Mariposa more than folk, full of surprises you’ll fall in love with

Mark Clairmont and Lois Cooper | MuskokaTODAY.com

ORILLIA A break in the weather comes at the right time for the Mariposa Folk Festival.

Three days that will change your life ….

After a week of 30+ that often felt like 40+, temperatures in the mid-to-high 20s are foreceast for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Perfect weather to enjoy some of Canada’s top talent in the fields of folk, indie and pop, augmented by imported artists heard but seldom seen in Central Ontario.

The opening night’s headliner, of the three-day festival, is a crowd favourite.

Walk Off the Earth is a Canadian Indie pop band from Burlington, known for their music videos of covers and originals. The band is well known for its covers of pop genre music on YouTube, making use of instruments such as the ukulele and thermin, as well as looping samples. The band’s recorded music and videos are produced by member and multi-instrumentalist, Gianni “Luminati” Nicassio.

With hundreds of performers, there’s something incredible for every taste.

But it’s not just folk – it’s a lot more eclectic you’ll be glad to hear.

From traditional folk and legendary stars like Buffy Sainte-Marie to the Heavyweights Brass Band from Toronto.

It’s more than 30 hours of incredible listening pleasure packed into one venue.

That’s where the program of performances is so important.

Circle your favourites and try to sample as many acts as possible, by running or strolling around the peninsula at Tudhope Park, popping in and out of the dozen stages, so you can take in and hear as much as humanly possible.

And with the festival across Lake Couchiching from Casino Rama, it’s a sure bet that you’ll catch Canadian and Mariposa legend Gordon Lightfoot at some point on the main stage.

It’s usually late Saturday afternoon and again in the evening.

Lightfoot just last weekend wrapped up a three-night stand as the closing act at Massey Hall in Toronto, as it undergoes a two-year revovation.

The 79-year-old Orillia native is a fan favourite who drew good reviews for those shows.

But he’ll share the stages with some other incredible young and veteran performers, some who are returning after years of being away and other fresh faces that festival organizers have been trying to book for years.

Many are familiar and always predictably good, ones who fest fans have come to rely on for quality music they love.

While others are opportunities to connect with musicians you’ll be introduced to, and you’ll begin new relationships with and you’ll enjoy streaming them and enjoying them at like festivals for years to come.

Names like Allan Doyle and Sainte-Marie are mainstays, respective among Saturday and Sunday night headliners.

But there a ton of surprise guest artists you’ll want to catch at least a part of their shows.

Like Blind Boy Paxton, a young banjo/piano/harmonica player who will transport you back to the 1920s.

Veteran singer and peformers Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Gin are fan favourites on the Ontario music circuit up north.

Or Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn, who have been around for years but maybe you haven’t experienced them in person, or for a few years.

A couple of other duos worth watching for are Hat Fitz and Cara, a husband-wife duo from Australia, who bring soulful singing and impeccable musicianship to their unique mix of gospel, blues and roots music.; and Francesco Forni and Ilaria Graziano, an Italian acoustic duo strongly influenced by folk and blues.

Or how about Nick Lowe. He has made his mark as a producer (Elvis Costello-Graham Parker-Pretenders-The Damned), songwriter of at least three songs you know by heart, short-lived career as a pop star, and a lengthy term as a musicians’ musician. But in his current ‘second act’ as a silver-haired, tender-hearted but sharp-tongued singer-songwriter, he has no equal.

From Sweden, Fränder is an exciting folk quartet who perform with joy, energy and superb musicianship. Specializing in the folk music of Sweden and Estonia, the foursome features exquisite sibling harmonies and an infectious enthusiasm that make for an unforgettable musical experience. They breathe vibrant new life into a traditional folk genre.

But those few barely scratch the surface of a lineup that does more than it promises, it will guarantee you fall in love with more than one or two or a handful of pickers and players you’ll be shouting for encores.

Don’t believe me?

Go to the Mariposa Folk Festival website (www.mariposafolk.com) and sample all the acts for yourself.

Then buy your tickets online.

And plan 72 hours of pleasure, hour-by-hour.

There’s more than music, there’s the whole folk feel and scene that’s unique at this festival and venue, that’s a perfect fit for anyone’s listening pleasure.

Nick Lowe and the eclectic Los Straitjackets are among the headliners Saturday night.
Swedne’s Frander offers folk from across the ocean.