Respected songwriter James Keelaghan is the new Summerfolk artistic director

James Keelaghan has signed a two-year contract with the Georgian Bay Folk Society as artistic director, programming the popular, long-running Summerfolk festival in Owen Sound.

BILL HENRY
Sun Times staff
One of Canada’s most prominent singer songwriters is Summerfolk’s new artistic director.
James Keelaghan signed a two year contract Thursday with the Georgian Bay Folk Society and immediately began contacting performers and programming next year’s festival, GBFS president Ruth Parsons said.
“He’s jumping in with both feet,” Parsons said.
Known for his compelling songs and stories, Keelaghan has been called “Canada’s finest songwriter” by the award-winning American popular music critic Dave Marsh. With 11 CDs in his catalogue, the Calgary native now based near Ottawa has toured the world with his music, performing several times at Summerfolk, first in 1984.
Keelaghan was touring with guitarist Oscar Lopez, a longtime musical associate, Thursday in the Northwest Territories and could not be reached.
The folk society announced the appointment late Thursday in a news release which included Keelaghan’s comments.
“I have played Folk Festivals all over the world from Hong Kong to Denmark and Summerfolk has always stood out as one of my favourites,” he said in the release. “In many ways Summerfolk exemplifies everything a folk festival should be: personal, ethical, open and exciting. I am honoured to become even more involved with Summerfolk and look forward to helping to bring the best in the world to Kelso Beach.”
Parsons said Keelaghan is expected to announce his new role at this weekend’s Canadian Folk Awards event in Toronto.
Keelaghan takes over booking and programming for Summerfolk, the long-running annual Kelso Beach folk event, from Walkerton-based singer, songwriter and children’s performer Richard Knechtel, who chose not to renew his contract again after four years on the job.
Two months ago, the festival’s future was uncertain.
Two days of rain washed out proceeds from beer sales and other merchandise last August and kept day-pass folk fans away.
Despite the event’s artistic success and strong advance ticket sales, overall proceeds fell short and depleted the group’s reserve fund. That prompted Parsons to announce in early October an emergency fundraising campaign.
Unless the GBFS could raise $25,000 by December, there likely would not be a festival next year, she warned.
Response was immediate.
More than $12,000 came in over the next few days and weeks through donations and GBFS memberships. A GBFS-organized concert and silent auction raised another $8,000. A week later, young Summerfolk supporters and musicians raised another $1,700 at a Singing for Summerfolk benefit organized by GBFS supporter Jerry Walsh.
And a new long-term sponsorship, to be announced in detail later, has recently put the campaign over the top, Parsons said Thursday.
“We’re happy with that. It’s been a very good response from the community” Parsons said. “It means we have the operating money to keep the office open and keep the planning going and hire a new artistic director with the confidence that we can afford to do that.”
Parsons said 10 people applied for the position, and a committee of GBFS board members and volunteers interviewed three short-listed candidates, then interviewed two finalists a second time before choosing Keelaghan. They were looking for someone thoroughly familiar with Summerfolk, with contacts within the folk and roots community, and a record of collaboration, Parsons said.
“We wanted someone that was a team player, that would work with us, given the age of the festival, so they’re not coming in and totally turning it upside down,” she said. “He certainly fit all those. He has ideas brought from his world wide travels but the first priority is to keep the good stuff and what can we do to enhance it?”
Parsons also said Thursday GBFS has a plan to build up its reserve fund and put in place a regular fundraising and sponsorship strategy she expects will avoid a similar emergency cash campaign.
bhenry@thesuntimes.ca

Advertisement