The annual FarmFest/Terre Ferme wrapped up another successful year at the Campagne farm near Willow Bunch on July 28-30. FarmFest is a Fransaskois music festival that is run and organized by the Campagne family on the family farm. It attracted an audience coming from across the country as well as locally.
FarmFest marked its 10th anniversary of the festival by adding some new events to its program. The Campagne family, who performed in five different musical groups, formed the core of the musical program. They sang original music in both French and English with a focus on their connection to their language and culture. They have also invited a number of additional artists to perform at the festival. This year, three new groups joined them on stage, including the Kingston-based group Arrogant Worms, the Red Moon Road group from Manitoba and the gypsy pop band Les Barricades.
There were a number of returning favourites like Slim Williams, who brought a unique combination of pop, funk, jazz, and rock, festival staple, Heather Bishop, and Étienne Fletcher brought a high energy show. Additional artists included, family member Anique Granger featuring her song-writing and Aleksi Campagne who brought his whole band, the All Time Lows, for the first time to the festival. Canadian folk artist Connie Kaldor acted as emcee as well as performed her popular hits.
The FarmFest schedule was a little different than past years. The first evening featured a cheesy song social. Various performers sang the beloved flamboyant songs from the past and the audience was invited to sing along. Day two featured new items on the agenda. Morning and afternoon activities included several workshops like walking tours, yoga, mindfulness, organic gardening, flower dying, music improv and song-writing. New to the festival was La Troupe du Jour, the only professional French-language theatre company in Saskatchewan, and late at night there was an old-time dance music session led by Aleksi Campagne on the fiddle.
The festival offered food concessions like pancake breakfasts and a bison barbecue. The Farmer’s Market had a new home in an outbuilding with tables offering jewelry, books, art, CDs and organic products. The old truck still led hayrides to the highest viewpoint on the farm for a splendid view of the valley. The festival wrapped up on the final day with a pancake breakfast and gospel music performances.
