folk fest 2008

Checking out all the performers for this year's Edmonton Folk Fest was SO much easier than last year, thanks to the Folk Fest actually having a decent website with links (!) to the musician's websites. Bravo Folk Fest.

That's the good news. The not-so-amazing news, at least for me, is that there's not all that much that I'm super excited to see this year. It took most of yesterday to go through and listen to a bit of all the acts, and I have to say that apart from a few big names that I already knew about, my research left me feeling rather lukewarm about the overall line-up.

Nevertheless, my curiosity was piqued by some of the artists, and sometimes that's all you can hope for before you're actually there on Festival weekend and hearing the music live. So for the next few days leading up to Folk Fest I'm going to highlight the artists that have roused some interest on my part. If you're planning on coming out to the festival--or even if you're not, or whatever--just let me know what you think is worth seeing. Suggestions are much appreciated. Anyways, on with my potential highlights. It's going to be a one each day sort of thing.

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First up are the old Southern Gospel singers, the Fairfield Four, who are sorta like a lesser-known Blind Boys of Alabama. All the original members are gone by now, I'm pretty sure (they formed in the 1920s), but this is the sort of music, simultaneously desolate and rich, that's almost guaranteed to stop people in their tracks. Certainly something to check out if you can.


Fairfield Four - Lonesome Valley
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Mercury Records, 2000)
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