Artists

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All artists not performing on the mainstage perform in concert on the Twilight stage Friday or Saturday or during the day Saturday or Sunday. Full schedules will be announced in late June.

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    Image of 100 Mile House
    100 Mile House

    (AB) Sultry harmonies, toe-tapping rhythms and sweet, intimate songs from rootsy husband and wife duo Peter Stone and Denise MacKay and multi-instrumentalist Scott Zubot.

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    Sam Baker

    (USA) Literate, poignant narratives lace together the world’s tragedies, complexity and deep beauty, from his own hard-hewn transcendental grit-and-grace. 

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    Image of Del Barber
    Del Barber

    (MB) Deep roots seed these witty sacred/profane songs, knit together by Barber’s polished finger-style guitar work, warm melodies and intoxicating personality. 

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    The Barr Brothers

    (QC) Their unique blues-infused sound is built from interwoven string arrangements, wide-open spaces and a multitude of musical traditions. 

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    Shelly Bean

    (Nfld) A Mr. Dress-Up generation alumnus and former Banshee lead vocalist, her enchanting presentation and interactive songs are drawn from a colourful Atlantic-Canadian folk music repertoire.

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    The Beauties

    (ON) Their tightly-knit howling and devilish swagger veiling sober, dark truths, The Dakota Tavern’s house band is fast becoming an indispensible backing group. 

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    Beirut

    (US) Zach Condon's distinct exotic music is full of entrancing rhythms, upbeat horns, mournful strings and lyrics that speak to universal human themes. 

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    Mark Berube

    (QC) Vivid, brave poetics, creative song structures, elegant arrangements and his soaring voice create a lush, engrossing chamber-folk sound.

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    Besh o droM

    (Hungary) Eastern European and Balkan music brought to the world’s dance floor for a border-free folkloric mash-up of traditional instruments and rock energy.

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    Image of Bettysoo and Doug Cox
    Bettysoo and Doug Cox

    (BC) Acoustic magic fuses low and high, north and south, hope and heartbreak, Canadiana and Americana

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    Image of Blackie & the Rodeo Kings
    Blackie & the Rodeo Kings

    (ON) A trio of characters whose magnetic stage presence and musical prowess nail hardcore country ballads, Southern soul, infectious anthems and raucous blues.

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    Image of Blitz the Ambassador
    Blitz the Ambassador

    (Ghana / USA) Ghanaian-born, New York-based rapper unleashes slamming conscious poetry on jamming Afro-soul grooves. 

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    Image of Renato Borghetti
    Renato Borghetti

    (Brazil) Accordion virtuoso’s fast, playful tunes bring a wide spectrum of Brazilian and global pop, jazz and tango to life.

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    Image of The Breakmen
    The Breakmen

    (BC) Pure vintage roots music draws on alt-country, bluegrass and old-time rhythms, bringing audiences on a musical road trip through the Canadian landscape.

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    Image of Junior Brown
    Junior Brown

    (US) His monster guit-steel playing, mirthful lyrics and distinctive baritone create a signature style that throws a curve-ball into honky-tonk, with a country soul and rock ‘n’ roll spirit.

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    Image of Marco Calliari
    Marco Calliari

    (QC) Grafts together the pounding energy of his early metal roots, the folkloric spirit of his Italian ancestry and Québécois upbringing to produce a wild, original global sound. 

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    Image of Mary Chapin Carpenter
    Mary Chapin Carpenter

    (USA) Oft-covered multiple Grammy-winning artist carries you on a melodic life journey, on the wings of her lustrous alto voice and intimate, insightful songs.

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    Image of Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires
    Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires

    (USA) Soul-stirrer and neo-funk revivalist’s raw, genuine voice and evocative delivery conveys hardship, history and hope on a cool, groove-laden backdrop. 

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    Chatham County Line

    (USA) New traditionalists straddle the rural-urban divide with their boozy blend of Americana and loose acoustic rockers.

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    Image of Cold Specks
    Cold Specks

    (ON) At only 23 years old, Al Spx is making waves with her smoky vocals, stark sparse blues arrangements, Deep South revival rhythms and disarming, bleak-but-beautiful songs.

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    Image of Elage Diouf
    Elage Diouf

    (QC) Powerful lyricist, composer and percussionist Diouf and his band meld deep Senegalese musical traditions with Canadian sounds.

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    Image of John Doe
    John Doe

    (USA) Since founding the seminal band X with Exene Cervenka, ‘punk rock’s golden throat’ has performed with the Knitters, Sadies and Jill Sobule, and has a solid solo roots music and acting career. 

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    Image of Carrie Elkin
    Carrie Elkin

    (USA) Her wise, quietly offbeat writing and character-laden vocals find humanity in heart-worn heroes. 

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    Image of Eve Hell & the Razors
    Eve Hell & the Razors

    (AB) Singer/upright bass player Eve fronts a monstrously fun, surf-influenced roots trio with a love of horror, country and rockabilly music.

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    The Hackamores

    (AB) Veteran Calgary country, blues and hot club jazz musicians share their love of western swing music as they swap hot licks on original and classic tunes.

