2009 Ottawa Folk Festival in pictures
Pam McLennan | Epoch Times
The 16th annual Ottawa Folk Festival was a scaled down affair this year, but the high level of musical artistry, creativity in presentations, and “green” sensibility came together in one captivating event after another.
With its Dig Your Roots theme, over the weekend over 120 artists, on seven stages staggered throughout beautiful Brittania Park in Ottawa, crossed cultures, musical genres, and generations as they presented their unique musical talents, gardening information, and kid-friendly entertainment .
Full story and photo gallery on the Epoch Times site: 2009 Ottawa Folk Festival in pictures
Great success for a frugal folkfest: Rookie emcee and new director bring in lots of creative talent
Lynn Saxberg, The Ottawa Citizen
Bruce Cockburn, Joel Plaskett and Steven Page, three of the Ottawa Folk Festival’s marquee performers, shared a tiny outdoor stage with Ottawa singer-songwriter Ana Miura on Sunday afternoon.
Under blues skies, a crowd of about 1,000 sprawled out on the grassy riverside to see Cockburn, a Canadian folk legend and Ottawa native, trade songs with Miura and singer-songwriters Page and Plaskett. The three are musical representatives of a generation of Canadians who grew up with Cockburn’s music.
The session was titled Road Songs and each artist plucked, from his or her repertoire, a song about travelling, revealing various viewpoints. One of Cockburn’s contributions was a powerful version of Mines of Mozambique, based on a trip he took to the war-torn country, but then Page followed it up with Helicopters, which pokes fun at rock stars who visit war-torn countries. No malice was directed at Bruce, Page noted, the real problem is how the media simplifies the story.
Full story: Great success for a frugal folkfest
Folk festival comes full circle: Joel Plaskett brings sharp edge to fest
Denis Armstrong, Sun Media
Emotions were running high as the 16th annual Ottawa Folk Festival closed out for another year.
But then, they usually are. It’s the last music festival of the summer.
So, not surprisingly, the mood at Britannia Park was bittersweet.
Read the review @ Ottawa Sun online: Folk festival comes full circle
How Cockburn became a folk star
When Bruce Cockburn takes the Ottawa Folk Festival stage tonight, it will represent something of a full circle for the venerable Canadian songwriter, political activist, humanitarian and true north musical treasure.Before embarking on an odyssey that would see him release some 26 albums over a nearly 40-year span, garnering numerous accolades — including his 2001 induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame — the Ottawa-born and raised Cockburn could be seen rubbing shoulders with the icons of Canada’s ’60s folk explosion at the legendary Le Hibou club.
More @ Jam! Showbiz: How Cockburn became a folk star
Headliners strike intimate note at workshop
TIM WIECLAWSKI | METRO OTTAWA
Only at a folk festival would you see the biggest acts of a weekend playing together on a side stage for an afternoon concert on the last day.
The Ottawa Folk Festival wrapped up last night with a concert from Nova Scotia folk/pop singer Joel Plaskett.
But before he took to the main stage, Plaskett played at an afternoon workshop with former Barenaked Ladies lead singer Steven Page, Canadian folk legend Bruce Cockburn and Ottawa singer songwriter Ana Miura on the Hill Stage to a crowd of around 1,000 people.
Full review @ Metro Ottawa: Headliners strike intimate note at workshop
Cockburn creates magic with just voice, guitar
Lynn Saxberg, The Ottawa Citizen
Freedom of expression was the order of the day at the Ottawa Folk Festival on Saturday, with a program that ranged from the politically charged music of Bruce Cockburn to the wacky comedy of the Arrogant Worms. Both acts are folkfest favourites in Ottawa, and have played at the Britannia Park site in past years.
Under a starry sky, the darkness was alive with possibility, as Cockburn sang in the 1986 song World of Wonders, with which he opened his headlining performance. Wearing a purple shirt and black jeans, the silver-haired troubadour performed solo, creating magic with little more than his voice and an acoustic guitar.
With Last Night of the World and Night Train, the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter went for the slow build, ensuring the spotlight was on his hypnotizing acoustic guitar work rather than his rather scratchy vocals. He spoke to the crowd a few times, but there were also long periods of silence between songs.
