It was cold and cloudy all day, but it did not rain. The temperature probably didn't get above 15 degrees (C, or 60 degrees F) and it got cooler in the evening.
I went first to a workshop which combined Welsh singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph with English folk legends the Strawbs and a Canadian First Nation drum troupe from Hobbema, Alberta, called Perfect Storm. To accomodate all the performers, the session was divided with Perfect Storm starting. Their performance might have been obscure or inaccessible but one of the troupe leaders provided a friendly and engaging commentary that explained the show. I listened to Martyn Joseph sing one song, and I left the site to meet a friend for lunch. I have heard Joseph at other Canadian Festivals. He is very strong singer, and a good writer.
I returned as the sessions shut down for an afternoon main stage concert by Canadian roots-rockers, Blue Rodeo. This veteran band has played the Edmonton festival several times, and they were crowd favourites.
My next sessions were concerts by Irish singer and multi-instrumentalist Ron Kavana, and Scots singer, writer, and multi-instrumentalist Brian McNeill. McNeill came out and played with Kavana, and McNeill was joined by guitarist and singer Dick Gaughan. All three performers are veteran performers, with large repertoires and confident and relaxed stage presences. They have played together before and joined in each other's songs effortlessly. Kavana plays guitar and Irish bouzouki, McNeill plays guitar, fiddle and mando-cello. McNeill's discography is rather thin for such an accomplished and experienced writer and performer, and not very accessible in Canada. The emphasis in this workshop was on historical ballads, and they each have written several, and know a number of traditional songs or songs by other writers.
Article comments