Regina Folk Festival reveals lineup for 50th celebration

As the Regina Folk Festival gets ready to celebrate 50 years of filling the air with music, it revealed on Wednesday who will be taking the stage this year.

Blue Rodeo, A Tribe Called Red and Jason Isbell were announced as the headliners for the 2019 event, which is set for Aug. 9-11 in Victoria Park.

Blue Rodeo was first formed back in 1984 in Toronto and since has released 15 full-length albums. The country rock band has been recognized with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame and is in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

A Tribe Called Red will bring its unique mix of hip hop, reggae, electronic and Indigenous music to the Queen City. The Ottawa band has won multiple Juno awards, including group of the year in 2018.

Isbell, who is a four-time Grammy winner, will bring his guitar and Americana sound to the main stage. He’s known for his solo career, his work with the band The 400 Unit and as a former member of Drive-By Truckers.

Joining the headliners includes a wide variety of performers such as Ruth B and Blind Boys of Alabama.

Saskatchewan will also be well represented on the stage with Colter Wall, The Dead South, Connie Kalder as well as Megan and Jenna Nash.

Festival CEO Sandra Butel told the 980 CJME Greg Morgan Morning Show it’s really cool to see artists like Wall and the Dead South have such success after getting their starts at the Folk Festival.

“They came as artists and did a few songs at Bushwakkers and now look at them, look at the touring success and how much they’ve built a reputation in such a short period of time,” Butel said.

The festival will look to honour the past and take a moment to consider its future during the landmark event. Tickets are on sale now.

The full list of performers announced is:

• Blue Rodeo
• A Tribe Called Red
• Jason Isbell
• Ruth B
• Charlotte Day Wilson
• Bahamas
• Colter Wall
• Blind Boys of Alabama
• The Dead South
• Connie Kaldor
• Weaves
• H’sao, Sofia Viola
• Rae Spoon
• Afrotronix
• Amanda Shires
• Emilie Kahn
• Quantum Tangle
• Aleksi Campagne Band
• Folle Avoine
• Les Barricades
• Close Talker
• Megan and Jenna Nash
• Al Simmons
• Girls Rock Regina