FFWD Weekly
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Music by FFWD Staff For the sake of both the Calgary Folk Music Festival and Jazz Festival Calgary, let’s hope that familiarity doesn’t breed contempt. Or apathy. Both festivals, which have now released their lineups to the public, feature names that will, for the most part, be familiar to anyone who has attended previous events. Not that there’s anything wrong with that – and there’s still plenty to see at either fest – it’s just that when the two musical institutions are at a crucial point in their existences, when they need to attract larger audiences to survive, one wonders why no new names leap out as must-sees. The jazz festival (June 22 to July 2) is perhaps the lesser culprit of the two, though only slightly. While the drawing power of headliners like Ottmar Liebert, Jacksoul, Ricki Lee Jones, Robert Michaels and Holly Cole is proven, they have all been to town in recent memory, as either part of a festival or on their own. Even the sultry soul diva Ivana Santilli (formerly of Bass Is Base) and mixmaster DJ Spooky have visited Calgary in the past year. Probably the biggest surprise can be found in the blues camp: Keb’ Mo’. With the exception of an invite-only listening party, the Grammy-winning bluesman has never performed in Calgary and is possibly the don’t-miss ticket of the jazz fest. Something else of note during the two-week event is the large Cuban contingent. The popularity of the Buena Vista Social Club should see shows by Jane Bunnett and the Spirits of Havana, Orquesta Aragón, Maraca and others well attended. Among the dozens of other artists – including a handful of local performers that are predominantly featured as part of the In the Clubs series – there will, of course, be gems – Brad Mehldau, Kurt Elling, Johnny Lang and Orishas spring immediately to mind – but if Jazz Festival Calgary is looking to boost its stature in a city where there’s no shortage of entertainment options, this ain’t the year. For the Calgary Folk Music Festival (July 20 to 23 at Prince’s Island Park), safe seems to be the operative word. After a year which many considered a setback – ticket-sales wise, not talent-wise – organizers are returning to the names they know will fill the island: Blue Rodeo, Great Big Sea (both folk fest mainstays were unavailable last year because of their Stardust Picnic tour – ironically both events probably suffered from the split), Bruce Cockburn and Oscar Lopez. As headliners go, it’s an impressive list in itself, unfortunately, unless you’re a once-a-year concertgoer, the opportunities in the past 12 to 24 months to see any or all of the acts have been numerous. Only country artist Mary Chapin Carpenter has had a lengthy absence from the city’s stages, and that’s merely been a period of four years. Even the mid-range artists are familiar ones. Natalie McMaster, Kieran Kane, Martin Sexton, Linda Tillery, Kelly Joe Phelps, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Arrogant Worms, Neko Case and Skydiggers. Fortunately buried amongst them are names like John Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers) and Richie Havens, and all of the lesser-known musicians who we’d never have the chance to see otherwise. Then again, I guess it doesn’t really matter. The Calgary Folk Music Festival is an event worth attending on its own accord. The opportunity to see an extremely diverse musical lineup – folk, world, rock, etc. – in the idyllic island setting is something that locals should do no matter who’s on the bill or how many times they’ve seen them. Let’s just hope more Calgarians agree.

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