Organizers of the Regina Folk Festival are taking a year off to rebuild and make changes as they revisit the festival following a slump brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, but residents from Moose Jaw still have an opportunity to catch a limited concert that will be held in lieu of the full fledged festival.
The 53rd iteration of the Regina Folk Festival won’t happen this year, but a simplified placeholder program will begin on Thursday, Aug. 8 and conclude with the Skygazer Soiree concert on Saturday, Aug. 10.
“The Skygazer Soiree is a special marquee concert celebrating the Regina Folk Festival in its fallow year,” announced Amber Goodwyn, artistic director of the Regina Folk Festival.
The Regina Folk Festival is a Regina-based non-profit held in Regina’s Victoria Park for at least the past 40 years. Held annually after the August long weekend, the festival is a much anticipated celebration of music and community.
In between the major acts at the soiree, Goodwyn said the set will transform in a nod to the sky gazer theme by transitioning from a bright blue sky to a sunset and finally into a starry nighttime sky.
The Skygazer Soiree will feature three renowned artists: Chantal Kreviazuk, Aysanabee, and the Great Lake Swimmers.
Chantal Kreviazuk is a Winnipeg-born and internationally celebrated singer-songwriter with three JUNO Awards. She’s also a musician, classically trained pianist, actress, movie producer, philanthropist, humanitarian, and proud wife and mother. Kreviazuk has recorded 10 albums and written global hits for such names as Drake, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, and Kendrick Lamar.
Aysanabee is a two-time JUNO award-winning Oji-Cree artist. His sound is described as “a swirling mix of indie, soul, and electronic sound with pulse-quickening fingerpicking”. Aysanabee made history as the first Indigenous artist to win the JUNO Awards for alternative album of the year and won songwriter of the year for his “Here and Now” album.
The Great Lake Swimmers hail from Toronto and feature a blend of acoustic instruments, rural soundscapes, and wistful vocals. The critically acclaimed indie-folk group is led by songwriter and vocalist Tony Dekker, and are renowned for their homespun folk and lush, intimate Americana themes.
There will also be two teaser performances by Belle Plaine and Merv XX Gotti.
Belle Plaine, known off-stage as Melanie Hankewich, is a Saskatchewan singer-songwriter raised on her great-grandparent’s homestead near Fosston, Sask. She draws from country, blues, and folk tradition to tell her stories which feature the heart and soul of the prairies.
Merv xx Gotti is an award-winning Canadian multi-genre artist known for his “androgynous, dreamy vocals” and “vulnerable, sincere songwriting”. He is well known for his dream-pop project, “Guitar Songs,” which was released in March with over 200,000 streams on Spotify.
“We want our Folk Festival to exist for another 50 years,” Goodwyn said. “We strongly encourage people to join us and have a good time. (Don’t forget to) buy (your) tickets in advance and donate (to the festival) if you can.”
To complete an unforgettable experience, Rebellion Brewing, the Bar Willow Eatery, Crave Kitchen + Wine Bar, and Pile O’ Bones Brewing and Oxpecker will be offering special Skygazer-inspired dishes, drinks, and discounts for ticket holders on Aug. 9 and 10.
For more information, visit ReginaFolkFestival.com or ‘Regina Folk Festival’ on Facebook.
Tickets can be purchased online at ConexusArtsCentre.ca/Folk-Fest.
Next year’s Regina Folk Festival is expected to proceed as planned and will run from Aug. 8 to 10, 2025 in Regina’s Victoria Park as per tradition.
The Conexus Arts Centre is located at 200 Lakeshore Drive in Regina.
