refreshing approach to roots, blues, and gospel music for the 21st Century.
De Temps Antan (Canada/PQ)
Since 2003, Éric Beaudry, André Brunet and Pierre-Luc Dupuis have been exploring and performing time-honoured melodies from the stomping grounds of Quebec’s musical past. Using fiddle, accordion, harmonica, guitar, bouzouki and a number of other instruments, the three virtuosos blend boundless energy with the unmistakable joie de vivre found only in traditional Quebec music.
The Deep Dark Woods (Canada/SK)
The Deep Dark Woods approach their instruments with studied respect for the honoured traditions of the shadowy side of roots music. This Saskatoon group are known for their versatility, sifting through different sounds and styles.
Deer Tick (USA)
is a Providence, Rhode Island folk indie band making their EFMF debut. Band leader and lead singer John McCauley’s sound has been described as if he’s been gargling gravel with moonshine. He can croon, he can yelp and he can shout. He’s a superb lead singer, backed by a talented band.
Delhi 2 Dublin (Canada/BC)
Hour Magazine wrote that “Delhi 2 Dublin is the United Nations of rock ‘n’ roll”. The Vancouver, Canada-based band plays an energetic mash-up of Bhangra, Celtic, Dub, Reggae and Electronica with global rhythms and club beats.
Gaye Delorme (Canada/AB)
With the passing of Gaye Delorme, we have lost a man who could do it all from—gut wrenching blues to improvisational jazz-influenced experimentation to stunning flamenco styling.
For memorial information please see our News section http://www.edmontonfolkfest.org/gaye-delorme
Alpha Yaya Diallo (Canada/BC)
is a uniquely multi-talented artist. His dexterous acoustic and electric guitar-playing, with its fluid melodic lines and compelling grooves, places him in the front ranks of African axemen.
Etran Finatawa (Niger)
is a Niger based band, formed in 2004, as part of the Festival au Désert near Timbuktu. Their sound blends North African Woodabe and Tuareg styles with modern music, such as electric guitars. They have extensively toured the world, including Europe and the United States, since 2005.
Fearing & White (Canada/Australia)
Here is a project that is greater than the sum of its parts. When those two parts are as individually talented as acclaimed singer/songwriters Stephen Fearing and Andy White, you know you’re in for a unique listening experience.
Jeremy Fisher (Canada/ON)
Canadian folk-pop troubadour Jeremy Fisher first broke onto the scene a decade ago, and since then his career has been on a steady upward trajectory. He favours unusual instrumentation like the mandolin and ukulele and prefers to tour countries by bicycle.
The Flatlanders featuring: Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore & Butch Hancock (USA)
were formed in Lubbock, Texas, in 1971, and its three main members were all singer-songwriters and guitarists: Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. Ely met Gilmore in Lubbock and, realizing they shared a love of Jimmie Rodgers, they formed a traditional country band. Always a welcome EFMF addition.
Amos Garrett & the Festival House Band (Canada/AB/ON)
The festival band returns once again with Amos Garrett (guitar), Kit Johnson (bass), Michelle Josef (drums), Ron Casat (keys), Rusty Reed (harmonica) and Dave Babcock (horns).
Mary Gauthier (USA)
is no stranger to the EFMF. She has created six groundbreaking albums of original songs, and has more than a dozen years of experience recording and touring around the world as well as a harvest of music industry awards, and covers of her songs by a roster of great artists .
Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes and Tonino Baliardo (France)
are a group of musicians from Arles and Montpellier, France who perform in Spanish with accent from Andalucía. Although group members were born in France, their parents were mostly gitanos, Spanish Romani people who fled Catalonia during the 1930s Spanish Civil War. An EFMF debut.
Gough, Clancy, Bracken & McCarthy (Ireland)Donnchadh Gough plays bodhran and uillean pipes; Donal Clancy is on guitar; Daire Bracken is on fiddle and Benny McCarthy plays button accordion and together they are the original members of Danú.
Nanci Griffith (USA)
At the age of 6 she began to write songs, thinking of it as “part of the process of learning how to play guitar.” Then at the age of 14, when a campfire turn at the Kerrville Folk Festival caught the ear of singer-songwriter Tom Russell, she was on her way. Having recorded 18 albums and performed concerts all over the world, it’s safe to say that she’s never looked back.
The Holmes Brothers (USA)
Over the course of their 30-plus year career, The Holmes Brothers (bassist/vocalist Sherman Holmes, guitarist/pianist/vocalist Wendell Holmes, drummer/vocalist and brother-in-spirit Popsy Dixon) have been feeding the souls of their devoted and ever-growing fan base with a joyous and moving blend of blues, gospel, soul, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll and country.
Ron Hynes (Canada/NF)
Frequently referred to as the “man of a thousand songs”, Ron Hynes’ songs have been covered by dozens of artists worldwide, including Emmylou Harris, Christy Moore, Mary Black, Denny Doherty, Murray McLauchlan, and most recently, classical soprano Hayley Westenra.
