As expected, it was a smaller festival this year. There were no merch tents or food trucks, simply morning performances in the gazebo and later performances in a modest (but sufficient) main stage. Perhaps the small size of the event is part of why it was called the “49½ Newfoundland And Labrador Folk Festival,” an enigmatic designation that I did not hear officially explained. Yet no-one seemed to mind the size. Paired with the free admittance, local lineup, and children running about, it felt cozy and familial.

I turn now to the music—so much music! Over a single day, 19 artists or groups performed. The most represented genre was Irish Newfoundland music, and closely related styles. I don’t know if this truly reflects the breadth of folk music in the province. As a fan of traditional music however, I happily danced to jigs and reels from the star-studded morning sessions, and was delighted by the songs and ballads from some of my favourite local artists.

The trend toward Newfoundland trad was contrasted by a handful of excellent artists representing other types of cultural music. Local indigenous song and drum group Eagle Women performed, multi-instrumentalist Andrew Kagumba played Ugandan music, Soup’ du Jour represented the francophone front, and De La Paz Latin Band had dozens of festival-goers up and dancing. The performers were also intergenerational. From the youth performers opening the festival, to the musicians in their teens and twenties who graced the main stage, it was clear that passing folk music across generations continues to be a priority for the NL Folk Arts Society. 

Several of the presenters portrayed the 49½ NL Folk Festival as a return to its community centric roots, but I had mixed feelings about this rosy perspective. It was nice to see an all-local lineup, but I missed being able to see out of town bands without having to get into an airplane. Having free attendance was fantastic, but funding has to come from somewhere, and the festival’s continued financial reliance on Equinor is increasingly divisive in today’s political and ecological climates. It was wonderful to see local heroes and their families play, but more emphasis could have been placed on platforming less established musicians.

Perhaps it’s too simplistic to see the 49½ Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival as a nostalgic return to the festival’s roots. The festival is entering a new era. It remains to be seen where it will take us, but we will surely find out, and I am looking forward to next year’s festival.