Local talent Lucas Chaisson will soon be hitting up one of Calgary’s biggest stages, as one of the performers slated for this year’s Calgary Folk Music Festival.
“It’s pretty exciting — I’ve been going to the festival since I was a little kid. It’s surreal,” said the young singer-songwriter. “It’s also a great opportunity to get some more exposure as far as the Calgary music scene.
“It’s just such an honour.”
Running July 25-28, the annual festival will feature more than 75 performers, spread amongst the six stages set up on Prince’s Island Park. In addition to the performances, the festival will play host to a selection of vendors and workshop sessions.
The invitation to join the festival artists came at the last minute, said Chaisson. As a past participant in the festival’s songwriting contest, he said he knew a few of the people involved with the festival.
“The call came in about a week before the line-up was announced,” he said. “By that point, we had written it off that we’d be selected as one the local acts.”
Not only is he looking forward to performing at the event, but he said he’s really excited to take part in some of the workshops and artist sessions featured over the weekend. With luck, he’ll have time to check out a few artists. He named headliner Steve Earle, along with Bahamas, and Danny Michel with the Garifuna Collective, as a few of the acts he’s hoping to catch.
Chaisson will be on stage performing songs from his album Growing Pains, which was released in June 2012. The album helped garner the young musician a Young Performer of the Year award at the 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
He was previously nominated for the same award following the release of his 2010 debut recording No Loitering.
For the festival performance, Chaisson will be joined on stage by band Scenic Route to Alaska. Chaisson said being backed by the band gives his music a fuller sound, while still accenting his folksy, singer-songwriter sound.
For now, Chaisson said he’s been trying to focus on his upcoming tour, which will run from May 17 to June 2 with shows in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
“I’ve been gearing up for this tour, but have all my paperwork and contracts ready for folk fest,” said 19-year-old. “Folk fest is a big show for me to get, so I’ve been really focused.”
For those who can’t wait until July’s folk music festival to take in a Chaisson performance, he’ll be playing Calgary’s Wine-Ohs June 2 at 8 p.m.
A full schedule of Calgary Folk Music Festival performances — including Chaisson’s — will be announced towards the end of June. Keep up to date via calgaryfolkfest.com.
