The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is back this summer and it’s bigger, bolder, and more joyful than ever. From July 18 to 20, music lovers will gather at the city’s most stunning waterfront location, ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park, for a full weekend of world-class performances, food, art, and community.
VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL
This year’s lineup is a vibrant mosaic of global artistry and Canadian heart, a celebration of music without borders. You can hear the rhythms of Tanzania to South Africa, and Ireland to PEI, Newfoundland, B.C., Ontario, and Quebec.
Festivalgoers can expect everything from the soulful traditions of Tanzania’s Zawose Queens and the electrifying Congolese collective Les Mamans du Congo x Rrobin, to the genre-bending sounds of Cris Derksen, a celebrated Indigenous cellist and composer. Highlights also include Bab L’ Bluz, a Franco-Moroccan psychedelic Gnawa rock band, and Australia’s Emily Wurramara, whose music celebrates her Indigenous heritage of Anindilyakwa. There will also be Canadian favourites like Elisapie, Jane Siberry, and Julian Taylor. This year’s festival delivers the soundtrack to summer. You’ll be dancing to a psychedelic Gnawa groove, harmonizing with an Indigenous cello-driven ballad, or even swaying barefoot to a Maritime folk song.
COMMUNITY
More than just a music festival, VFMF is a community celebration. It’s filled with dancing, storytelling, food, artisan markets, and the stunning natural beauty of ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park. This is the place where musical borders dissolve and the beach becomes a stage for cultural connection and discovery.
Opening the festival on Friday, July 18 are Vancouver’s own Haram, New Yorker Margaret Glaspy, Tio’tia:ke/Montreal’s Elisapie, and Tanzania’s The Zawose Queens. Take in a full day of music before the Mainstage acts take the stage on Saturday, July 19 which include Scotland’s Shooglenifty, On the Beach: Neil Young Reimagined featuring festival artists, B.C.’s Ocie Elliott, with Moroccan-French rock duo Bab L’ Bluz as the final evening’s performance. Celebrate the closing night of the festival on Sunday, July 20 with North Carolina’s Watchhouse, Texas’ Ruthie Foster, California’s The Milk Carton Kids, and UK’s The Heavy Heavy.
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is more than a concert — it’s a celebration of culture, creativity, and connection. Festivalgoers of all ages can enjoy:
- Artisan markets featuring handmade goods and local treasures
- Tastes of the world from a wide array of food vendors
- Interactive artist workshops and panels offered throughout the festival
- Family-friendly zones with programming for little folk fans
- And, of course, sunset singalongs on the beach
The list of 2025 artists is below and full info is online here.
EVENT DETAILS:
📅 Date: July 18 – July 20, 2025
📍 Location: Jericho Beach Park
🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Vancouver Folk Music Festival
