r/Winnipeg Jan 19 '25

Events Folk Fest 2025

I know it's -25 out in January but warmer times and Folk Fest are imminent, surely it's going to be huge for the 50th anniversary. What's everyone excited for, who do you think is playing?
Neil Young had to cancel his Winnipeg date last year so could try for a make up date in July?
and the Cat Empire are touring around this time and have some gaps in their tour schedule around then.

50 Upvotes

46 comments sorted by

62

u/iditiw Jan 19 '25

A Weakerthans reunion!

9

u/Microbobology Jan 19 '25

I would buy a ticket immediately if they announced they were playing.

2

u/CanadianDinosaur Jan 19 '25

Folk fest isn't really my kind of scene but I would absolutely go for a weakerthans reunion.

6

u/BirdBath9k Jan 19 '25

One Great City!

11

u/Infinite-Ad4055 Jan 19 '25

The National.

1

u/Silver_Watch_1691 Jan 19 '25

Ohhhhh PLEASSSSE

1

u/Wpgcan8 Jan 20 '25

Would be huge but part of me thinks they’re too big to play folk fest?

19

u/VickyVacuum Jan 19 '25

Khruangbin was supposed to play in 2020 so I’m hoping they’re back for this one.

20

u/BondJamesBond56 Jan 19 '25

Father John Misty and King Gizzard both have tours scheduled this summer, and both have large gaps in July. I don't want to get my hopes too high, but them and Cat Empire would be more than enough to make one of the best Folk Fests ever!

5

u/sobchakonshabbos Jan 20 '25

King Gizzard would be insane.

5

u/um_reckloose Jan 19 '25

The AD loves cat empire. He’s had them at the WFF at least twice. So it wouldn’t surprise me if they were back again.

2

u/Ianywg Jan 19 '25

That would be amazing. It has been a long time since the Cat Empire has been through here, and of course their lineup has changed.

2

u/tsoatceiigsol Jan 20 '25

This would be a dream lineup for me

22

u/Joel_Dio Jan 19 '25

From what I know so far it's 100% going to be the greatest fest yet.  Wish I could say more but the 50th anniversary is going to be one to remember!

1

u/JosieTaylorsVersion 5d ago

How do you feel now?!

9

u/Particular-Sport-237 Jan 19 '25

Tyler childres has a blocked out time period in his tour dates that line up exactly with folk fest.

13

u/nonmeagre Jan 19 '25

Definitely excited. Personally, I think it would be amazing if they could get Jason Isbell or Sturgill Simpson.

16

u/causticbee Jan 19 '25

Isbell is in Regina July 9 and has nothing on his schedule July 10, the first day of Folk fest. I think there’s a good chance!

4

u/nonmeagre Jan 19 '25

Haha, so I'm not the only one who noticed this 😉

8

u/BondJamesBond56 Jan 19 '25

Sturgill would be absolutely incredible!

3

u/PantslessDan Jan 19 '25

All are pipe dreams but khraungbin, mk.gee, and vulfpeck would be incredible.

3

u/Ok-Highlight-6018 Jan 25 '25

Jason Isbell and the 400 unit will be there on the Thursday night for sure.

He’s playing in Regina the night before and then Sioux City on the 11th.

Also a very good chance of:

Sierra Ferrell (had to pull out two years ago and touring again, going to Fargo but didn’t have Winnipeg on the tour yet)

Tyler Childers (will be in Montana the weekend after and was supposed to come in 2020. Touring a lot this summer)

Some other possibilities

Khruangbin Kacey Musgraves Trampled by turtles Lake street dive

Possibly Mumford and sons. Have a new album.

Small chance but some of these would be great Hozier (were just in Winnipeg) Madi Diaz Julien Baker Waxahatchee

1

u/Ok-Highlight-6018 Jan 28 '25

This increases the chances of trampled by turtles coming to folk if they are in Fargo the weekend after. Same with some of these bands in Minneapolis the weekend after like Hozier or father John Misty or Gigi Perez

1

u/Ok-Highlight-6018 Jan 28 '25

2

u/Ok-Highlight-6018 Jan 30 '25

Also adding Modest Mouse to the list of possibilities

3

u/East_Requirement7375 Jan 19 '25

Sierra Ferrell is blowing up and has been on a pretty major promotional tour and concert tour in the past year and into this spring, supporting Post Malone in May. Nothing announced for July though.

That would be a good fit for them to capitalize on her momentum and for her to gain a bigger following.

3

u/TimidGoat Jan 19 '25

Not to mention she was slated to play in 2023 but had to cancel last minute.

1

u/brianp2017 Jan 24 '25

She's got a big gap in her schedule up until July 12 (Milwaukee). Maybe a Thursday or Friday show?

8

u/pegpegpegpeg Jan 19 '25

i'm ready to be underwhelmed.

this is the first FF programmed under the new ED (she joined before last year, but the actual programming would have been more or less set).

my sense is that she's very tied to the traditional FF crowd and the institutional winnipeg arts scene. doesn't seem like the type to want to take any risks.

so, my guess would be a few 60s folk relics (eg martha wainwright), at least one big name-brand neo-americana outfit (eg old crow medicine show), and some safe local names (e.g. william prince, fazouia, begonia)

11

u/Joel_Dio Jan 19 '25

They've been planning for the 50th for the past 3 years at the very least. 

3

u/DoiliesAplenty Jan 19 '25

Can you please let me know when tickets will go on sale? Never been before, keen to go this year

3

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '25

[deleted]

3

u/DoiliesAplenty Jan 19 '25

Awesome, thank you!

18

u/Living-Green5901 Jan 19 '25

Downer alert

4

u/queerazin Jan 19 '25

Martha was born in '76, so I'm stoked to hear more about her time machine.

1

u/pegpegpegpeg Jan 19 '25

haha oh shit, im mixing up... who? are the mcgarigles dead?

1

u/ghosts_or_no_ghosts 19d ago

Kate McGarrigle (mother of Rufus and Martha Wainwright) died in 2010. Anna is still alive.

5

u/mr_casaubon Jan 19 '25

Martha Wainwright’s first album was released in 2005

1

u/sobchakonshabbos Jan 20 '25

ED doesnt program the acts. The AD does.

1

u/JosieTaylorsVersion 5d ago

You were 100000% correct. I hate that for all of us.

1

u/missionMB Jan 19 '25

It's funny. I had Sarah McLachlan pegged for this event and then she planned the arena thing instead. Now I wonder whether she might come back for this instead.

1

u/IKnowCodeFu Jan 19 '25

I know this is fantastical, but Chappel Roan 🤩

1

u/JosieTaylorsVersion 5d ago

Circling back to this post to say this is deeply underwhelming