Skip to content

First wave of acts announced for Folk On The Rocks

The 2018 Folk On The Rocks music festival is calling in award winning talent to enhance their 38th annual event.

Executive producer Carly Bradley has announced the first wave of acts who will be performing at the July 20 to 22 festival. Most notably four-time JUNO award nominee, Canadian indie-pop band STARS.

“I hope audiences come out to the festival regardless of their music taste,” said Bradley. “The whole experience is about trying something new and I hope we're able to provide that this year.”

photo courtesy : Crisderksen.virb.com Indigenous cellist/composer and 2016 JUNO award nominee Cris Derksen is one of nine artists to be announced as the first wave of performers for Folk On The Rocks 2018. Derksen along with other JUNO award nominated acts, STARS and The Weather Station will grace the stage from July 20–22 . Rounding out the first wave of acts is Quantum Tangle, The Courtney's, Weaves, Hillsburn, Louie and Leanne Goose and Fiver.

Last Friday's announcement also included eight other artists, including Vancouver based pop-grunge band The Courtney's, 2018 JUNO award nominees The Weather Station and 2017 JUNO award-winning duo Quantum Tangle.

As discussed at Folk on the Rocks' annual general meeting late last year, this year's festival will benefit from an increase to the operating budget, allowing the booking of some higher profile performers. The increase comes after the completion of the Aurora North stage as well as an increase in ticket prices and ticket sales in 2017.

“We hope to keep that same level of quality,” said Bradley. “Ticket sales were a huge component on why we were able to have an increased operating budget but it wouldn't have happened without the help of an arts grant from the GNWT.”

Last year's instalment of Folk On The Rocks included performances by mainstream performer Dallas Green from the band City and Colour and indie garage-rock duo The Pack AD.

Folk on the Rocks is listed as one of Canada's top 10 music festivals.

The next announcement for Folk On The Rocks will be in two weeks.