The 8th annual All Folk'd Up Music Festival was held this past weekend in Montmartre - Paris of the Prairies showcasing an incredible lineup of musicians and artists from bluegrass to rock and roll, soul to country.
AFU Co-ordinator Dakota Jackson has her dream job promoting this festival. It has some of the most important values to her … Saskatchewan Arts. “We are putting out such incredible artists and entrepreneurs so the opportunity to promote them is incredible. It's fantastic. The fact that it is in rural Saskatchewan has always been very dear to me. We have to show the power of rural Saskatchewan and the incredible determination and passion of the people here. I love festivals!”
The All Folk'd Up Festival has seen many changes over the past eight years.
“It's definitely been a matter of progress,” states Jackson. “In terms of location we've definitely done a transition … we have everything together creating a little bit more of a festival environment. It's been a huge benefit to not only the people camping at Kemoca Park but to the artists and everyone attending as well. We're gaining a reputation and putting Montmartre on the map over the years by proving this wonderful balance between staying true to the roots of what the festival is about.”
“It's about families, about diverse music, it's about small town rural Saskatchewan showcasing the passion that lives within it,” says Jackson and adds “at the same time we're ensuring that we're bringing Saskatchewan and western Canadian artists that are at such a calibre … some of those artists that have really blown up over the past few years and the fact that we're still able to bring them in. For many of them who have come before this it is like coming home for them. That really drives home that we're doing it right. We're still keeping it like home. That's important!”
Jackson hopes everyone who attends feels the same way. “This is a home environment. You come as you are. You're accepted as you are. We hope everyone has a good time all together.”
There's always a few changes to each year's festival, some new things added, things done a different way, but at the same time they are always ensuring they stick to those roots. That's always a balancing act but they're doing it well!
This year's festival showcased many well-known bands including Brad Johner and The Johner Boys, Andino Suns, The Dead South, Punch Drunk Cabaret, Hunter Brothers and Jaecy Bells to name a few.
Jackson sees this folk festival going on for many years yet as she says “I have full plans on my children being the ones doing the tye-dye station and they're only 2½ right now so this is a long term goal.”
“We're still in the development stage in terms of the festival so any profits from the festival each year goes back into the festival,” Jackson explains. “We recognize that there still needs to be improvements in certain areas. We want to bring a certain calibre to the festival and right now much of that is our focus. Supporting the community is really a big thing as much as we can in terms of supporting them in other ways. It's promoting the businesses around us.”
The businesses all around Montmartre and surrounding areas are a bit busier on festival weekend with festival goers checking out to see what their town has to offer.
“Rural Saskatchewan has so much to offer people and if we can get people to go off the beaten path a little bit I think lots of people are amazed by what a community of 800 has to offer,” Jackson states.
People have come to the festival from across Canada including some from Ontario, Alberta and there was even a couple from the East Coast and of course all across Saskatchewan.
So if you're going through Saskatchewan make plans to stop in at the All Folk'd Up Festival in Montmartre.
“Each individual's experience reflects back on us and we have to make sure that all of those individuals have a good experience and we do everything that we can in order to make that happen,” says Jackson.
There have been many positive comments made throughout the weekend. People have really enjoyed the children's pavilion which included so much to keep the kids entertained throughout the weekend including Tot Time with Tyler, Mr. Circus Performance featuring juggling, comedy and more, Balloon Animals, Face Painting and a workshop teaching the kids and some adults to spin props to music and incorporating rhythmic movement and dance.
“The children's pavilion has always been a priority and something that we're going to continue to develop,” says Jackson and adds “things are flowing better and better with each festival that we have. We find things that we can improve on each year.”
Of course the All Folk'd Up Music Festival doesn't just happen on its own. Altogether there's nearly 100 volunteers who help with not only the organizing and planning leading up to the festival; but, also the set-up and tear down crew, the front gate workers, merchandise tent team, 50/50 sellers, MC's, cooks, VIP tent and sound crew, tie-dye station workers, children's pavilion supervisors, there is honestly too many names to mention, but that does not mean they don't deserve the greatest and humblest of thank you's! AFU is also indebted to the numerous sponsors who believe in the importance of this Festival.
“We have lots of people who have been supporters from the very beginning,” says Jackson. “These people keep coming back and they keep volunteering. It's incredible! They're a great resource for us.”
Plans have already been started for next year's festival.
“We have some artists that have already said 'Hey if you want us back again next year...we're coming...just ask!,” explains Jackson. “That's always a feather in our cap for sure!”
“We're about diverse music, it's all about a balance. There's always those up-and-coming groups that we try to bring in. Those bands may someday be the big headliners and the festival favourite,” says Jackson.
Committee members and volunteers were exhausted by the end of this year's event and by Sunday evening festival goers commented they were 'All Folk'd Out'!
