Canada has festivals too?
We devote a great deal of time covering all the U.S. music festivals and to some extent, the European ones too. But we’d be oblivious not to mention our friends up north. Yes that’s right, Canada! They have festivals too…
Edgefest 2008:
July 12, 2008 - Toronto, Canada
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Edgefest is the one of the first Canadian festivals to officially reveal their lineup. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t others. Shall we take a look?
Virgin Festival 2008 - Calgary:
June 21-22, 2008 - Calgary, AB
Nothing official has been confirmed for Virgin’s first festival in Calgary though the Calgary Sun has reported Linkin Park will headline. Other possibilities? Datarock and Ladytron will be in the area on that weekend.
The Toronto and Vancouver versions of the festival are also expected to take place this summer, though nothing has been officially announced.
Sled Island 2008:
June 25-28, 2008 - Calgary, AB
Liked the Virgin Music Festivals, rumors for the second annoual Sled Island festvial are hard to come by. But with a 2007 lineup that featured the likes of Cat Power, Spoon, and Les Savy Fav, one should expect a similarly strong lineup for the 2008 version of the indie heavy festival.
The Dodos are reportedly set to appear. Other rumored acts include Black Mountain and the Kills.
CoS reader Richard, a voluenteers at the festival, also gave us a list of some possible smaller acts who could appear: Jane Vain and the Dark Matter, The Dudes, Dojo Workhorse, the Boats, Chad VanGaalen, Beija Flor, The Constant C, Axis of Conversation, The Summerlad, VailHalen, Woodpidgeon, Hot Little Rocket, Fox Opera, the Western States Motel, Adrien Sala, Ashley Roch, Project BLVD, Nuerosound, Hey Ocean!, the Firm Handshake, Sudden Infant Dance Syndrome, Old Folks Home, and Jody Glenham.
Winnipeg Folk Festival 2008:
July 10-13, 2008 - Manitoba, Canada
This year’s edition of the Winnipeg Folk Festival will feature the Acorn, Jim Byrnes and The Sojourners, Catherine MacLellan, Red Stick Ramblers, Carrie Rodriguez, and Martha Scanlan. David Francey, the Infamous Stringduster are also confirmed.
Calgary Folk Festival 2008:
July 24-28, 2008 - Calgary, AB
Currently confirmed: Josh Ritter, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Abigail Washburn & Sparrow Quartet feat. Bela Fleck, the Duhks, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Los Straitjackets, Be Good Tanyas, James “Blood” Ulmer, Sonny Landreth, the Handsome Family, and Tim O’Brien.
Also taking place in Canada this summer is JunoFest. And Warped Tour stops by Calgary in August.
We’ll keep you updated as more details emerge for any of these festivals…
Thanks again to Richard for all the help.
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Good list there, if a little western-Canada specific. The Virgin festival travels to most Canadian cities, after all.
There’s also NXNE, the Canadian counterpart to SXSW.
Yeah, I forgot about NXNE. Look for a specific post about it soon…
Keep an eye out for the Ottawa Bluesfest… I believe the line-up isnt out for another month or so, but the week long festival always has a spectacular line-up.
Oh! Don’t forget Folk on the Rocks! Yellowknife, NWT - July 18-20
And Dawson City Music Festival - Dawson City - Yukon - July 18-20
No confirmations of bands as of yet for either of them - but will be soon I think…
Scott Kannberg aka Spiral Stairs aka Preston School of Industry was just announced as the guest curator for this year’s Sled Island festival….so I’d assume Preston School of Industry will play….and considering he played on the Kevin Drew album, Broken Social Scene might be a possibility as well.
Halifax Pop Exlosion!
http://www.halifaxpopexplosion.com/
Mar 13th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
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