Five years of whooping and hollering

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This article was published 25/08/2017 (2967 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Whoop & Hollar Folk Fest is celebrating five years of making music under the prairie sky near Portage la Prairie.

Presented by the Portage la Prairie Folk Festival Association, this year’s fest is taking place on Sat., Sept. 9 at 33165 Provincial Road 331. Gates open at 2 p.m.

Co-organizer Josh Wright said the decision to switch the festival’s date from a Friday evening to Saturday was based on audience feedback.

“On a Saturday, we’re able to start earlier on in the day,” he said.

Another change for this year is having two camping sites available — one for trailers and tents about two kilometres south of the festival site and the other for tenting camping only on the site. Wright said campers are welcome to stay at both sites on Friday and Saturday night.

Organizers have held the ticket price at $20 for adults and $10 for students, with children age 12 and under free. Wright said they’ve added gate special pricing for families of up to nine adults and students and a two-for-one price for groups of 10 or more adults.

Wright said, as the fifth anniversary approaches, Whoop & Hollar is becoming better known.

“The word is spreading. There’s a real vibe and buzz within the community.”

He and the other organizers make an effort to present a mix of music that reflects the Portage la Prairie area’s cultures, including Indigenous and francophone.

“Every performer this year is from Manitoba,” Wright said. “You don’t have to go far to find good music.”

The festival begins with the Horse Thunder Drum Song at 3:30 p.m. followed by opening remarks and an Indigenous blessing. The main stage line-up includes Portage la Prairie musicians The Sharpe Sisters, Brothers of Stone and Soulful Cats, and Winnipeg bands Baltimore Road, The Hairy Prairies and Ozconscious. A second stage located in the Red Barn will feature Portage musicians Ed and Rhea and Zabowski.

Other young musicians will have the chance to perform, as well.

“We’re taking it to a new level. Exposing up and coming musicians,” Wright said.

The popular High Gravity Stew Brew workshop that features a mix of musicians is set for 10 p.m. Following the scheduled part of the evening, people are welcome to jam around the campfire.
Wright said there will be a few food vendors on site.

For more information and to order tickets, see https://www.portagefolk.com/whoop-hollar-folk-festival

Tickets can also be picked up in Portage la Prairie at Hill’s Drug Store (corner of Saskatchewan Ave. E and 2nd St. NE), or at Blessings Collection (224 Saskatchewan Ave. E).