NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE TO HOST CANADIAN STAGE AT VIRTUAL EDITION OF 59th PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL
All-Canadian lineup features: William Prince, Silla and Rise, OKAN, Marie-Clo and more — to perform at first virtual edition of Philadelphia Folk Festival on August 14
OTTAWA (Canada) – On August 14, 2020 the National Arts Centre (NAC) will bring together a line-up of Canadian musicians as part of the Philadelphia Folk Festival’s 2020 digital Edition.
The Canadian stage will feature 13 acts, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (EST) on Friday August 14, 2020 as a safe virtual festival experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Now in its 59th year, the Philadelphia Folk Festival is North America’s oldest continuously run outdoor music festival and this is the first virtual edition. This year, the Festival’s Camp stage will feature international stages, affording musicians from all over the globe the opportunity to perform to new audiences and presenters. The Festival has regularly hosted Canadian artists over recent years.
Heather Gibson, Executive Producer of Popular Music and Variety at the National Arts Centre, says Canadian artists are looking to get back to work after months of COVID-19 cancellations, and participation in the Philadelphia Folk Festival is a great opportunity to reach new audiences.
The Canadian Stage will showcase a total of 13 acts made up of Canadian artists, from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, Yellowknife, British Columbia, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia.
“The NAC is pleased to join the Philadelphia Folk Festival community to bring Canadian musicians to the stage to perform, engage and connect with new audiences. In the wake of the Global pandemic, artists need our support more than ever. The line-up will showcase emerging artists from across Canada and include different genres of music, ” says Gibson.
The Philadelphia Folk Festival says the addition of the international stages adds an exciting new dimension to this year’s festival. Each country will present a stellar lineup of talent, adding 56 performers to the Festival lineup, bringing the total to more than 160 Artists.
“I am thrilled to have a dedicated stage with country-specific curated programming this year. Being able to present some of the finest artists from across the world and put a digital arm around our global partners is incredibly rewarding, ” says Festival and Programming Director, Lisa Schwartz.
Watch the entire festival from the comfort of your home, August 13-16, 2020. Catch the NAC’s Canadian Stage on Friday 14, August, 2020 beginning at 10 a.m.
Tickets start at just $25 USD per day, purchase at folkfest.org
NAC’s Canadian Stage Lineup
Silla & Rise 10:00
Jennah Berry 10:30
Mélissa Ouimet 11:00
Don Brownrigg 12:00
Marie-Clo 13:00
Mariel Buckley 14:00
Sarah MacDougall and Ivan Coyote 15:00
AHI 16:00
Alfa Rococo 17:00
OKAN 18:00
Celeigh Cardinal 19:00
Leela Gilday 20:00
William Prince 21:00
ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL
From August 13-16, 2020, the Philadelphia Folksong Society will do the unthinkable: bring the vibrant experience of North America’s oldest continuously run outdoor music festival to the digital world. With COVID-19 threatening to derail a decades-long tradition, this folk community responded as it always has, with ingenuity, compassion, and the indomitable spirit of people-power.
The Philadelphia Folksong Society has partnered with Mountain View Staging, with over 20 years of streaming excellence, to present the 59th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival as a fully digital interactive musical experience, complete with multiple stages/streams of curated music, fully integrated chat features, campfire open mics, zoom campsites, craft show, food and merchandise tents, and above all else: the invaluable sense of community and connectivity that comes from the shared experience of enjoying music together.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE
The National Arts Centre raised its curtains for the first time in 1969. A bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for Canada’s most creative artists, the NAC strives to be artistically adventurous in each of its programming streams — the NAC Orchestra, Dance, English Theatre, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre and NAC Presents. The Centre’s national role is reflected in its motto: “Canada is our Stage.” The NAC collaborates with artists and arts organizations across the country, acts as a catalyst for performance; invests in ambitious new works by artists and arts organizations nation-wide; and nurtures the next generation of audiences and artists from across Canada. Situated on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe nation, the NAC is accessible and welcoming to all, and offers a variety of free programming and events.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Andrea Ruttan
Communications Strategist
National Arts Centre
Mobile 343-998-4244