After financial scare, N.L. Folk Festival is back on its feet for the summer

Bannerman Park in St. John's is set to be bustling with festival-goers this summer on the heels of the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society's financial scare.

Executive director Julie Vogt says the organization isn't in the green yet, but the 2025 Folk Festival is a go with a confirmed lineup for July 11-13.

"We need to keep going," she said at an event at the Alt Hotel in St. John's Wednesday.

Serena Ryder and Matt Andersen are headlining the weekend, with support from local acts such as Dave Penny and Daunt Lee, Anita Best and Sandy Morris, and Salt Beef Junkies.

Community steps up

The festival is happening this summer thanks to corporate donations and those from the public, says Vogt.

The Folk Arts Society appealed to the masses in March when it revealed the 2024 festival left them over $100,00 in debt.

That campaign has raised nearly $23,000, Vogt says.

Vogt says she was shocked to see donations pour in from far-removed places like Switzerland and Idaho, United States.

Vogt said she spoke on the phone with the Idaho donor, who had purchased tickets to last year's festival to see Emmylou Harris, but fell sick and ended up donating her tickets to university students. The woman asked Vogt if she'd have another chance to visit the province for the annual festival.

"I said, 'Don't you worry, Annie. Buy those tickets, baby, we're gonna have a festival,'" Vogt recalled.

Over the weekend Quidi Vidi Brewery held its own benefit event for the Folk Arts Society. Vogt doesn't know how much it raised yet, but she has a good feeling about it.

"Every time I'd walk by, somebody would raise a beer and just give me a wink," she said. "I think we're going to do pretty darn well with that."

'Let's not take it for granted'

The organization isn't out of the financial woods just yet.

It currently only has two paid staff members, and the rest are volunteers — including Vogt herself, a chartered professional accountant who recently came out of retirement to volunteer for the society.

Vogt said it's going to take "a partnership between government and corporations, businesses who believe in what we're doing" to keep the festival alive and thriving in future years.

Her current goal is to make a $40,000 surplus at this year's festival.

"Let's not take it for granted," said Vogt.

Sixteen-year-old musician Alex Taylor, for one, would like to see the festival make it to its 50th anniversary next year.

The Mount Pearl singer has performed at the Newfoundland and Folk Festival several times, including in a main stage slot in 2024.

"It means a lot to me," he told CBC News.

Taylor is looking forward to seeing the talent and he intends to join them, too.

"No doubt you might see me on any of the stages," he said.

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