FFWD Weekly
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Music by FFWD Staff As any folk fest attendee can attest , sometimes the most memorable musical moments take place off the mainstage at the more relaxed weekend workshops. That’s where various artists – ranging from the most unlikely matchups to dream pairings – are united under one theme and asked to share the same stage and sometimes songs. Sometimes it works and others.... Hence last year you had an unimpressed Jann Arden scowling beside Dan Bern while he sang his testicular hit, "Tiger Woods" (women fainted, children cried...). Or in recent years there was the magic of Darr Williams and Victoria Williams coming together under their love of Southern music. With the calibre and eclectic mix of musicians at this year’s festival, the workshop lineup is guaranteed to provide many more highlights. Sometimes there is overlap so it’s important to plan your day wisely. The following is a list of some of the most promising morning and afternoon events: SATURDAY • Never Leave a Story Unsung (10:30 a.m., Stage 2): American songwriter Chris Smither hosts this workshop tribute to the art of storytelling in song. Joining Smither onstage is former punk queen Exene Cervenka from X, as well as local musicians Chantal Vitalis from maud and Lorrie Matheson from National Dust. • King of the Bongo (10:30 a.m., Stage 4): Competing with the storytellers is this percussive workshop not for the hung-over. Hosted by Calgary band Great Uncle Bull’s Peter Moller and Christine Cook, it also features fellow locals Greg Hooper and Dave Horrock (Scatter the Mud) as well as Washboard Hank (from Fred Eaglesmith’s band), Tabare Filippini and Andre Dupuis (from Joaquin Diaz’s crew) and Jorge Martins and Jose Wilson de Souza (Cascabulho). • Rhythm and Rebellion (2:30 p.m., Stage 2): Political songwriters take centre stage in this workshop hosted by former Calgarian James Keelaghan. Joining him onstage are Willie Dunn, Dick Gaughan and rap pioneer Gil Scott-Heron (though Scott-Heron is known for his unpredictability – last weekend he failed to show up for his gig at the Vancouver folk festival). • Hillbilly Vodoo (3:30 p.m., Stage 2): The Susan Crowe Trio host this moonshine-fueled pickin’ and a-grinnin’ show. Joining them is the venerable Ray Condo, Exene Cervenka, and Freakwater’s Janet Bean and Catherine Irwin (for your added pleasure, Irwin has promised to squeal like a pig). • Outlaws (4:30 p.m., Stage 5): The black hats come out for this showcase of roots music’s bad boys. The deep, dark Fred Eaglesmith hosts Tom Russell, Andrew Hardin and – who else? – Steve Earle. SUNDAY • Just Yoiking Around With Techno (11:30 a.m., Stage 5): Scotland’s Shooglenifty teams up with Finland’s Wimme as traditional meets modern head-on for this Celtic rave-up. • The Writing on the Wall (12:30 p.m., Stage 3): Words – spoken and sung – are at the forefront in this event which features a backdrop of music provided by Shooglenifty’s Conrad Molleson and the Karl Roth Trio’s John Hyde. The well-spoken mouthpieces are host Veda Hille, Exene Cervenka and (cross your fingers) Gil Scott-Heron. • Raised On Punk (2:30 p.m., Stage 5): If grandma clutched her chest and turned purple when Dan Bern bragged about his "big ol’ balls" you may want to send her to the beer gardens for this one. Proving that their punk pasts aren’t dead, these workshop participants tap into their angry young days. Hosted by Lorrie Matheson, this must-see showcase also features Freakwater, Exene Cervenka and Violent Femmes frontman Gordon Gano. • Inside the Outside (4 p.m., Stage 5): Prince’s Island will seem anything like a folk venue during this, perhaps the most challenging of all workshops at this year’s festival. Veda Hille and Ray Condo’s Stephen Nikleva host a cutting edge and experimental music event. Joining them on a very crowded stage will be the Oliver Schroer Trio, Violent Femmes’ Brian Ritchie and Guy Hoffman, and Great Uncle Bull.

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