Winnipeg Folk Festival Announces 2014 Festival Line-Up

After a punishing winter that doesn't seem to have quite finished with us yet, trust the Winnipeg Folk Festival to bring some much-needed warmth and sunshine and help celebrate the Year of Music in Manitoba.

The Winnipeg Folk Festival announced the lineup for its 41st annual event, which will take over Birds Hill Park July 9-13. Audiences will have five nights and three days for musical discovery, including a stellar line-up of internationally-acclaimed Manitoba talent.

The list of homegrown music acts hitting festival stages features emerging alt.country act The Bros. Landreth, acclaimed singer/songwriters JP Hoe, Cara Luft, and Ruth Moody, soul/pop darlings Chic Gamine, 2014 JUNO nominees Little Miss Higgins & The Winnipeg Five, and roots trio Sweet Alibi. The always-strong local children's acts include another 2014 JUNO nominee, Marie-Claude, plus favouries Aaron Burnett and Mr. Mark. The Bros. Landreth and Chic Gamine are both slated for the Main Stage, on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. 

Touring acts heading to this year's festival include folk icon Joan Baez, blue legend Bonnie Raitt, folk/punk trailblazer Ani DiFranco, songwriter and artist extraordinaire Buffy Sainte-Marie, Aimee Mann and Ted Leo collab The Both, indie phenom Sharon Van Etten, and many more. Click here to see the full lineup.

“I am particularly excited to see a line-up that has a lot of performers who will be making their festival debut as well as others who have not played in many years. This attention to past performers and new acts is what our audience has come to love and this year will be no exception," said artistic director Chris Frayer in a release. 

You'll have to wait until the end of April for the full schedule to be released before you can plan out what you're going to see, but there's sure to be plenty of chances to see local talent throughout the weekend, including the popular Manitoba artists workshop that has wowed thousands every year. 

Early bird tickets are on sale now through the Winnipeg Folk Festival Music Store or Ticketmaster.