Welcome to our redesigned website. It is hard to believe that this will be my 20th festival as Producer.
Twenty years offers a vantage point to look back and see how the Festival has grown and matured and, hopefully, improved.
When I joined the Festival in 1989, it was clear the festival was in survival mode. We had a deficit and owed money to many suppliers. I remember thinking that, fundamentally, the festival was in good shape. Holger Petersen had left a wonderful musical legacy. We had set high standards and our reputation among folk musicians was very strong. So I copied what Holger had been doing, leaving Celtic, African and headlining artists to a future, when we were no longer in debt.
In 1993, I stumbled upon the idea of a “Headliner Thursday Night.” In 1994 the Gods smiled on us and Joni Mitchell played. The following year it was Elvis Costello. We have been in very good shape since.
Our newfound financial success allowed us to expand the site, adding new space for stages 3,4,5 and 6. We bought new tents and other pieces of infrastructure, e.g. underground electrical upgrades and better sound systems. Every time I asked our volunteers for more, the answer was always “no problem.”
Each year we have added extra touches, such as video screens that work in daylight in 2007. This new website is one of the last pieces of our jigsaw puzzle.
Now, more than ever, I can concentrate on the music. You can see the start of the lineup for 2008, with our first 15 artists. We will have a strong lineup of bluegrass, top class players, songwriters, Celtic and world music. Proving to be elusive, so far, are the headliners that we have become known for. I am putting in more and larger offers than ever and remain hopeful of securing some extra-special artists.
This said, many have remarked to me that last year was one of their favourite Festivals without the big names. I will continue to book with quality as the main value.
I must note, with sadness, the passing of two wonderful artists, Lucky Dube and Andy Palacio. They were simply the best at what they did and I will treasure the memory of their performances at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival.
As we get closer to the Festival, I will update this message. See you on August 7.
Regards.
Terry Wickham, Producer