Shelter Valley Folk Festival announces line up

With the release of a limited number of Early Bird tickets for the 6th annual Shelter Valley Folk Festival an announcement was made by the organization's Artistic Director, Aengus Finnan, to reveal the complete musical roster for the 2009 Labour Day Weekend event (Sept. 4-6).

"We are once again thrilled to present some of the finest songwriters in the land," exclaimed Finnan. "With everyone staying a little closer to home these days we figured we'd bring the Country to our County with acts from the Yukon, the East Coast, the Prairies, across Ontario, and from as far away as Wales."

The 2009 roster

ster of musicians includes Canadian songwriting legend Garnet Rogers (brother and musical partner of the late Stan Rogers), alt-country crooner Justin Rutledge, and groups including the Great Lake Swimmers (closing Friday night) and the Reggae Cowboys (closing Saturday night). Renowned throughout the Arctic, Steve Slade, originally scheduled to perform at the inaugural festival in 2004, will be driving from Whitehorse to perform at Shelter Valley.

From the East Coast come the infectious and upbeat songs of Halifax resident, David Myles, and the potent spoken word musings of PEI poet Tanya Davis. Penning songs that carry humour and storytelling which exceed the likes of Stompin' Tom, is Alberta song-slinger Tim Hus. Originally a member of Blue Rodeo, actor, artist and activist Bob Wiseman will bring a multimedia performance to festival audiences.

With timely and topical tunes Evalyn Parry shares thoughts on everything from the death of a favourite old car to the ridiculous situation of bottled water consumption. Sidesplitting songs from Wendell Ferguson will punctuate his role as Emcee, while the melancholy sweet sounds of songstress Emma Lee brings a feeling of another era to her sets.

Joining musical forces from Ontario and Nova Scotia, Madison Violet, brings a pop-roots sound, while the sweet-roots sounds of Po'Girl complete an Americana sound on site. Sarnia native Court LaJoie uses electronic and ambient soundscapes increating her grassroots compositions.

Having survived a Grafton concert held in one of 2008's worst winter blizzards, Martyn Joseph returns to Northumberland all the way from Wales.

And finally, award winning children's perfomer Chris McKhool returns to Northumberland after participating in the Festival's Artists in the Schools outreach program.

"Our audience has a dynamic taste, and they have grown with us such that we can present more and more adventurous artists. This will be our best year yet for music and thought." concluded Finnan.

Links to all artists' sites where samples, of their music can be heard, are found by visiting the Performer Page at http://www.sheltervalley.com/. With reviews that include "Best of the Fests" (Globe & Mail), and "gentle, humanistic, environmentally attuned, and abundantly caring" (Toronto Star), Shelter Valley is far more than just an exceptional music event, it has indeed become an end of summer ritual, a community gathering and a signature cultural experience revered from coast to coast to coast.

As of May 1st a limited number of Early Bird Weekend Tickets are available for sale at a discounted price until May 31st only. As of June 1st the full range of Festival "Day and Weekend" ticket options become available. The Festival is once again pleased to present a limited number of "SaturdayNight" tickets (available June 1st).

Tickets are available through the Festival website http://www.sheltervalley.com/, at the Festival's summer office in downtown Cobourg, and also through theTicket Hotline - 1-866-612-SVFF (7833) or locally through the Festival's office number 905-355-1244.The Shelter Valley Folk Festival (a Registered Federal Charity) is a family event held Labour Day Weekend (Sept 4-6, 2009) on the Henkel Farm just eastof Grafton, and celebrates Juried Art, Wellness, Sustainable Living, Harvest Foods and the finest in Folk, Roots and Blues music.

Volunteers and financial donors always welcome.