Kingsville Folk Festival has announced its full 2019 lineup and with the Grammy-nominated
Milk Carton Kids and six-time Juno award winner Serena Ryder leading the way, this year’s
event promises to be one of the best ever.
The festival features the likes of multi Juno award winner Oscar Lopez, Polaris prize
nominated Danny Michel and Gurf Morlix, who has served as Lucinda Williams’ guitarist,
musical director and producer. Other featured performers include Tri-Continental, another
Juno award winner, multiple Central Canadian Bluegrass Music Award winners Traditionally
Wound, as well as artists like Gathering Sparks, Crissi Cochrane and Zachary Lucky.
Festival organizers held the official media launch for the event, which will be held August 9-11
in Lakeshore Park in Kingsville, on Thursday. Michele Law said they are pumped about
this year’s Festival. “We’ve really worked hard to bring the very best to Kingsville this year,”
she said. “We’ve got some of the top folk and roots performers in the music business coming
to town.”
Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos joins in the excitement about the Festival and its future in his
community. "Our great little town is proud to provide support to one of Canada's greatest
rising stars in the music festival world," remarked Mayor Santos. "That's why we are ecstatic
to announce a new five-year commitment that provides a secure home for the Kingsville Folk
Music Festival. The treasure that is Lakeshore Park is where we will all be able to enjoy the
creative talent that surrounds us, while the festival will continue to teach us the world-
renowned language of music and all the stories it tells."
A total of 27 performers will take part in this year’s Festival and they will present a wide
diversity of musical offerings within the folk genre, including outstanding children’s artists,
such as Juno-award winners The Swinging Belles, Juno nominated Jeremy Fisher Jr. and
Jangles the clown.
In addition to a great weekend of music, the Festival features culinary delights in a food
village that features local ma and pa restaurants, a Celebrate Family area for children, an
artisan market place promoting handcrafted Canadian originals, hands-on activities and
workshops, Pelee Island wines and Grove craft beer.
The Festival was the brainchild of John and Michele Law, themselves notable Canadian
musicians. It was started under the umbrella of the Sun Parlour Folk Music Society whose
mission is to bring world class folk, acoustic and world music, with an emphasis on Canadian
artists, to Southwestern Ontario through the Festival and an ongoing concert series, the Road
to Folkfest Series.
Sun Parlour Folk Society is the only not for profit organization in the region dedicated to
promoting live music and the Kingsville Folk Music Festival is the only folk festival west of
London. Each year, it donates a portion of its proceeds back into the community, through a
program called the MAY FUNd (Music and Arts for Youth Fund), which provides financial
support and scholarships for youth to access arts workshops, mentoring and lessons.
Full list of 2019 Performers:
Serena Ryder (Friday Night)
The Milk Carton Kids (Sunday Night)
Tri-Continental
Gurf Morlix
The Swinging Belles
Union Duke
Danny Michel
Kobo Town
Oscar Lopez
Gabriel Palatchi Band
Gathering Sparks
Briga
T. Nile
Traditionally Wound
Jeremy Fisher Jr.
The Pairs
Magoo
Low Lily
Adam Wendler
Annie Sumi
Maria & David Celia
Zachary Lucky
Erika Kulnys
Brendan Scott Friel
Crissi Cochrane
John Gardiner (author)
Early bird weekend passes for the Fest are currently available at a discounted rate of $80
until May 1st. For information on festival tickets, performers, accommodations and more, go to: http://www.kingsvillefolkfest.org.