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    Iron & Wine

    (USA) Sam Beam has inspired an indie-folk revolution with his moving, lyrically-evocative songs; meticulous tales full of forlorn love, religious imagery and wistful dreams. 

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    Image of Chris Isaak
    Chris Isaak

    (USA) Over his 25+ career, this velvet-voiced singer/songwriter and actor has given us rockabilly, roots, dreamy ballads, humour and indulged his musical passion on an album of classic Sun Studio covers. 

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    Sarah Jarosz

    (USA) A poster child for the wunderkind academy, her virtuosic instrumental bursts and strong alto voice conjure exotic tableaux that explore acoustic music’s past and future.

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    Image of Jeff Stuart & the Hearts
    Jeff Stuart & the Hearts

    (AB) Frugal neo-roots charm, fragile indie rock with infectious melodies, charming vocals, standout arrangements and musicianship. 

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    Image of Joy Kills Sorrow
    Joy Kills Sorrow

    (USA) This innovative Boston-based string band brings a novel approach to Americana, based on musical chemistry and deft improvisation*.*

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    Image of Lisa Knapp
    Lisa Knapp

    (UK) With one foot in tradition and another on the songwriter/alt-folk revival, fiddler/singer Knapp creates imaginative and infectious music.

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    Image of Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three
    Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three

    (US) His timeless originals and witty covers honour legendary artists as his booming voice shouts and croons over a big swingin’ beat.

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    Image of Jimmy LaFave
    Jimmy LaFave

    (USA) A red-dirt South Texas patriot, his Americana blends rock ‘n’ roll revelry, blues rave ups, roots rock, a soulful voice and down-home delivery.

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    Image of Jon Langford & Skull Orchard
    Jon Langford & Skull Orchard

    (USA) Punk-rock and alt-country pioneer, modern troubadour, musicians’ mentor, visual artist, astute songwriter and member of influential bands Mekons, Waco Brothers and Pine Valley Cosmonauts.

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    Image of Bettye LaVette
    Bettye LaVette

    (USA) One of American music’s greatest soul/blues/R&B singers, her incredibly expressive voice gets inside a song’s lyrics and melody, making anything she covers her own. 

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    Image of Leeroy Stagger & the Wildflowers
    Leeroy Stagger & the Wildflowers

    (AB) Melancholic and evocative songwriting brought to life with sparse acoustic riffs and hints of blues, slide guitar, horns and organ.

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    Little Scream

    (QC) Her unusual, multi-layered, multi-instrumental performances are enhanced by a rotating all-star band.

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    Locarno

    (BC) Paperboys frontman Tom Landa’s new project celebrates his Mexican ancestry and the band’s Latin backgrounds for an inventive Cuban Son, Salsa and Son Jarocho-influenced sound. 

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    Lowlands

    (ON) Shape delta blues and bluegrass twang into beautiful, stripped-down alt-country that has the serene, eerie quality of an open field at night.

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    Image of The Magnetic North
    The Magnetic North

    (AB) A journey through a musical underworld where melodies ebb and flow over empathetic vocals, wrapped in sensitively orchestrated piano, glistening guitar and articulate percussion. 

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    Image of Dan Mangan
    Dan Mangan

    (BC) Has morphed from a globetrotting folk crooner into an acclaimed storyteller whose witty, wise songs tackle bold subjects, wrapped in sonically adventurous indie folk with lush arrangements from his band of free-jazz virtuosos.

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    Image of Jeff Mangum
    Jeff Mangum

    (USA) Former Neutral Milk Hotel frontman and indie rock’s prodigal, reclusive son created one of the seminal albums of this generation, a gloriously odd musical curio. His acoustic shows are hypnotic and riveting. 

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    Image of Marc Ribot Y Los Postizos Cubanos
    Marc Ribot Y Los Postizos Cubanos

    (USA) Multi-faceted, inventive guitarist Ribot and his crack band produce otherworldly, feverishly cooking Cuban soul that tributes legendary bandleader Arsenio Rodriguez.

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    Image of Lorrie Matheson
    Lorrie Matheson

    (AB) Singer/songwriter and producer’s consummate songs are full of insightful, acerbic wit and driven by cutting truths, fused in country/roots with understated pop sensibilities. 

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    Image of Melvin Gibbs’ Elevated Identity
    Melvin Gibbs’ Elevated Identity

    (USA) Monster jazz, funk, hip-hop bassist (Defunkt, Rollins Band, Caetano Veloso) lays down a heavy groove with his kick-ass band, including Antibalas vocalist Amayo, emcee Kokayi, Brazilian percussionist Dende Machado and drummer JT Lewis.

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    Image of Randy Newman
    Randy Newman

    (USA) Loved for his sharp, sardonic eye and melodic ear, he crafts stories, characters and opinions that set the modern standard for songwriting and lyricism.

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    Image of Joe Nolan
    Joe Nolan

    (AB) A beautiful combination of sweet, sad lyrics and haunting vocals come from the deep well of a young heart and an old soul. 

