VANCOUVER—A large crowd was entertained, enlightened, and inspired at the labour-sponsored stage at Vancouver’s 32rd annual Folk Music Festival on Saturday.
The theme of the afternoon concert was “Can you spare some social change.” James Keelaghan hosted the stage that also featured the singer-songwriter duo The Proclaimers, Emmy-nominated Liza Garza, Scotland’s Dick Gaughan, and Juno-nominated Anne Loree.
The theme of social change was evident throughout. Especially notable were Dick Gaughan’s performance of “Thomas Muir of Huntershill”, a song about the Scottish lawyer and revolutionary; Anne Loree’s touching tribute to her neighbourhood and the daily lives of people threatened by expansion of a roadway; and Liza Garza’s powerful hip-hop and poetry.
Performers shared social justice ideals and history through song, music, and poetry that connected experiences and struggles in an accessible and relevant way. This concert demonstrated the power of music and words to connect people, tell our history, share our victories and inspire us to carry on.
CUPE National and CUPE BC co-sponsored the event along with HEU and BCGEU.