A nearly week-long celebration of Canadian folk music kicks off today in St. John’s.
The Canadian Folk Music Awards will feature five days of music showcases and other events, culminating with awards ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday nights.
Board president Graham Lindsey says it is “critical” to recognize the work that is going on in the folk music industry.
He says many people are listening to music on platforms such as Spotify, and algorithms are playing a big role in what people like.
As Lindsey explains, organizations and events such as the Canadian Folk Music Awards help expose artists to wider audiences.
“We’ve got delegates coming in from across the country, from Europe, the United States and Australia as well,” he said. “So we bring these people in from elsewhere so that they can hear all of the great musicians.
“So, regardless of whether they’re performing or not, delegates will be able to talk to the musicians while they’re here, and with any luck, which often happens, they find a really great musician and they can put that musician on their stage.”