2024 Calgary Folk Music Festival lineup unveiled

The Roots, Cowboy Junkies and Ben Howard are among the acts performing at the 2024 Calgary Folk Music Festival.

In total, 72 artists will play the four-day, multi-stage music festival.

English artist Ben Howard and Canadian Leif Vollebekk will headline the opening night, followed by the Cowboy Junkies and Irish songwriter James Vincent McMorrow on Friday night.

Saturday will see long-standing international acts The Roots and KT Tunstall perform.

The festival wraps up Sunday with Booker T. Presents: A Stax Revue and Fantastic Negrito.

"Some of (the lineup) is bringing in legends, and some are legends in the making," artistic director Kerry Clarke said.

"I think that people are excited to see their favourite artists, but they’re also really open-minded and come for the atmosphere and the good vibes."

In between the headlining shows, dozens more will take the stage.

The Mariachi Ghost, TEKE::TEKE, Billie Marten, Black Joe Lewis, Deer Tick and Elliott Brood join a wide assortment of local and global acts.

Sessions will also see performers united to play more acoustic-centred collaborations inside the festival ground’s tents, and the ever-present artisan market will offer a wide variety of food and drink.

"There’s a lot to see and do," Clarke said.

The 45th annual Calgary Folk Music Festival runs from July 25 to 28 at Prince's Island Park.

Visit CalgaryFolkFest.com to see the full lineup or to buy early bird weekend passes and single-day tickets.

BIG SEASON AHEAD

Folk Fest is just one major event that draws big crowds to the city in the summer.

Clarke says about 20 per cent of attendees are out-of-towners.

That’s good news for the team at Tourism Calgary.

"Everyone loves to stretch out on that grass and have a great time with whoever is on that stage," spokesperson Cindy Ady told CTV News.

"And (for visitors), all indications for this year tell us it’s going to be a record-setting year."