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Red Rock FolkFest

Music in Superior North

The Red Rock Folkfest

Every Folk Fest that I’ve been to contains the spirit of 1969: Peace, Love & Music. Red Rock, Ontario makes it their own with their picturesque setting on a lakeside park facing Nipigon Bay and hemmed in by the big cliffs of

Northern Lake Superior It’s beautiful and that’s just the beginning. More impressive was the caliber of Canadian talent. All brilliant, professional performers weaving in and out of their songs, telling stories of Canadian people, life and history. As a born Canadian, I noticed the music touches your soul quickly, and I noticed it did everyone else as well. Rodney Brown introduced his latest album North Land . Songs about a unique time of risk and adventure living the life in the early days around Northern Lake Superior. The Compadres shook the fest up with their astounding grasp of the Latin beat and fiery instrumentals. A Canadian story of two guitars, two cultures with one voice. The Wild Turkeys from Sault Ste. Marie know how to kick it in with a high energy blend of toe tapping slapstick cowboy music, so new, their style has been coined “Swamp Stomp Country”

Harry Manx lived in India for a number of years and brought a peaceful presence and eastern influenced blies to the Fest. It was a Mississippi blues style through the sounds of an Indian Raga. It seduced the audience. His amazing slide guitar, smoky voice and mystic rhythm became addictive to listen to…and hard to forget.

If that’s not enough, picture the opportunity to bump in to and meet these people throughout the weekend. This fest is so small that it’s like being at a family picnic. Everyone has a front row seat, the workshops have the musicians playing amongst the audience, there’s a bonfire concert every night for the campers that is better than anything you’ve ever seen in the great northern outback.

This weekend everyone is family in Red Rock Ontario. Inspiring scene once you know the fact that this town lost its major employer, the paper mill, in 2005. After that came the sawmill fire in nearby Nipigon. Now there’s not enough tac revenue to keep the community centre, curling and hockey rink open. Sounds like the start of a ghost town but it doesn’t look like one. Instead the town pulled together to come up with ideas to re-invent the town. This Folk Fest was one of those ideas. Now in its fifth year, they hope to become a tourist hub to display the beautiful hiking trails, Ouimet canyon, bat caves, amethyst mine and great camping, hunting and fishing. The 3000 folk festers give them a lot of exposure. I think they can do it. By April the historic Red Rock Inn is fully booked as is the old log Abitibi Lodge, once a retreat for company execs, and now accommodation. The energy and love of community that I saw reminded me of Chemainus, a similar town born from the hands of laborers on Vancouver Island. When faced with their failing industry they showed their community spirit and determination through the hands of artists. Red Rock, Ontario is a North Shore gem of Lake Superior

spirit. I believe they will be known as the little town that can.