MARIPOSA FOLK FESTIVAL
at Tudhope Park (450 Atherley Road,
Orillia), Friday to Sunday (July 6-8). $60
advance, $70 gate, day passes for Friday
$20 advance, $25 gate Saturday $40
advance, $45 gate Sunday $35 advance,
$40 gate. 416-870-8000.
www.mariposafolkfestival.com
Rating: NNNNN
Surveying the solid Mariposa lineup makes it obvious that writing off the troubled folk festival was a bit premature. Since moving back to its Orillia roots last year, Mariposa continues to rebuild on the firm foundation of strong Canadian talent.
This year, the three-day event eschews trendy celebrities for dependable draws like Kate & Anna McGarrigle, an acoustic version of Prairie Oyster and Ian Tyson (who played the first Mariposa back in 61), along with rising young Canuck singer/songwriters Danny Michel, Martina Sorbara and Tegan & Sara.
The organizers have wisely shored up the program with a couple of key marquee acts, namely Brit-folk crossover threat Kate Rusby — the former Poozies singer on the verge of a major breakthrough — and Nashville outsider duos Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch, and Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart.
There are also a couple of wild cards, in the form of Brighton singer/fiddler Elle Osborne and fellow string slasher Pierre Schryer, who’s been tearing up the competition across North America — just the sort of folks you’d hope to discover at Mariposa.
TIM
PERLICHCRITICS’PICKS
Friday, July 6
J.P. Cormier
Danny Michel
Tegan & Sara
Saturday, July 7
Kate Rusby
Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch
Kate and Anna McGarrigle
Sunday, July 8
Ian Tyson
Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart
