Prince George Folk Festival, July 28-29

Folk festivals and summertime are synonymous in Canada and back for its third year at Fort George Park is Prince George Folkfest '06. The celebration of music is set for July 28-29 and will include a stellar lineup of artists, including Canada's own Matthew Good. Good's solo acoustic tour is selling out across the country and festival artistic director, Jo Beattie, says Good will also co-lead a workshop on the Saturday of the festival, involving aspiring young musicians on the theme, "Be True to Yourself".

"Matthew Good fans are diehard fans and this is an exciting prospect for them at our festival with him as the main headliner," Beattie said. "I am thrilled with a lineup that includes Alexis Puentes, a 2006 Juno winner, originally from Cuba now living in Smithers, along with Fred Eaglesmith and the legendary mandolin player Willie P. Bennett, who inspired Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson to start Blackie and the Rodeo Kings."

Wayne Lavallee is a Juno nominee and a 2006 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award winner. What sets Lavallee apart from other singer/songwriters is his incredible voice - raspy, haunting, and mesmerizing are the words often used to describe the sound.

Kevin Breit from Toronto will not disappoint the most serious of guitar players. His resume is a who's who of people with whom he has accompanied, or those who have recorded his songs, from Norah Jones to Patti Scialfa to Molly Johnson. Along with Kevin for the ride are the funky Sisters Euclid, all male super blues/modern jazz/hiphopsters who are bound to make your night!

Beattie is pleased to welcome Ferron as a performer this year. Ferron is a revered Canadian singer/songwriter and poet. In addition to being one of Canada's most famous folk musicians, she is one of the most influential writers and performers of women's music, and an important influence on later musicians such as Ani Difranco and The Indigo Girls.

Most important is the local content of this year's festival. Versus, led by rap-master Shae Morin has built a large local following, taking hip-hop and rap to new dimensions. For fans of the edgy, pop-rock sounds, check out Machina, a four-piece powerhouse of vocals and guitars. Eric Tompkins and the Fellini's Hat Band runs the gamit from Persian influenced original tunes to Miles Davies influenced jazz. MC Maureen Washington lends her own smokey,voice to the lineup. Completing the Folkfest '06 lineup will be last year's Folkquest winner Matt Robinson, as well as this year's talented winner. Special guest "tweeners" are up too!