Winnipeg Folk Festival’s 50th Year Lights the Future for Young Artists

By Zoë Mills

From July 10-13, thousands of music lovers from across the continent will gather in the grassy fields of Birds Hill Provincial Park for the 50th annual Winnipeg Folk Festival. Ask around and you’re sure to hear a fair share of folks proudly declare that they’ve never missed a year of the festival in all of its half-century span. 

Whether it’s been a tradition for decades or it’s a recent addition to your summer calendar, there’s something about the festival that hooks you and keeps you coming back.  

“You feel so good when you’re there,” says Erin Corbin. “The environment is so loving and creative.”

Erin is one half of Two Crows for Comfort, along with Cory Sulyma. The folk-roots duo has attended the festival as part of the Young Performers Program (YPP) and the Wandering Minstrels and as eager audience members. This year will be their first time performing as part of the official lineup.

The group will also participate in workshops throughout the weekend, including “Home to Manitoba”–featuring all homegrown talent. 

“Workshops are always our favourite part of the festival,” says Cory. “When everyone’s jamming together, that song will never be that same way again.”

This year Erin and Cory will jam with fellow Manitobans Begonia, Dominique Adams, Fred Penner, Leonard Sumner, Slow Spirit, and Zackery. Catch the workshop at Big Bluestem on Saturday, July 12, at 11:15 AM. Read more about this year's local lineup

These once-in-a-lifetime performances are just one reason why Erin and Cory return to the festival year after year. Another is the creative energy that stays with them when they leave.   

“It’s undeniable,” says Erin. “You look forward to it all year long and it totally fills your cup.” 

“It’s nice to not only be able to support the emerging artist, but also it’s a really cool way to see someone at the beginning of their career,” says Kerri Stephens. 
 

Cory says the festival is the reason why he’s the musician he is today.

“I grew up listening to classic rock and I used to make fun of my sister for listening to Bob Dylan. Then I started going to the Folk Fest with the Young Performers Program, and my brain was completely rewired.” 

The festival’s Young Performers Program, established in 2000, showcases young musicians, aged 14-24, from across Canada, the US, and abroad. 

“The program has become incredibly important in giving artists the tools to step out into the industry and perform and be connected,” says Kerri Stephens of the Winnipeg Folk Festival's artistic team. 

Day one of the three-day program includes workshops covering topics like grants and year-round programming, as well as an informative session with industry professionals. This year’s featured experts include Gil Carroll of Real Love Winnipeg; Elise Roller of Misfit Music Management and Odd Doll Records; and Robyn Stewart, Executive Director of Women In Music Canada. 

On the second day, YPP participants divide into groups based on their music style and are matched with a mentor from the festival lineup. On the third and final day, participants perform for a Folk Fest audience all day at the Shady Grove stage on Friday, July 11.

“Some young performers are still connected to their mentors, and their mentors are helping guide them through recording or making a record,” Kerri says. 

Kerri mentions a long list of previous YPP participants who are now working artists, and even JUNO nominees and winners. Faouzia, Boy Golden, Field Guide, Roman Clarke, Slow Leaves, Brandy Zdan, Olivia Lunny, Ariel Posen, Richard Inman, and many more were once Young Performers.

“It’s nice to not only be able to support the emerging artist, but also it’s a really cool way to see someone at the beginning of their career,” says Kerri. 

“You feel so good when you’re [at Folk Fest],” says Erin Corbin. “The environment is so loving and creative.”
 

This will be local artist Karina Joy’s first year with the Young Performers Program. 

Karina’s original music combines modern folk with spacey, ambient vibes. They will join the program in the middle of an unexpectedly busy summer of local performances, with more to come after the fest. 

“I really value any type of mentorship when it comes to music,” Karina says, “A mentorship program makes me want to push myself a little bit more and actually strive to meet the goals that I'm setting for myself.” 

With the Young Performers Program, Karina looks forward to visualizing what it would really look like to be a working musician.  

Karina hopes they might one day play the Folk Festival Main Stage. They see a future where they’re a musician who can represent and uplift their community.  

“I'm a person of colour who's also queer and queer-gendered, and I really want to openly be someone representing those groups,” Karina says. “I'm really hoping that throughout my time in the music community I will find more of those people, and I hope that I can raise those people up.”

For many local artists, the Winnipeg Folk Festival is more than just a long weekend of music. It’s a celebration of the countless musicians it has and will inspire. 

This event is an MB Live partnered event. For more info about MB Live, visit www.manitobamusic.com/mblive. For more info about partnership, please visit www.manitobamusic.com/partnerships.