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Who: Leif Vollebekk
When, where: Thursday, July 25 at 7:45 p.m. on Main Stage.
No one could accuse this Montreal singer-songwriter of lacking ambition. His upcoming album, Revelation, will be released in late September and combines complex sonics, orchestration and a songwriting process that, according to his publicist, was “inspired by an exploration that began with Carl Jung’s I Ching and continued into the science of alchemy and the mystery of the divine.” All of which should make him a welcome addition to the main-stage activities on opening night at Prince’s Island Park.
Who: The Mariachi Ghost
When, where: Thursday, July 25, 9:25 p.m. National Stage 4.
This Winnipeg collective is a festival favourite, mixing progressive rock strains with operatic harmonies and traditional Mexican sounds. On top of that, the band offers a feast for the eyes as well as ears in their shows, which includes dance, face paint and elaborate traditional clothing.
Who: James Vincent McMorrow
When, where: Friday, July 26, 10:20 p.m. Main stage.
This Irish songwriter will be closing down the main stage on Friday, a testament to his reputation as a mesmerizing performer specializing in slow-burn, soulful, folk-rock featuring his commanding falsetto.
Who: Wild Rivers
When, where: Friday, July 26, 7:35 p.m. Main stage.
Toronto trio Wild Rivers are vaguely described as a folk band, which is fitting given their main-stage placement at the folk fest but probably a little vague. The band formed in Ontario during their university days and established themselves as first-rate folk-pop songsmiths. Their most recent album, Never Better, may lean toward the poppier side of things with sharpened hooks. They are attracting attention outside of their home country, with the Associated Press calling their 2022 album, Sidelines, a “no-skip masterpiece, combining memorable, original hooks with angsty lyrics that made the band’s rise to top-tier status seem inevitable.”