In Winnipeg Music News...The 2011 Folk Festival Lineup

>> Saturday 19 March 2011

M. Ward

Keeping with the tradition of announcing the lineup on a Saturday in March, the 2011 Winnipeg Folk Festival lineup dropped this morning on the festival's official site.

Some highlights of the roster include national folk-country treasures Blue Rodeo, an acoustic Tegan & Sara, the recently reunited Jayhawks, African blues sensations Tinariwen, M. Ward (aka "Him"), Polaris shortlister Dan Mangan, and Tim Robbins and the Rogues Gallery Band. Yes. THE Tim Robbins.

If the reaction by those I follow on Twitter can be used as a litmus test though, the response to this lineup is certainly different than it was to 2009's all-star lineup. Instead, whatever enthusiasm that's out there is mostly drowning in a mix of cheeky insouciance and flat-out disappointment.

More people (including me) are excited about tonight's super moon.

What's your reaction to the lineup? Who are you excited to see? Who were you hoping would be a part of this year's five-day folk-a-thon? Attending the whole event? Or maybe just the odd day?

See the full list below.
  • Andy White
  • Annie Lou
  • Beoga
  • Blackie & the Rodeo Kings
  • Blind Pilot
  • Blue Rodeo
  • Caladh Nua
  • Caracol
  • Caravan Palace
  • Charlie Parr
  • Christa Couture
  • Chuck et Albert
  • Chuck Prophet
  • Connie Kaldor
  • Crooked Brothers
  • Dan Crary
  • Dan Mangan
  • David Wax Museum
  • Dawes
  • Dirk Powell
  • DJ Hunnicutt
  • Fairfield Four
  • Frazey Ford
  • Funky METERS
  • Galant, tu perds ton temps
  • Ganga Giri
  • Green Fools Theatre
  • High Strung
  • Imaginary Cities
  • Jaune Toujours
  • Joy Kills Sorrow
  • Kat Danser
  • k.d. lang and The Siss Boom Bang
  • Little Feat
  • Lucy Wainwright Roche
  • M. Ward
  • Marco Calliari
  • Matt Andersen
  • Melissa McClelland
  • Mighty Popo
  • Minotaurs
  • Mountain Man
  • Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens
  • New Country Rehab
  • Oh My Darling
  • Omar Souleyman
  • Ordo Sakhna
  • Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
  • Puppet Folk
  • Ray Wylie Hubbard
  • Samantha Crain
  • Sarah Jarosz
  • Scott Nolan
  • Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
  • Shane Koyczan and the Short Story Long
  • Spiro
  • Tegan & Sara
  • The Be Good Tanyas
  • The Del McCoury Band with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
  • The Jayhawks
  • The Once
  • The Secret Sisters
  • Tim Robbins and the Rogues Gallery Band
  • Tinariwen
  • Tom Fun Orchestra
  • Toots and the Maytals
  • Trampled by Turtles
  • Trout Fishing in America
  • Twilight Hotel

8 comments:

Jake,  19 March 2011 at 15:24  

I too was slightly disappointed.

I suppose the 2009 line-up is not something we should expect from the Folk Fest. Maybe we just got lucky that year?

I'm excited about M. Ward and The Jayhawks this year.

willlllll,  19 March 2011 at 16:24  

Under-whelmed. For three years running the line-up has been less and less exciting. Apparently there was a disconcertingly low number of ticket buyers at the FF store this morning which could be viewed as a wider reaction to the line-up too.

I know that every year there is new music to be found at FF, but for 2011, there is not near enough of exciting names to back that up. Having said that, I'm sure that the festival will do we regardless of this line-up, as many people "go for the experience" rather than the music.

However, I can say for myself the line-up has moved me from purchasing a full-week + camping, to a possible single day depending on when M.Ward plays.

Brandon Bertram 19 March 2011 at 18:11  

I'm excited about the Jayhawks, Charlie Parr, Be Good Tanyas, M. Ward, among others, but I'm not sure if I'll make it this year for more than a day or two. I was hoping the Decemberists would make an appearance this year. Their new record is killer!

Rieds 19 March 2011 at 20:07  

I can't say I'm overly enthralled with the line-up, but the line-up is only a small part of the reason I'm going. ;)

Caitlin MacGregor 19 March 2011 at 23:01  

I didn't even know Tim Robbins made music until today. I'm excited about Tegan & Sara but they come to Winnipeg often enough anyways. Overall, not a very spectacular line-up but I go for more than just the music!

Brie-Eating Wino Barreling Thru Your Town Inna Volvo 20 March 2011 at 17:03  

Some roots and some world music listed in the 2011 excite me. But lots of others don't. One thing does concern me - a few years ago "Blackie & The Rodeo Kings" were on the lineup and they played almost everywhere.. at every stage & workshop - either together or apart. It got to the point where I was seriously craving a workshop without one of them up on stage for it.. just way too much of one group of guys.

Please don't carpet bomb the festival site with Blackie & The RK's.. we're looking for more variety please! Thank you and good night.

Anonymous,  21 March 2011 at 13:22  

Toots and the Maytals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

M. Ward
Trampled by Turtles

That is all...

Michael Elves 21 March 2011 at 15:53  

Tinariwen
Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens
Omar Souleyman

those are the ones I was excited about.

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