50th N.L. Folk Festival likely to play on — with a different format (original) (raw)

Nfld. & Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society interim chair Jean Hewson said the group is still "we’re still waiting to hear on certain pots of money," but it looks like the 50 year celebration will happen Aug. 8.

One-day event expected for Bannerman Park on Aug. 8, says Jean Hewson

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People in lawn chairs sitting in front of stage

The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival is back for its 50th year. (Abby Cole/CBC)

It’s looking like a greenlight for the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, albeit in a more compact version than previous years, according to one organizer.

Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society interim chair Jean Hewson told CBC Radio's Weekend AM the organization is aiming to hold a one-day event at Bannerman Park on Aug. 8.

“It’s still a very tight timeline and we’re still waiting to hear on certain pots of money,” said Hewson.

So, is that a yes or a strong maybe, host Martin Jones asked?

“I’m going to be there!” said Hewson, laughing.

“I’d say there will be people there … and I think that the only thing that we need to determine is the scope of it, and that will be depending on funding.”

Money woes

The non-profit organization has been grappling with financial problems since 2024. But, with the help of fundraising it was able to hold the 49th festival last July. This summer — its 50th anniversary — remained up in the air.

The society closed its offices in November.

But a new interim board is working to stabilize the organization’s future — despite being strapped for cash.

A fundraising concert Sunday night is hoping to clear some, or all, of the group's $50,000 debt.

Hewson said she is “cautiously optimistic” about the festival’s future.

Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival.

The annual summer music festival draws large crowds to Bannerman Park in the heart of St. John's. (CBC)

“We've had a tremendous amount of community support from musicians, from the venue, from all kinds of people,” she said.

“We don't want the event to die. We don't want the organization to die. It still has a role to play and we want to keep it going.”

As for what the festival will look like this year, Hewson said it will only be one day, instead of the typical three-day event.

“We want to have a stage there. We want to have, you know, a sound system. We want people to get up and play and get paid,” she said.

If everything goes well, Hewson said, the society also hopes to resume its other events and programming throughout the year, including the Young Folk at the Hall program for young musicians.

Hewson said she’d prefer to defer the 50th anniversary celebration until they have the capacity for a larger festival, but this summer will still be special for many.

“I know for the community, many of them feel this is going to be our 50th and they don't really care what it looks like or what it's called," she said.

"They're going to be there because it means something to them.”

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Clarifications

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Abby Cole is a journalist with CBC News in St. John's. She can be reached at abby.cole@cbc.ca.

With files from Weekend AM