WOLFVILLE, N.S. — Wolfville is known for its artistic flair. And this year will be no exception.
The Deep Roots Festival returns for its 16th iteration from Sept. 26-29.
Peter Mowat, board chairman of the Deep Roots Music Cooperative, said the focus of the multi-genre festival this year will be on the role music plays in mental health and wellness.
The theme is “the healing of power of music.”
In addition to what happens on stage, there is a series of workshops, talks and films planned, all of which will broach the topic of mental health, and open a much-needed conversation about a subject that is, too often, treated as an elephant in the room.
“We are focusing on music and well-being this year because while live music improves the quality and actual quantity of life for audiences, making live music and the work and lifestyle associated with that is really hard on musicians,” said Jim Murphy, a festival volunteer. “We want to find a way to share the healing of music so all can benefit, performers and audience alike. By sharing stores like that of Catherine McLellan and Elise Morden, we hope to start a conversation that could lead to better circumstances.”
The festival will feature two film screenings; singer-songwriter Catherine MacLellan’s The Song and the Sorrow and Sweet Marie: in studio with Erin Costelo.
THIS YEAR'S TALENT
This year’s Deep Roots Music Festival will feature the musical talent of the following artists: Alan Syliboy and The Thundermakers; the Carson Downey Band; Catherine MacLellan; Chris Robison; Coco Love Alcorn; David Francey; the Djugdjug Ensemble; Donna and Andy; Donna Holmes; Elsie Morden; Emma Stevens; Erin Costelo; Gabriel Minnikin; Lindy Vopnfjörd; Madison Violet; Makayla Lynn; Marilyn Manzer; the Maritime Marionettes; Rachel Beck; Rebecca Fairless; Reeny Smith; Sam Wilson; Sarah MacInnis; Scotty Marsters; SOLA; the Steve Lee Trio; Terra Spencer; The Atlantic String Machine; The Hypochondriacs; The Sundries; The Vauldevillian and Wee Giant Theatre.
The festival is the brainchild of the Deep Roots Music Cooperative.
“We do other events throughout the year, but the festival is our biggest,” said Mowat.
Deep Roots is one of Nova Scotia’s most significant festivals, “and it goes without saying, one of the biggest events for the Town of Wolfville,” Mowat said.
A parade on Saturday morning will close Main Street for 20 minutes, and there will be free music at the farmers’ market.
“It’s weekend-long and there will be plenty of great music and family activity,” Mowat said. “We have many main stage shows, which are pay-as-you-go, but there’s going to be a lot of free music throughout the weekend as well.”
There will also be workshops available to guests throughout the weekend. Mowat said one of the workshops will involve participants making their own instruments.
With the Wee Giant Pop-up Theatre on its way to Wolfville this September, Deep Roots will entertain a younger audience, offering something for the whole family.
“As the name implies, it’s about going back to the roots and representing as many of Nova Scotia’s founding cultures as possible – Acadian, Indigenous, African-Nova Scotia, and members of the English-speaking community (English, Scottish, Irish),” Mowat said.
“We’re pleased this year to have quite a lot of diversity in our lineup, and it’s great to get a group like this one together.”
One example of the diversity on display at this year’s festival is Alan Syliboy and the Thundermakers, whose open concert will begin with a smudge ceremony.
This year, Deep Roots will also manifest a multicultural spirit by coinciding with Culture Days, a cross-country weekend of activities that dovetail with the overarching theme of the festival.
“We’ve partnered with Culture Days before, when we did the Fresh Beats Rhythm Parade – that was the only East Coast event ever livestreamed by Culture Days. They host thousands of events.”
This year’s lineup also includes performers with a gamut of ages. While there are plenty of industry veterans in attendance, Mowat noted some this year’s talent is exceptionally young – but also exceptionally accomplished for being so young. He mentioned country songstress Makayla Lynn, an ECMA Award and Nova Scotia Music award-winning country singer as an example.
“The weather won’t cancel any of our concerts. All of our pay events are indoors, and we have many of our events in one of the nicest theatres the province,” Mowat explained. “There are amazing acoustics in there.”
For more information on this year’s Deep Roots Music Festival, visit deeprootsmusic.ca.
