The 2023 Jasper Folk Music Festival is in the books and it’s unanimous: it was the festival organizers, and the community, deserved.
After successive years of cancelations due to COVID-19, the herky-jerkiness of last year’s Chetamon Mountain wildfire-compromised event, and some soggy memories of less-than-ideal festival weather, this year’s two-day jamboree was a stunner of a success, said JFMF’s chairperson, Cristin Murphy.
“We are feeling beyond stoked! No words can really describe how happy we are with the amazing music, community support, turnout of people and of course that weather!” she said.
More than 1,150 people enjoyed the music, artisans, food vendors and bouncy castles—a new JFMF record, Murphy said. The turnout was good enough to net a profit, which will be poured into the start-up funds for 2024.
“September 6 and 7…save the date!” she said.
While words can’t do the weekend justice, photos can begin to tell the story. Have a peek at The Jasper Local’s snaps, shot by Bob Covey unless otherwise noted.
The Brasstastics led the Friday afternoon kickoff parade down to the festival grounds. // Photo by Jamie Robson
Danny Michel had a terrific twilight set on Friday night. // Photo by Jamie Robson
oundWhitehorse’s wicked set closed Friday night’s festivities. // Photo by Jamie Robson
By Saturday night, festival attendees were well-prepared for the thermometer’s sudden dip.
Jasperites of all stripes made a point of bringing their coziest festival blankets to settle in to the sounds.
Timeless lawnchair patterns, timeless JFMF merch from festivals past
Baby bling! What is any music festival without a dangling, jangling, coin-adorned skirt?
As usual, acrobatic displays in front of the CN Place stage were free with a JFMF admission
During the set by Maddie Storvold, the “proverbial black sheep love child of comedian Steven Wright and protest singer Joan Baez,” the crowd was in stitches in between Storvold’s powerful songs.
Young Leo Carret taking in his first JFMF.
Music festival veteran, Mme. Paulette Trottier, visiting with Ecole Desrochers’ most recent graduate, Maëva Joyeuse. Joyeuse is beginning her studies at Campus Saint Jean (UofA). Mme Paulette is a proud alumni.
A rare, orderly moment in Bouncy Castle history.
Artisan vendors were a natural draw for young shoppers.
High pressure weekend weather had festival-goers spinning.
Pictured: Sons and Daughter’s Connor Cunningham on vocals, Koh Okazaki on drums and T.J. Brown on bass. The hometown favourites shared their energy and gratitude with the appreciative audience.
Jasper’s Joe Urie was the man on the mic, the master of ceremonies and, when it came to entertaining the crowd between acts, proved he was the Riel Deal.
Far-flung family members converged on friendly, festival grounds.
“Break a leg,” performers were told before they got onstage—much to Carter Schmidt’s consternation.
No fires to put out this year. JFMF Executive Director Cristin Murphy puts her feet up for a few moments.
Musician and festival staple, Jasper’s Willy Saunders, got a shout out from Sons and Daughter during their set. Hot tip: follow Willy on Facebook for a troubadour’s-eye-view of the Jasper music scene.
Fresh human, Lennon Emerald Andrew, and her proud papa, Oliver, basking in the warm energy.
Local pre teens were going bananas for the high-in-potassium weekend.
The JFMF always brings a preponderance of pork pies, fedoras, boaters and other funky chapeaus.
“If you appreciate someone, don’t keep it a secret.” — Mary Kay Ash
The JFMF board of directors were brought up on stage on Saturday. The board includes: Cristin Murphy, Peggy Munn, Jamie Robson, Fawn Furlotte, Christa Laughlin, Megan Jones, Carol Vien, Sarah Fougere, Jesse Way, Silvie Walsh, Wendy Hall, Jaxon Makowecki, Kyra Bazinet, Missy Day and Lisa Riddell.
Almost no matter which way you looked at it, the 2023 festival was a hit.
Ink next year’s festival into your 2024 calendars: Sept 6 and 7.
JFMF volunteers know: Many hands make light work.
Volunteers have been Jones-in’ for an emergency-free festival for the past three years.
Seven-year-old Cora Covey’s flower power was on max for two days.
“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” — Thorton Wilder
Take more chances: Dance more dances.
Jasper’s Sons and Daughter had the audience on a string.
Coco’s Café’s Lynn Wannop, who ran one of the four food trucks on site, helped ensure festival-goers could refuel.
Shoppers checking out the wares by With My Own Two Hands.
The most patient man in Jasper: the Bouncy Castle boss.
The Ray Elliott Band were incredibly polished. // Photo by Jamie Robson
The September festival is a chance for Jasperites to catch up after the busy summer.
Taco in a bag: Not just an Instagram thing
Volunteer Jane Fougere enjoying the harmonies.
Smart and stylish: people with parasols
Soliel Ross and Ariele Langley giddying up.
Zaynab Wilson was feeling the power of the sun as much as the audience was feeling the power of her songs.
“Appreciation, not possession, makes a thing ours.” — Marty Rubin
Sun’s out, guns out!
All in all it was a dyno-mite festival.
A panorama of pleasure.
Keeping cozy.
Little ears with a bit of PPE for the reverberating soundscape.
Maddie Storvold and the Walnut Collective facing the music.
Sound managers and engineers were tasked with figuring out the system capabilities of the town’s CN Place Stage. Dinger Sound rocked it.
No distractions here!
Maddie Storvold is a force of nature.
Settling in.
Purple haze.
Dragon slayer Nicole Covey with three-year-old Connor.
Marie Pierre and Gregg Ellen in their happy place.
Dave “Davey Dealz” Miller sportin’ Jasper colours.
Miina transporting the crowd to a new dimension.
Moontricks closed out the incredible weekend. // Photo by Jamie Robson
