Winnipeg Folk Festival 2018: Impressions And Photographs.

From July 5th to July 8th, 2018. With over 70 performers on a multitude of  stages; dotted around Birds Hill Provincial Park. Most of the acts were on the Main Stage for the finale on Sunday night.

Sheryl Crow was the headline act and the only performer that I had heard of. Enough hit songs and a good backing band; so everyone could sing along.

The 45th edition of the festival and well enough established to have a long row of food vendors covering all the bases in World cuisine.

Camping is a big thing at the Winnipeg Folk Fest, with the young in tents and most of the older generation in RVs. Partying and music going on long into the night after the show shad finished. reckoned by many to be the best part of the four days and five nights.

This the official photographer of the festival; a volunteer with his 112 year old camera. The tripod looks a bit younger.

First outing for the new awning on the Mack. It stood up well to some high winds and a couple of showers on the Sunday morning.

A lot of the smaller stages have "Workshop" type events in the daytime. Some better supported than others and not just the old style finger-in-the-ear folk music. If the organizers could go back 45 years; then I think they would have called it "The Winnipeg Music Festival" because there was a awful lot more than just folk.

Volunteers are a big part of the festival with 2800 people helping to put on the event. Many come back year after year, giving a few hours of their time each day and partying for the rest.

Big Rock Brewery has the concession for the two taverns. A cold beer and a sit down in the shade was a welcome relief from the hot sun and the endless walking. It's a big site with every stage being out of earshot from it's neighbour.

A folding chair is essential as the grass is the only alternative. It can be a long day; 11am to 11pm, on your feet.

The smell of dope on the campsite was the most powerful I can remember and lasted for all the festival. Just like the relentless drumming that went from dusk to dawn. Surprisingly, I slept well. Maybe from all the walking or maybe from sleeping in noisy truckstops for most of my life.

Leonard Sumner was one act I enjoyed. A young Native American from Saskatchewan; he delivered a powerful message in a friendly humourous  style with a mix of poetry and songs in English and Cree.

Scott H. Byrum is a blues guitarist from Austin, Texas. One man filling a stage with a driving rhythm and showing what a diverse set of performers that Folk Fest assembles for it's vast audience. 

The Winnipeg Folk Festival is on the eastern side of the Bird's Hill Provincial Park, 20 miles out of town and on a well established site.

The Mack was parked in the RV section of the festival campsite. It was crowded but the friendliness of my neighbours was overwhelming. I didn't imagine  that the old fire rescue truck would attract so much attention with people whose passion was music.