There are music festivals across Atlantic Canada that we love for many different reasons, but among them there is only one that holds the special distinction of being the most adorable. Without question, that is Tay Creek Folk Festival. Their 12th annual festival is being held from July 19 – 21, 2019 in Tay Creek, New Brunswick and today we have an exclusive look at this year’s lineup.
Tay Creek Folk Festival is the soft-seater of music festivals. Thirty minutes north of Fredericton, New Brunswick it is like stepping into another world where things move a little slower and has, perhaps, the most relaxing atmosphere of any east coast festival.
The festival naturally leans towards folk, but with a keen ear for extraordinary talent and enough variety to please festival-goers. You might not be have a DJ keeping you going until dawn, but you can count on the songwriters circle to stretch out into the wee hours; this year featuring an all-female collection of songwriters.
“This year our lineup skews a little to the side of the ladies. A high percentage of our acts are fronted by women. We set out to create a balanced lineup, but we had so many strong female acts to choose from! Since the festival industry is struggling with the issue of gender diversity,” says Genevieve MacRae, festival organizer, “we decided it to embrace this happy problem.”
The songwriters circle will be followed (immediately if you’ve stayed up late enough) by the festival’s usual complimentary Sunday-morning Pancake Breakfast.
This year’s lineup includes Fredericton’s Wicked Vices, country singer Ryan Cook and his band Sunny Acres, roots and blues trio The Emburys from Peterborough, Ontario, Fredericton’s blues-rock power-trio The Tortoise, the Hare, and the Millionaire, Australian multi-instrumentalist, modern folk artist and powerhouse vocalist Jenny Biddle, Jessica Pearson & the East Wind, Ladd & Lasses, Morohubu, Kylie Fox, Emily Rockarts, Gillian Nicola and Danielle Knibbe.
There are also a handful of returning acts we’re pleased to see this year, including Rory Taillon and Brooklyn Doran from Ontario, Nashwaak River Valley’s Men From Earth, and Peter Mason from British Columbia.
Aside from the festival’s main stage, there is also the Jam Tent, Puddleducks Café and BBQ, an Enchanted Forest with fun and games for children, and arts and crafts vendors and informal workshops.
Camping is free for tents and RVs, and guests may roam the 600-acre site and enjoy a swim in the River Tay.