Great grooves at folk festival Posted: 10:43 PM CDT Sunday, Jul. 9, 2023 Last Modified: 7:41 AM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 11, 2023

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This article was published 09/07/2023 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The 2023 edition of the Winnipeg Folk Festival kicked off with a torrential downpour during Thursday’s opening-night concert, but that didn’t deter fans from flocking to Birds Hill Provincial Park for the rest of the weekend. Official attendance was not available at press time but record crowds attended on Sunday, when day passes completely sold out.

Manitoba singer-songwriter William Prince had his mainstage debut cut short owing to the weather Thursday, but a last-minute cancellation saw Winnipeg act Boy Golden claim a moment in the spotlight in front of thousands of new fans Saturday evening.

Over four days, folkies old and young — body glitter has replaced patchouli and sequins have replaced tie-dye — grooved to bands from Ukraine, South Korea, Iceland, Mexico, Ireland, Louisiana and our own backyard in a celebration of world music.

Whether dancing under the stars at the Big Bluestem @ Night stage or mellowing out in the golden hour at mainstage, the vibe was Summer of Love positive, with no shortage of hugs and interpretive dancing.