Full review on the Ottawa Citizen website: Cockburn creates magic with just voice, guitar
Festival remains rooted in folk: Canadian talent takes main spotlight at event
AEDAN HELMER, SUN MEDIA
The Ottawa Folk Festival has always prided itself in swimming against the stream in the increasingly commercialized festival scene.
The decidedly Can-con lineup — with Bruce Cockburn, Steven Page, Joel Plaskett and The Sadies topping the bill — has never relied on the big ticket international acts that draw throngs to Bluesfest, or the worldly prestige artists that dot the Chamberfest and Jazz Festival rosters.
Instead, the folk festival remains true to its grass roots, bringing a diverse array of cross-cultural artists and musicians to Britannia Park without abandoning the authenticity of the experience.
Full story on Canoe.ca: Festival remains rooted in folk
Paul Mills Receives 2009 Helen Verger Award
Each year, the Ottawa Folk Festival presents the Helen Verger Award to an individual who has made significant, sustained contributions to folk/roots music in Canada. This year’s recipient, Paul Mills, has been an integral part of the Canadian folk music scene for more than thirty years. In that time, he has produced more then 140 albums, working with artists such as Stan Rogers, Ron Hynes, and Sharon, Lois & Bram.
“I am deeply humbled to be in the same company as the other Canadian musicians and industry builders who have received the Helen Verger Award. It is indeed a great honour and I am so grateful to those who felt I was a worthy recipient”, said Paul in reaction to receiving news of the award. Past recipients include Bruce Cockburn, Colleen Peterson, Kate and Anna McGarrigle and Willie P. Bennett.
Back to the garden: Catch some tunes, or get back to your roots as the Folk Festival adds gardening to the musical mix this year
Patrick Langston, The Ottawa Citizen
Thanks to a cool, wet summer, many of us are singing the gardening blues. Over at the Ottawa Folk Festival, meanwhile, everything’s coming up roses.
The 16th annual edition of the festival runs Friday to Sunday at Britannia Park, headlined by the likes of former Barenaked Ladies front man Steven Page, folk icon and Ottawa homeboy Bruce Cockburn, and east coast singer- songwriter Joel Plaskett.
This year, the festival’s slogan is Dig Your Roots. And when you’re the Ottawa Folk Festival, a slogan is more than just catchy words.
Full story on the Ottawa Citizen website: Back to the garden
Ottawa Folk Festival presents Songs From The Road Workshop
A special event will be held at this year’s Ottawa Folk Festival on Sunday August 23, 2009. Bruce Cockburn will host a workshop entitled “Songs From The Road” with Steven Page, Joel Plaskett and Ana Miura. The group will perform on the Hill Stage at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon for what is sure to be an unforgettable event.
The “Songs From The Road” workshop is one of the unique features that make the Ottawa Folk Festival irreplaceable. This will be the first time Cockburn, Page, Plaskett and Miura will be on stage together and when four artists of this caliber get together there is a certain ‘magic’ that is bound to occur.
Cockburn, Page and Plaskett will also be performing on the Main Stage solo. Steven Page will hit the main stage Friday evening at 10pm, Bruce Cockburn Saturday at 9:30pm and Joel Plaskett will close out the Festival Sunday night at 8:15pm. Ana Miura, will be at the Festival all weekend as the Gardening Coordinator, MC, and performer. Many of the other artists and musicians will take part in different workshops throughout the weekend with other artists in a variety of platforms, including all Festival headliners. The full Festival Schedule can be found on the Ottawa Folk Festival website.
The Ottawa Folk Festival takes place at Britannia Park from August 21 to August 23, 2009 and features over 50 acts including: Bruce Cockburn, Steven Page, The Sadies, Amy Millan, Joel Plaskett, and Kinnie Starr. Some of the major themes at this year’s Festival include Gardening, Sound Healing, Instrument Building, Cross-Cultural Interaction, and Audience Participation. The Festival features a Dance Tent, environmental and gardening displays and discussions, “build-your-own-ukulele” workshops, Cajun, Swing and Latin dance lessons, and yoga instruction.
