Rain, Rhythm, and Resistance at Calgary Folk Fest: Madeline Peyroux, Nick Shoulders, and more
The Langan Band
As I enjoyed The Langan Band’s set on the muddy grass in front of the ATB Main stage, I overheard someone say, “This is exactly how I imagined all the shows at a folk festival would be,” and they weren’t the only ones to think so. The three-piece band armed with fiddle, guitar and bass charmed and made the crowd laugh effortlessly with their theatrical facial expressions (this also earning them the spot of my favourite band to photograph so far). Standing with the crowd, one felt the pulse of the earth as the audience stomped their feet to the thunderous rhythm, a communal beat of a wonderful combination of Celtic folk, jazz and even a touch of punk. Just as this pulsating rhythm came to a close, the skies unleashed a sudden downpour, as if the rain itself was dancing along with everyone.
Madeline Peyroux
After the storm came the rainbow — and on Saturday evening, that rainbow was Madeline Peyroux. After a busy and packed three days, Peyroux was the perfect set to slow my day down and take a moment. Despite playing the ATB Main stage, her show had a very intimate feel. As Peyroux read the audience quotes from Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou and others before starting each song, she set a reflective and soulful tone. Her warm and comforting voice carried a quiet yet powerful gravity, which spoke of what it means to be human. Peyroux’s set was brave and created dialogue that added to the emotional depth we’ve seen throughout the festival. As a sense of calm slowly settled over the island, it felt like she ushered the crowd into a needed stillness as we headed into the rest of the night.
Les Mamans du Congo x Rrobin
I caught myself more than once, jaw dropped in awe, while watching Les Mamans du Congo x Rrobin take up the entirety of the ATB Main Stage — they were the highlight of my third day. Everything about their performance defied any expectations I had coming in: their sound, production, the incredible collaboration between French electronic music and songs in the Lari language, their message and stage presence. Singing stories of Congolese women’s daily lives and calling for the emancipation of African women, it was a performance steeped with power and purpose. It was easy to be simply swept up in the beats, but really underneath the vibrant energy they brought, lies something deeper that is not to be ignored. Blurring between the lines of tradition and innovation, of protest and celebration, Les Mamans du Congo x Rrobin reminded the audience that resistance is radical, and so is joy. In this reclamation of tools of domesticity as instruments, they challenged what protest music can be.
Nick Shoulders
As I got to the start of the Nick Shoulders’ set at the National Stage 4, the air was filled with so much excitement and anticipation as he missed some of the scheduled sessions in the morning due to flight delays and fans were eager to make up for lost time. His set was simple, with him in the centre of the stage with his guitar and drum set up, and yet his voice filled the space and air of the closing night. Shoulders captivated those in the audience not only with his yodelling and bird calls, but also the deeper meaning of his songs filled with a sense of urgency and call to actions. He talked about how folk music can be songs of protests, this art form that can carry weights of struggle and hope for change. By the end of his set, there was a buzzing in the air — both his unique sound and the message behind his songs energized and electrified the audience making him the perfect closing to a night that celebrates the future of folk music.
Photos by Dianne Miranda (@lya.shoots).