Mariposa Folk Festival is back at Tudhope Park in Orillia with a lineup organizers are calling "powerful" and includes multiple artists that have taken its stage before.
Multi-time Grammy winners Steve Earle and Taj Mahal are among 10-plus acts that are returning to the Mariposa stage, and will be headlining the festival that takes place from Jul. 3 to 5.
Spencer Shewen, the festival's artistic director, assembled the lineup paired with the theme "sounds like home."
“This year, I really wanted to speak to something that’s always been at the heart of Mariposa: real music made by real people," Shewen said in a media release. "There’s no A.I. here… just real musicians who’ve spent years honing their craft.
“When I was putting this lineup together, I kept coming back to what a summer festival should feel like for our audience. It’s about going on a journey – letting loose, relaxing, discovering new artists, creating memories, making new friends, and forgetting about the outside world for a while. I truly believe this year’s lineup does exactly that."
The group of artists include Juno and Grammy winners, and a mix of Canadian and international talent. The only Canadians headlining are Victoria's Ocie Elliott, making their debut at the festival, but just below them on the lineup are an exciting group of Canada's top folk and alternative acts.
"It’s an exciting mix of artists at the top of their game and fresh voices who are just beginning to break through," Shewen adds. "It’s current and future household names. It’s both past and future Juno/Grammy winners. It’s a group of performers we should all be proud to host at Mariposa Folk Festival this Summer.”
The three-day festival will feature 11 music stages plus presentations of story, dance, and craft, according to organizers.
Tickets are on sale via the Mariposa Folk Festival's website with special pricing for youth and young adults available along with on-site camping. Children 12-years-old and under are admitted free.
“We are thrilled to invite music fans of all ages to come together on the shores of beautiful Lake Couchiching to enjoy the incredible music, reconnect with old friends, and make some new ones.” Mariposa Folk Festival president Pam Carter said in a release. "Whether you’re a longtime festival goer or a first-timer looking to discover your next favourite artist, Mariposa wraps us all in a warm blanket, just like coming home from a long time away.“