Wanda Jackson (USA)
When the justly crowned Queen of Rockabilly, recorded Let’s Have A Party, a tune she made into a hit of her own in 1958 even after one-time boyfriend Elvis Presley had released a version of it, her delivery of the chorus wasn’t so much a suggestion as a command. Her latest album, The Party Ain’t Over, was produced by Jack White and indicates, this feisty septuagenarian artist is as galvanizing as ever.
Sarah Jarosz (USA)
emerged on the acoustic music scene as a mandolin wunderkind in her young teens. Jamming onstage with bluegrass icons David Grisman and Ricky Skaggs, she played with a sure touch and real joy that belied her years. She quickly picked up the guitar and banjo. While her instrumental talents are formidable, Sarah is an equally gifted vocalist and songwriter.
James Keelaghan Trio (Canada/ON)
is one of Canada’s international stars. His passionate mix of roots rock, Americana, and contemporary folk has established Keelaghan’s presence in Europe, Australia, and North America. While growing up in western Canada he studied history, which became a major catalyst in his song writing.
Angelique Kidjo (Benin)
Born in west Africa, Angelique Kidjo is a Grammy award-winning recording artist deemed “Africa’s premier diva” by Time Magazine. Kidjo’s internationally acclaimed repertoire includes collaborations with various recording artists such as Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, Alicia Keys, Josh Groban, Branford Marsalis, Joss Stone, and many more
Kíla (Ireland)
The Dublin-based jam band septet Kíla exploded onto the Irish music scene. Hailed as “the future of Irish music” by Hot Press, the band has captivated audiences with transcendental performances fusing Celtic and world idioms.
The Amazing Kreskin (USA) With a showman’s flair, a comedian’s wit, and the capacities of a bona fide Mentalist or thought reader, The Amazing Kreskin has, for some six decades, dramatized the unique facets of the human mind…his own. His very name has become an integral part of pop culture throughout the world.
k.d. lang and The Siss Boom Bang (Canada/AB)
k.d. lang is no stranger to this part of the world and will once again grace the EFMF mainstage. Joined by her band the Siss Boom Bang, she will close our festival for 2011.
Lissie (USA)
was born in Illinois, on the banks of the Mississippi River. She’s a straight-talking Midwesterner, all flaxen hair and big blue eyes, and this woman is gutsy and tough, with a big old voice to match it.
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band (USA)
Lyle Lovett is one of the most distinctive and original singer/songwriters to emerge during the ’80s. Combining a talent for incisive, witty lyrical detail with an eclectic array of music, ranging from country and folk to big-band swing and traditional pop, his literate, multi-layered songs stand out. A welcome return to EFMF.
Janiva Magness (USA)
is among the premier blues and R&B singers in the world today. Her voice possesses an earthy, raw honesty and beauty born from her life experience. A charismatic performer known for her electrifying live shows, Magness is a gutsy and dynamic musical powerhouse. She received the coveted 2009 Blues Music Awards for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year (she is only the second woman to ever win this award, Koko Taylor being the first).
Taj Mahal Trio (USA)
Describe legendary musician Taj Mahal in a single word or phrase? Impossible. You could call him a singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, ethnomusicologist, two-time Grammy-winner, world-class musical collaborator, musicians’ advocate, world traveler, fisherman, or cigar aficionado. These titles are all accurate, yet none convey the warmth, humour, and soulfulness of Taj and his music.
Imelda May (Ireland)
was born in Dublin and may be an unknown name to some, but to many she is already a superstar. She is unmistakable both in her music (a fusion of surf guitars, blues and rockabilly that wouldn’t be out of place in a David Lynch film) and her style, with a solitary curl and shock of blonde in her jet black hair. In Ireland, her debut album Love Tattoo has gone Triple Platinum.
John Mayall (UK)
is nicknamed “the Godfather of British Blues.” John ran a virtual school for British blues musicians and alumni of his Bluesbreakers include Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, Jack Bruce and Peter Green. Known for his hard-driving blues, John is also an innovator, a painter, and a father of six. We are honoured to have him join us on Saturday night’s mainstage.
The Del McCoury Band & The Preservation Hall Jazz Band (USA)
With common roots in the rich musical gumbo of the American south in the 19th and early 20th centuries, bluegrass and jazz have sat alongside one another with a myriad of common influences and musical vocabularies that have nevertheless remained largely unexplored until now.
The McDades (Canada/AB/Que)
are known for traditional Celtic music blended with cool jazz accents and world music rhythms. Their groove lies somewhere between down home kitchen party and an after hours jazz/blues club. In other words they are perfect for a folk festival.
