Charity Rose Thielen with The Head and the Heart, Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, Oct 20 2011. Shannyn Higgins photo

Ani DiFranco, Lucinda Williams and K’Naan headline 35th Vancouver Folk Music Festival

Another Vancouver Folk Music Festival (July 13 – 15) is upon us, and weather reports are predicting a much warmer and drier festival than last year’s rather grim weekend.

As usual, the lineup is a mix of well-known and lesser-known artists, of locals such as Dan Mangan and Geoff Berner to international acts like Emel Mathlouthi and Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto.

Highlights of the festival include the Montreal/Rhode Island roots band the Barr Brothers, Seattle folk-pop band The Head and the Heart and Vancouver singer/songwriter Veda Hille, who will present her “memory project” – songs written for the festival’s 35th anniversary, and based around people’s memories of past folk festivals, on Sunday night on the mainstage.

Brad Barr and Sarah Page with the Barr Brothers at Electric Owl, Vancouver, Nov 8 2011. Issha Marie photo

Workshops begin Saturday and Sunday at the folk-music-like hour of 10 a.m. and continue throughout the day until evening performances begin. You can find out more at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival website.