If you ask artistic director Kerry Clarke, the CFMF doesn’t follow a strict formula when programming each year’s lineup—at least, not in the way you might think.  “We get thrown like 3,000 choices a year for 70 spots,” she explains. “So it’s about trying to find the most interesting and compelling songwriters and instrumentalists. It’s about capturing the past, present, and future of what’s happening in music.”

That mix of reverence and risk is part of what defines the CFMF, returning July 24 to 27 for its 46th year of existence. Its eclectic roster is as much about trusted favourites—this year’s include Los Lobos, BADBADNOTGOOD, and Patrick Watson—as it is about lesser-known gems and unconventional pairings. As Clarke puts it, the process is “a combination of art and science.”

Joining her behind the scenes is artistic associate Olivia O’Brien, who’s on her third year with the fest. While Clarke leads the curation, O’Brien helps connect the dots between artists, stages, and collaborative sessions. For her, the process is both grounded and intuitive. “Each stage tells a story,” she notes. Together, their intergenerational esprit de corps strikes poise between the festival’s nod to tradition and experimental embrace. 

Cymande are performing at the Calgary Folk Music Festival on Friday, July 25 (Photo: Dean Chalkley)

That sense of balance shows up not just in the lineup—which this year includes everything from Danish folk-noire to Congolese kitchen-funk—but in the architecture of the festival itself. With eight stages and more than 150 artists, the fest is fabled for its genre-bending surprise jam sessions, formerly referred to as “workshops.” These moments are part alchemy, part logistics, and completely unique to the Folk Fest experience.

“We like to say our collaborations are arranged marriages,” laughs Clarke. “Sometimes they don’t work. But sometimes, they’re magical.” Past years have seen Czech violinists waltzing with Indigenous singer-songwriters, and artists like The Sadies and Robyn Hitchcock meeting onstage before consequently launching a tour together. “You just never know what’s going to happen,” O’Brien adds. “And that’s the best part.”

This year, the festival brings in global treasures like Les Mamans du Congo—a powerful all-woman group combining traditional percussion and hip-hop—alongside hypnotic Scandinavian outfit Víík, Angeleno cumbia act LA LOM, and British funk cognoscenti Cymande. “Apparently they’re Khruangbin’s favourite band,” Clarke notes. “They’ve been around since the ’70s, and they’re still so cool.”

Les Mamans du Congo x Rrobin will perform Saturday, July 26.

The programming continues to challenge assumptions about what “folk” means. It’s a term the festival embraces loosely and liberally. “Folk is as much about the attitude of the people who come and the vibe that’s created,” Clarke says. “Where else do you see babies and octogenarians on the same site?”

For both Clarke and O’Brien, the definition of folk goes beyond campfire acoustics and stomp-clap ballads. It’s rooted in authenticity, creativity, and storytelling—whether those through-lines come from raucous nu-jazz or instrumental ambience. “You don’t have to say, ‘I like folk, so I’ll go to Folk Fest,’” says O’Brien. “You can like anything and still find something here. It’s for everyone.” That ethos extends into the festival’s Talk Tent, a somewhat unsung but deeply beloved space for artist interviews and community conversation.

Not lost in the surplus of programming is Prince’s Island Park–CFMF’s crown jewel, and the quintessence of summer venues. Crossing over Jaipur bridge into the park offers a transportive experience, as the thicket of elm and aspen trees insulate the festival’s hearth from the stressors of urban life. “It’s literally on an island,” O’Brien says. “Even if you’re a born-and-raised Calgarian, this can be a destination. A getaway of sorts.”

The 2025 edition of the Calgary Folk Music Festival runs July 24 to 27. (Photo: Annie da Silva)

“It’s a reprieve,” agrees Clarke. “In this time of conflict, the music unites people. It’s four days of how the world should be,” she adds. 

Whether you’re a day-one tarp runner or a curious rookie, CFMF46 promises discovery, repose, and maybe even a little magic—just don’t expect to define it too rigidly. Because if there’s one thing Clarke and O’Brien agree on, it’s this: Folk isn’t a genre. It’s the folks.

For more info, including the full 2025 Calgary Folk Music Festival weekend schedule visit calgaryfolkfest.com