One of the best things about Edmonton’s Folk Music Festival (besides spending a weekend hanging out appreciating live music, either alone or with your friends, and tens of thousands other people) is the ability to surround yourself to new music and musicians you might otherwise not get a chance to know.

You can, of course, come for the big names – Ashley MacIsaac, Lúnasa, Hozier, Blue Rodeo, Ani DiFranco, Bruce Cockburn to name a few from the past few years. Edmonton always has an impressive line up of well known musicians, even for those of us not overly familiar with the folk genre.

And this year was no different. KT Tunstall (above, and wow is she ever entertaining! amazing musician and funny as hell!).

And Blue Rodeo.

And possibly, arguably, even bringing in the biggest name since I’ve attended this festival – Robert Plant.

Yes, that one.

His Led Zeppeliness.

Singing with mega Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss.

What a line up, indeed!

But in between the big names, and often onstage at the same time, is a slew of artists you may have not yet heard of, playing their hearts out for you, winning your heart in return.

I’ve said it before, but the magic of the Edmonton Folk Fest lays in the sessions – the mashups of artists new and seasoned, this genre with that genre, playing on stage together, with the beautiful Edmonton skyline as a backdrop.

In these sessions, the mashups of artists take turns playing their own stuff, but the point of having them there all on the same stage is for everyone to join in as the music moves them to. The result – incredible jaw-dropping jam sessions that leave the musicians’ jaws on the floor longer than ours.

We may enjoy witnessing these moments so throughly as the audience, but I can only imagine the joy of playing in a room (in this case, an outdoor stage in a park) with fellow musicians, perhaps even someone you’ve admired.

Up and comers jam with legends.

Like with the Sultans of String (pictured above – and wow is that the coolest guitar ever!?)

You put Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo on a stage with anyone and I’m going to be there. Blue Rodeo is special. Reason enough to attend. But there on stage with him this time are artists I am not familiar with: Blanco White, Jake Xerxes Fussell, and The Ruen Brothers.

And, magic.

The jamming, the banter, the smiles.

Its remarkable to see the pure joy plastered on their faces while the music pours out of them together like this. It’s remarkable to witness the pure talent of being able to pick up the language, the math, the science, the art of someone else’s song as they play it, and join in on your own instrument, un-rehearsed, possibly unknowing of the song and making this beautiful experience of sound.

Magic.

And yeah, Cuddy sounds amazing and he’s really good at welcoming everyone on stage to join in. But these others with him, they are so good. And yep, they won my heart. So much so I found myself at their individual sets – just them on stage – and any other sessions they attended this weekend.

Some of the memorable new to me artists from the weekend included The Ruen Brothers (Henry and Rupert). Great 50s inspired sound and presence (and a great chemistry with Cuddy that left us all laughing like we were at a comedy show).

Blanco White, beautiful voices, melodies. They blew my mind softly.

And I am always so in awe of anyone able to sing or play an instrument, but then you get those like Blanco White’s violinist, Charlie Schnurr, on violin, keyboards, voice, and charango.

Then there was powerhouse Danielle Ponder, former public defender who quit her career in her 40s to focus on her music. I’m sad for the accused in her town, but sooooo happy for the rest of us to be gifted her music.

And Robert Finley, the octogenarian with far more cool in his finger tips than anyone ever! And even more cool in his smokey voice and smooth guitar playing.

Four days of sessions and concerts of new to me artists! So many its too many to list when every second of the weekend was filled with such musical wonderment!

And still their were the ones that drew me there in the first place – Blue Rodeo, who break my heart and mend it at the same time; KT Tunstall, who absolutely wowed us; and Robert Plant and Alison Kraus, a seemingly strange mashup on paper, but who have been playing together for years and years and who just make so much sense when you see them live. They closed the festival on Sunday night and apparently drew an audience beyond the park gates, those without tickets who came to hear, if not see these legends.

Let’s just say my heart and soul (along with my Spotify playlists, and social media accounts) are overflowing with new and renewed musical loves.

The worst thing about Edmonton Folk Fest is when it’s over.

And now the anticipation for next year!