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    Image of Sinéad O'Connor - CANCELLED TOUR
    Sinéad O'Connor - CANCELLED TOUR

    (Ireland) Sinéad O'Connor has cancelled her entire tour, and will not be performing at the 2012 Calgary Folk Music Festival.

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    Image of Lindi Ortega
    Lindi Ortega

    (ON)

    Lindi’s arresting, vibrato vocals and unique brand of alt country songs speak to the desperado in all of us, for a genre she describes as “a roadside motel love affair between old school outlaws and country darlings.”

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    Image of Ellis Paul
    Ellis Paul

    (USA) A critically-acclaimed singer and poet, his urban folk rock weds striking poetic imagery and philosophical introspection with hook-laden melodies.

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    Image of Mercedes Peón
    Mercedes Peón

    (Spain) Traditional Galician music soars as this powerful bagpiper/ percussionist/ accordionist/ guitarist/ singer creates epic sonic layers with traditional instruments, samples and electronica.

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    Image of Reuben & the Dark
    Reuben & the Dark

    (AB) Introspective and anthemic indie music features stripped-down tales and rich, finely-textured harmonies.

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    Image of Alejandra Robles
    Alejandra Robles

    (Mexico) Drawing on her Afro-Mexican roots, Latin American music, Caribbean rhythms and opera background, this singer and dancer’s performances are rhythmic and charismatic.

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    Image of The Rural Alberta Advantage
    The Rural Alberta Advantage

    (ON) Founded in 2005 in Toronto by a northern Albertan, their charming percussive folk vignettes bring tales of small towns, changing seasons, heartbreak and redemption. 

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    Image of Serena Ryder
    Serena Ryder

    (ON) She creates magical, natural music with her sonorous 3-octave vocal range and musical palette that embraces folk, roots, country, indie and contemporary sounds.

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    Image of Shakura S'Aida
    Shakura S'Aida

    (Switzerland / Canada) Her powerful, smoldering vocal style has been called ‘the sound of 21st century blues.’ She and her hot band breathe fresh life into ‘40s and ‘50s classics and nail original, funky songs.

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    Image of Danny Schmidt
    Danny Schmidt

    (USA) His songs on the human condition conjure magic from the mundane, in a flood of poetry, mythology, folk wisdom and surprise.

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    Image of Shad
    Shad

    (BC) Kenyan-born, Rwandan-descended, Ontario-raised rapper is a new standard bearer for positive rap, with metronome-tight rhythms that push hip-hop into the future.

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    Image of Shooglenifty
    Shooglenifty

    (Scotland) Tweak and modify traditional sounds with electronics, loops and funky bass for their signature irresistible groove they dub hypnofolkadelia.

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    Image of Rae Spoon
    Rae Spoon

    (AB/QC) Their memorable melodies, singer/songwriter sensibilities and twang roots have evolved into indie electronica featuring off-kilter sounds and grooves. 

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    Image of Ian Tamblyn
    Ian Tamblyn

    (ON) A prolific musician, adventurer, playwright and Canadian folk hero that has recorded 34 albums and written over 1500 songs. 

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    Image of Three Metre Day
    Three Metre Day

    (ON) Roots perfection and uncommonly organic music from violinist Hugh Marsh (Bruce Cockburn, Loreena McKennitt), slide guitarist/composer Don Rooke (The Henrys, Mary Margaret O’Hara) and singer/pump organist Michelle Willis. 

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    Image of Justin Townes Earle
    Justin Townes Earle

    (US) He’s Nashville North residing in lower Manhattan, with beautifully-crafted twangy and charming, rockin’ and reelin’, slow and sweet songs.

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    Image of Walking Woody's Road
    Walking Woody's Road

    (USA) American roots artist Jimmy LaFave and cohorts Ellis Paul, Sam Baker, Doug Cox and Bettysoo chronicle the life and writings of legendary singer/songwriter Woody Guthrie for the 100th anniversary of his birth.

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    Image of Abigail Washburn
    Abigail Washburn

    (USA) Nashville-based clawhammer banjo player pairs venerable folk elements with far-flung sounds, creating music that’s both strangely familiar and somewhat alien.

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    Wazimbo

    (Mozambique) The Golden Voice of Mozambique and chief proponent of the country’s rough and tumble urban dance sound, marrabenta, his music blends big band sounds, Latin melodies and unique African dance rhythms.

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    Image of Gillian Welch
    Gillian Welch

    (US) Gillian Welch, performing with long-time collaborator David Rawlings, is the epitome of folk-country simplicity. She exudes pure harmony, with a sound that seems coaxed from the dusty floorboards of a clapboard recording studio high in the Tennessee mountains.  

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    Image of Jim White
    Jim White

    (USA) Gonzo folk troubadour and unabashed existential anti-folk artist’s words capture life’s intricacies, filtered through his dry humour and impeccably crafted language

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    Whitehorse

    (ON) Acclaimed solo artists Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet marry their multi-faced talent and chemistry to craft smoldering music that cascades and rushes like fluid and electric currents.