Summerfolk (Photo by Nathan Shubert)
Owen Sound is coming alive with music this weekend as Summerfolk 48 hits the stage.
Running Friday to Sunday at Kelso Beach at Nawash Park, Artistic Director James Keelaghan says he is feeling good about this annual festival with set up running ahead of schedule.
“We have been having a really fast build this year,” says Keelaghan. “It’s just all looking really good.”
The lineup of performers this year includes Loreena McKennitt, Serena Ryder, Le Winston Band, Julian Taylor, and more.
Keelaghan says McKennitt will be headlining the Friday night show at 10 p.m., Ryder will headline Saturday night at 10 p.m., and Matt Andersen will headline on Sunday night at 7:45 p.m..
The music starts at 5:15 p.m. on Friday with Youth Discoveries at the Down By The Bay venue, before Morgan Toney takes the stage at 6 p.m. at the amphitheatre.
Additionally, there will be a number of artisans, food vendors, and activities including Indigenous Traditional Kids Hoop Dance and the Gospel Workshop.
“We always have a Gospel Workshop from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the amphitheatre, it’s the only thing that happens on the site at that time and this year we brought up a band from Florida by the name of The Lee Boys,” says Keelaghan. “The are unbelievably great and if you were going to catch only one thing at the festival, I would say be at the Gospel Workshop.”
He adds there will be no technical changes from last year but they are adding more outdoor activities.
“I think last year was really about us getting back up and running like a proper festival again and this year is just putting shine on that,” says Keelaghan. “There are going to be paddle boards available for rent and people can ride on the big canoe. We are switching the childrens parade to Saturday and I think it is going to be a little less cautious and a little bit more exuberant.”
More information on this ticketed event can be found on the Summerfolk website here.