In this week's episode, we chat to Kerry Clarke, the Artistic Director behind the renowned Calgary Folk Festival and its winter counterpart, Block Heater.
Kerry walks us through her process of curating the festival lineup and shares insights into how she crafts captivating rosters each year — shedding light on what it takes for artists to secure a spot. Additionally, Kerry provides valuable advice on catching the attention of Artistic Directors at both conferences and through pitch emails.
FULL PODCAST EPISODE: https://folkmusicontario.org/refolkus/blog/7318676/episode-26-the-art-of-booking-pt-1-calgary-folk-festival-w-kerry-clarke
Follow Calgary Folk Festival:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calgaryfolkfest/
Website: www.calgaryfolkfest.com
Follow Kerry Clarke:
Instagram: @kerrytheclarke
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Community radio was Kerry’s entry into the independent music world 36 years ago. She’s artistic and marketing director of the 44 year ‘post-folk’ Calgary Folk Music Festival, the winter Block Heater festival and an off-season concert series. She spent some time on the skins in an all-female lo-fi band decades ago, is on several non-profit arts boards, has served on many arts juries, is a proud part of WRAD (western roots artistic directors) and NApresenters, co-founded Rwanda’s KigaliUp festival, and produces/hosts weekly CKUA and CJSW radio programs when she’s not traveling to conferences and festivals to see music from a vast range of genres.
A Pocket Full of Seeds Brian Tremblay - A Pocket Full of Seeds ![]() ![]() |
Close to Home Marc Audet - Open Water ![]() |
The Price of Gasoline Bill & Sue w/Shelley Posen - The Price of Gasoline ![]() ![]() |
The Rez Sultans of String w/Crystal Shawanda - The Rez ![]() |
Spinning Cassie Noble - Nowhere to Go but Everywhere ![]() ![]() |
Tall Trees Shawn William Clarke - Softer Scissors ![]() ![]() |
Amsterdam King Cardiac - Bloodlines ![]() |
I really like that song, "Bill & Sue w/Shelley Posen - The Price of Gasoline" The first time I heard it I was thinking wtf at the first few lines, then I realized what the subject was and fell in love!!
7:37 AM, March 11th, 2024