Over the span of four humid and rainy days, festival goers were able to visit the ATB Main Stage and National 4 Stage to see more than 70 artists. Genres ranged between folk, rock, jazz and more.
Day two: From jazz to rock
Day two brought heavy clouds and pouring rain, but the music could not be stopped.
On the ATB Main Stage Cymande brought out shining brass-and-woodwind instruments and breathtaking solos between trumpet and saxophone.
Patrick Patterson enjoying his tunes. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOSTrading tunes on the alto and tenor saxophones. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOSRaymond Simpson singing in the spotlight. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOSSteve Scipio with a headless bass. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOSRocking the tenor saxophone in a mind-blowing solo. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOS
After Cymande finished their jazzy tunes, Ruby Waters mixed up the noise with grunge-rock, featuring guitar solos and the band’s playful energy throughout.
Ruby Waters’ guitar shining on stage above her tattoos. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOSMarcus Ramsay’s guitar. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOSPouring the heart and soul into every song. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOSBass guitarist Leena on backup vocals. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOSStages are meant to be have fun on. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOSJump! PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOS
Finishing the night off on the ATB Main Stage, Patrick Watson graced the stage with classical-inspired music, complete with a light-show to bring more life to festival-goers.
Patrick Watson enticing the crowd to dance and sing along. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOSAbsorbed in the music. PHOTO: CHARLOTTE VOS
Day three: Come rain or shine
Accounting for the rainy forecast and having been seasoned in the elements from the previous two days, Folk Fest goers came prepared for the heavy downfall Saturday afternoon.
Visitors bundling up before the heavy rains begin. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERDownpour backstage. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERWeather warnings delaying scheduled performances. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERA young child in a red rain suit enjoys playing in the fresh puddles near the National stage. PHOTO : EMMA MILLER
After nearly an hour of delays due to lightning and heavy downpours the sun came out, the skies cleared and amps across the Folk Fest stages were fired back up again.
Madeline Peyroux, American jazz signer performing on the Folk Fest main stage shortly after lightning delays. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERJazz artist that accompanied Peyroux on stage. PHOTO : EMMA MILLER
Madeline Peyroux, an American jazz singer was first up on the main stage following the rain. During her performance she infused political undertones into the beginning of each song by starting with quotes from prominent figures and poets such as Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King and Emily Dickinson.
Tall Tall Tress using his banjo and a drum-stick to begin one of his songs on the National stage. PHOTO : EMMA MILLER
Across the festival at the National Stage, the sounds of Tall Tall Trees multi-instrumental banjo playing became the soundtrack of a muddy dance floor near the stage – and some good puddle jumping.
Gladys Samba, otherwise known as Mama Glad, leading the performance. PHOTO : EMMA MILLER
While crowds that had fled the rain initially began to reappear on the festival grounds, Les Mamans du Congo and Rrobin took to the main stage for one of the most energetic performances of the weekend.
A vocalist and dancer playing a drum enthusiastically. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERGladys Samba takes the spotlight. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERTwo members of Les Mamans du Congo performing with beatmaker Rrobin behind them. PHOTO : EMMA MILLER
Following the lively performance, Los Lobos took to the stage amongst a crowd of excited cheers ready to hear their recognisable hit ‘La Bamba’.
Los Lobos rockin’ on stage! PHOTO : EMMA MILLERSteve Berlin absorbed in his guitar while taking a Keyboard and Saxophone break. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERCesar Rosas gearing up for the next song. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERLos Lobos had the main stage packed, ending their set just before another round of light rain came down for Steve Earl. PHOTO : EMMA MILLER
Day four:
To start off the main stage festivities of day four, Begonia was the first artist of the final evening to dazzle the crowd with her powerful voice and hard to miss monochromatic outfit.
Begonia deep in song during the first main stage set of Sunday. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERBegonia smiling mid-song. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERBegonia’s band dressed up in matching suits. PHOTO : EMMA MILLER
After Begonia, La Lom brought music inspired by traditional latin sounds like Colombian Cumbia and Mexican Bolero
Zac Sokolow, guitarist for La Lom. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERJake Faulkner gets the audience to clap along. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERPedal steel guitarist player on stage with La Lom. PHOTO : EMMA MILLER
As the second last performance of the festival, dynamic Canadian folk duo Ocie Elliot serenaded the crowd with sweet and slow songs.
Ocie Elliot. PHOTO : EMMA MILLEROcie Elliot. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERThe Folk Fest crowd listens intently to the sounds of Ocie Elliot. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERIts almost time for Cake! PHOTO : EMMA MILLER
At the end of the four-day long festival, the lively music and bubble-filled performance of Cake seemed to be the perfect end for the event.
Cake singer John McCrea singing while strumming on his guitar. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERCake’s Zan McCurdy shredding on his guitar. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERJohn McCrea with a Big Rock beer and his guitar under the disco lights. PHOTO : EMMA MILLERCake brought out the bubble machine, making a magical sight for the festivals final performance of 2025. PHOTO : EMMA MILLER
Charlotte Vos is a fourth-year Journalism student at Mount Royal University. She is passionate about dance and all types of art, and enjoys spending time with her dogs and cats.
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Emma Miller is a fourth-year journalism student who is passionate about infusing historical perspectives into her reporting and using audio as a creative and effective storytelling method. Along with her...
More by Emma Miller
