Mariposa Folk Festival is a welcome antidote to all the big-tent, large-scale festivals that dominate the summer months. Good energy and amazing music are the two most important factors to a fest's success, and Mariposa has them in spades.
The festival's 2024 edition promises to keep that reputation alive, running July 5 to 7 and bring a slew of great Canadian acts to Orillia.
With tickets on sale now, here are five must-see acts from Mariposa Folk Festival's 2024 edition. Though the schedule hasn't been released yet, we picked a smattering of artists that best reflect the festival's down-home range.
Balaklava Blues
Self-described as "folk-noir trench-fighters on the cultural front of Ukraine's battle for democracy and freedom," Balaklava Blues blend folk transitions with enormous beats and high-energy performance. It's fist-pumping music that'll get your feet moving, too.
Bruce Cockburn
There's never a good reason to miss the legendary Bruce Cockburn, and Mariposa feels like the perfect place to experience the warmth of Cockburn's music and the dexterity of his guitar playing. With a tribute album dedicated to the undersung legend on the way, what better time to get reacquainted?
Shaina Hayes
Promising a gentle escape from the hectic rush of festival life, Shaina Hayes's searching folk tunes — her sophomore record Kindergarten Heart dropped last month — balance lush sweep with spare balladry. These are tunes for laying on the grass and staring at the sky.
William Prince
This Manitoban country crooner has been breaking hearts and slinging stories for nearly a decade, and his writing only gets more intuitive and heartfelt as the years pass. His latest, last year's Stand in the Joy, is a burst of triumph after a solemn run of albums — he'll be providing Mariposa with a hefty helping of light.
CJ Wiley
Hot off the release of their lovestruck latest "No One Like U," CJ Wiley is bringing their sharp-eyed pop rock to Mariposa with an arsenal of scrappy queer anthems. It's the kind of music made for sunny outdoor stages, tough and tender in equal measure.