Summerfolk has announced the format for the 46th annual festival in Owen Sound on August 21 and 22. This year, Summerfolk will offer a COVID-conscious festival by partnering with community members and local venues to present live music for limited audiences at more than 20 stages in and around Owen Sound during the day, and by live streaming performances in the evenings.
In a normal year the Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival would transform Kelso Beach Park in Owen Sound, erecting a handful of stages, booking more than 40 musical acts, and welcoming thousands of audience members and volunteers to share the joy. In 2020, the festival pivoted to offer a Sunday night live-stream. For 2021, the organizers are making a flexible plan to meet a variety of possible public health guidelines.
Rather than having the audience move between stages in the park, this year the audience will stay put and musicians will move between locations to avoid mixing large crowds. Audience members will purchase tickets for a single afternoon at one of more than 20 backyard and small venue locations in and around Owen Sound. If health guidelines allow, a few larger stages will still be at the traditional Kelso Beach Park location. Tickets from the afternoon shows will also grant access to an evening live stream broadcasting from inside a large local venue. Fans will be able to purchase a stand alone ticket for the live stream as well.
“We’re incorporating as many of the elements of the festival as we can,” said Jaret Koop, Summerfolk’s General Manager. “If all goes as planned, the audience will get great live acts in a friendly atmosphere and beautiful locations. We’ve already confirmed many of the locations but we’re going to find a few more. We’ll release more information about the criteria over the coming weeks so people can volunteer their backyards if they want to.”
The Summerfolk organizing team will announce more details as the public health guidelines continue to evolve. More information about the venues, musical lineup, and ticket information will be available at Summerfolk.org as they are confirmed. Anyone interested in volunteering for the festival or offering their property as a venue can contact Summerfolk in early July when the selection process is announced.
“Summerfolk has always been about connecting the community and sharing great art. Summerfolk46 is going to do that in a way that’s safe given the context and this way we’ll bring the music back to the grassroots. We’re excited to make it happen, whatever form it takes,” Koop added.
