Vancouver Folk Music Festival announces At Home program for 2021

Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack), Khari Wendell McClelland, and Kathleen Nisbet among the featured performers at the virtual fest

The Vancouver Folk Music Festival At Home features 13 pre-filmed shows.

Vancouver Folk Music Festival at Home runs July 16 to 23.

It was a heartbreaking decision for the team at Vancouver Folk Music Festival to have to cancel the 2021 in-person event earlier this year because of the pandemic—but the crew has found a way for the show to go on.

The just-announced Vancouver Folk Music Festival at Home is based on the theme of “physically apart/together at heart”.

It runs from July 16 at 4 pm PDT to July 23 and features 13 shows that were filmed in advance. These include eight concerts, two song circles, a short about making guitars with luthier Warren Murfitt, and three “kids of all ages” interactive shows with Redbird.

Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack) performed a ceremonial opening and set of songs and dances at Jericho Beach Park, which the fest is requesting that people watch first.

Other artists on the 2021 lineup are Blue Moon Marquee, Buckerfield’s Band, Tim Hearsey, Locarno, Khari Wendell McClelland, Kathleen Nisbet, Marin Patenaude, Dawn Pemberton Band, Jocelyn Pettit Band, Paul Pigat & the Grand Koolios, Redbird, and Vashaan.

The shows were filmed at several local spots, including Buckerfield's, the Cultch, Jericho Beach Park, Kay Meek Centre, the Rickshaw, and Soundhouse Studios.

Everything is running for free online at the fest’s website.

In addition, a selection of concerts and song circles will be shown on the big screen at the Rio Theatre as two different “movies” on July 17 and 18. Tickets are $15 per show or $25 for a day pass to see both sets of concerts.

Also in the mix are festival T-shirts, print-at-home colouring sheets, and a 50/50 draw. The fest has created a map of vendors and venues, from music shops to food stops, as part of its support-local initiative

More info is at More information is at VFMF.

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Gail Johnson

Gail Johnson is a Vancouver-based journalist who has earned local and national nominations and awards for her work. She is a certified Gladue Report writer via Indigenous Perspectives Society in partnership with Royal Roads University and is a member of a judging panel for top Vancouver restaurants.

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