By Will McGuirk

There is a singularity to folk music, the solo singer/songwriter singing their own song, and yet folk is plural - its as if the individual broaches the universal. Once again the Mariposa Folk Festival, possibly the original collective voice of the folk singer, has managed to balance the one with the many and this year has built a line-up which pushes the limits of what a folk festival can accommodate, perhaps more-so than in any of the previous years I have been attending, while still remaining true to its roots which stretch back decades to 1961.

The Mariposa Folk Festival 2019 runs July 5, 6, 7 at Tudhope Park in Orillia, on it should always be noted on the lovely Lake Couchiching.

This year Jason Isbell who went solo after Drive By Truckers and Swedish duo, First Aid Kit will headline.

Other solo acts include Carole Pope, Christine Lavin, Courtney Marie Andrws, Hawksley Workman, Jennifer Castle, Kalyna Rakel, Martin Sexton, Melanie, Scott Cook, Shakura S’Aida and Steve Poltz.

Fred Penner is also on the line-up as is fellow children entertainers Sharon and Bram. So I think at some point these three will hook-up.

Indigenous duo, Digging Roots, Freddy and Francine, The Lifers plus a couple of four-pieces, Coig and My Son The Hurricane fill out the line-up.

There will be a few more acts to be announced and we’ll post as the info comes in. Check out the very fine website for more details on artists and tickets.