For four days (July 26 – 29), Calgary became the mecca for music lovers of all sorts thanks to the much anticipated Calgary Folk Music Festival (CFMF). Prince’s Island was transformed into a festival lover’s paradise, with warm days and clear skies making it the perfect weekend.
Seven stages showcased the talents of all sorts of musicians, both local and international. For attendees who needed to beat the heat, the Big Rock beer garden was often jammed with ad eclectic mix of young professionals, urban hippies, our parents’ generation and more. With such a diverse crowd, it was great to see everyone mingling with one another sharing tables, pitchers and stories.
When hunger struck, there were a variety of food trucks and vendors offering delicious grub. And for those needing to walk around a bit, there was a plethora of vendors in the market selling all sorts of hand-crafted items.
Opening night featured the musical talents of headliner Chris Isaak. Him and his band rocked out under the stars and really brought down the house. Those in the audience were on their feet dancing on a sea of mismatched blankets.
The entire weekend was a lot of fun, a little exhausting for some, and a real opportunity to engage with the city’s musical community. The weekend flew by in a musical blur, and Sunday evening had a bittersweet energy in the air as the event wound down. But for those who weren’t ready for the weekend to end, there’s less than a year until the next Calgary Folk Music Festival, and of course the CFMF will continue to bring shows and events to Calgarians throughout the year, so be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
