I first came to play Summerfolk in 1985. I came as a hardly wet behind the ears musician, playing guitar for a Scottish folk singer named Margaret Christl. Two years later, when i had released my first solo album, Summerfolk was one of the first festivals outside of Alberta that booked me as me. I have been coming back regularly ever since. Sometimes i have had a couple of offers on the same weekend, but i can't resist the place. Summerfolk always has the highest priority for me.
There are several reasons for that.
For one, its often the last Canadian festival for the season and as such has the feeling of the last gathering of the clan before we all disperse for the fall and winter touring season. A last chance to hang out and play tunes and tell stories with your peers. Summerfolk has always excelled at making performers feel comfortable enough to hang out together, and that is harder to achieve than you think.
Second, Summerfolk has always taken chances on artists (myself included) and the performers generally give that back to the festival and the audience in spades. It also makes for a rare mix between the seasoned veterans and the up and comers. As a young performer you can learn a lot at the workshop stages just by looking to your left or right and as a veteran , you can realize that you are connected to the ever evolving scene. It energizes us.
Third, and most important, when Summerfolk really clicks, the barrier between audience and performers melts away. A few years ago, just before the finale, i caught sight of one of our American brethren packing up and heading for the shuttle pen. I said to him, you have to stay for the finale , man. He looked at me, with a slightly jaundiced eye and got that weary look. I put an arm on his shoulder and said, No, really, you have to come on stage. He asked me why? For what happens at the end, i said.
When the piper showed up, he looked quite worried, but when the piper headed in to the audience and the performers followed, we walked together through the crowd. He shook hands with people, thanked them for coming. People thanked him for his songs and for his humour and we we at last returned back stage he looked at me and said " that was the most extraordinary end to a festival that i have ever seen". He was moved. As i am every time I do it.
Summerfolk has a reputation amongst performers in Canada and abroad. People want to come and play here, argue with their agents so that they can play here, bring their families with them when they play here.
That is the tradition that I want to uphold in my time as artistic director of this jewel of a festival.
