For William Prince, headlining 1st night of this year's N.L. Folk Fest is a privilege and a pleasure
Executive director says festival has major changes this year
With major acts like Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and William Prince, the 48th annual Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival is underway at Bannerman Park in the heart of downtown St. John's.
Julie Vogt, the outgoing executive director of the N.L. Folk Festival, says this year's festival is vastly different from previous years'.
"This is the biggest folk festival we have ever done," she told CBC News. "Every time we think of what's about to happen starting tonight, you get fluttery, but so excited. I can't wait for the people to see all of this."
Among the changes this year: alcoholic drinks will be allowed in all areas of the festival, thanks to a new type of liquor licence. Vogt said the change was necessary to keep up with the competition.
"If we had stayed the way we were with the competition that's out here, we wouldn't be around for the 50th anniversary because we can't compete the way we were going. The board had a decision to make," she said.
"This festival is built on love and respect. And that is always going to be there. That's for sure."
She says the folk festival is much more than just a music festival for her.
"It's the tradition, for sure. It's preserving the culture, but at the same time bringing in the new folk and the new culture that's happening today. The unity and the family, when I go out to folk stuff, I would see the same folks out time after time. We all like the same thing," Vogt said.
"Folk music is by far my favourite. I just love it. And that's why it's the unity and the messaging. Folk can be revolutionary. Folk can be taking up a cause — if you think about all the folk of the '60s and the '70s, it can be so many things."
William Prince, Friday's headline performer, says it's a privilege to perform in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Prince, an Indigenous performer from Winnipeg, says his Indigeneity is a significant part of his music.
"There tends to be an asterisk to a lot of Indigenous performers who have to bring along an extra story and oftentimes can be given the responsibility of putting forth education all the time rather than we're just here for good music and a good time," Prince says.
"I carry that proudly, and at the same time I just want to show people that we're out here living, creating art. We are so much more than our traumas than all those things. We are dance and culture, and song, and laughter, light-heartedness in the park, all these great things. I think that's where I want my Indigeneity to shine."
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With files from The Signal