Mighty Popo (Canada/ON)
You could say that Mighty Popo is a Rwandan/Burundian refugee/survivor whose music is steeped in African tradition, however, that would not be the whole story. He held an effortless musicality as a member of the 2004 Juno Award winning African Guitar Summit, and has received kudos for his genre-busting solo work and his highlight performance at the Canadian edition of Bob Geldof’s international Live 8 concerts.
Mortal Coil (Canada/BC)
This group returns once again with a brilliant, colourful and graceful presence. They have been wowing crowds with their stunning visuals at festivals across Canada and the US for well over a decade.
Noah and the Whale (UK)
are an indie folk band from Twickenham, London and will be touring on the strength of their latest album Last Night on Earth. Watch for them close Friday night’s mainstage.
The Once (Canada/NF)
in the summer of 2004, Geraldine Hollett, Phil Churchill and Andrew Dale were charged with the task of providing little more than an evenings worth of music and song for tourists and countrymen. The three wove their voices and instruments together to create what is now the critically acclaimed folk trio known as The Once.
Los Paperboys (Canada/BC)
sound is Mexican Son Jarocho mixed in with Irish Jigs and Reels and a good dose of Country and Bluegrass. It has healthy servings of Ska, Soca and African Highlife and the band has been known to throw in a little White Boy Reggae. It is laced with strains of Soul, Pop and Funk.
Tim Robbins & the Rogues Gallery Band (USA)
Tim is a star in movies like Mystic River, The Shawshank Redemption and the satirical Bob Roberts. He comes from a musical family. His dad was in the band The Highwaymen. Tim has been playing guitar clandestinely for 30 years and we are about to hear the results.
Duke Robillard Band (USA)
Guitarist. Bandleader. Songwriter. Singer. Producer. Session musician. And a one-man cheering section for the blues community. BB King himself has called Duke “One of the great players,” The Houston Post called him “one of God’s guitarists. And the New York Times says “Robillard is a soloist of stunning force and originality.”
Garnet Rogers (Canada/ON)
was barely out of high school and on the road as a full- time working musician with his older brother Stan. Together they formed what has come to be accepted as one of the most influential acts in North American folk music. Garnet has established himself as ‘One of the major talents of our time”. Hailed by the Boston Globe as a “charismatic performer and singer”, Garnet is a man with a powerful physical presence – close to six and a half feet tall – with a voice to match.
Sean Rowe (USA)
hails from Troy, New York. His honest and haunting songwriting has already earned comparisons to Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks phase, for his abstract lyric phrasing, and the way he crafts an experience of emotion, rather than telling a linear tale.
John Rutherford (Canada/AB)
is often a member of several bands juggling dates, tours and projects simultaneously. He produces records and has written and produced music for film and television. A guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, John also plays ukulele.
The Secret Sisters (USA)
Laura and Lydia Rogers are fortified by an airtight familial camaraderie and emboldened with a zeal for country music. It was their love and respect for music and harmony that brought them to the attention of producer T Bone Burnett.
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (USA)
Contrary to the rumoured explanations that abound like urban myths about one Los Angeles collective’s peculiar name, there is no ‘Edward Sharpe.’ Alex Ebert leads their concerts which are more aptly described as musical love-ins- rapturous, theatrical affairs where it is sometimes hard to discern between the musicians on stage (there are, give or take, 13 of them) and the fans in the crowd, all swaying and singing in a state of joyous euphoria.
Chris Smither (USA)
“My priority was, and still is, performing live,” says Chris Smither. He will be bringing his intricate finger-picking style, well travelled voice and great songs to Gallagher Park.
Street Performers
will once again be at the festival. Watch for the Privy People, Silver Elvis, Aytahn Ross, Heather D Swain, and Neatoe the Clown.
Ti Coca & Wanga Nègès (Haiti)
are to be noticed among the rare professional musicians who embrace the troubadour’s tradition– small-size bands of acoustic instruments with compositions that reveal a sweet and sour chronicle of the society. These ensembles are mainly characterized by a particular instrumentation, totally acoustic, that includes most of the time : guitar or banjo, accordion, drum, graj and maracas, double bass or manoumba.
KT Tunstall (Scotland)
is a Brit-Award winning, Grammy-nominated Scottish singer songwriter and guitarist who first came to a wider audience with her song Black Horse and a Cherry Tree and her debut album Eye to the Telescope. Her latest recording is called Tiger Suit. This is her EFMF debut.
U22 (Canada/AB)
This year’s lineup includes Ky Babyn, The Command Sisters, Braden Gates, Kayla Patrick, Jenie Thai and Scenic Route to Alaska.
Joe Louis Walker (USA)
Recently voted Most Outstanding Guitarist by Living Blues critics, Joe belongs in the very select club of original blues greats who revolutionized the art of the electric guitar. Considered one of the last of the great blues guitar heroes, alongside B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Otis Rush, Joe gives more than 100 fiery performances on all continents every year, appearing at major festivals from the US and Canada to Australia, Europe to Japan, the Far East to South America.
