Miramichi Folksong Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Miramichi Folksong Festival |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Roots, folk |
| Dates | August |
| Location(s) | Miramichi, New Brunswick Canada  |
| Years active | 1958 – present |
| Founded by | Louise Manny |
| Website | http://www.miramichifolksongfestival.com |
The Miramichi Folksong Festival is the oldest folk music festival in Canada. It takes place every year in Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada. This festival is a special event that celebrates traditional songs and stories. It is known for being the longest-running festival of its kind in Canada.
Contents
About the Festival
The Miramichi Folksong Festival is a very important event for the community. While it attracts tourists, its main goal is to keep local culture alive. The festival features many local performers, often older people, who share their traditional music.
How the Festival Started
A Request from Lord Beaverbrook
The festival was started by Louise Manny in 1958. She was a folklorist, someone who studies traditional stories and customs, and a historian. A British politician named Lord Beaverbrook asked her to collect and record the old songs from his childhood home. This request led to the creation of the festival.
The First Festival Event
The very first festival happened in September 1958. It was held at the Beaverbrook Town Hall and Theatre in Newcastle, New Brunswick. The festival still takes place at this same location today. It is now held every August.
Preserving Local Culture
The festival has helped save many traditional songs and stories. In 1968, a book called Songs of Miramichi was published. This book contained many of the lyrics and music highlighted by the festival. Louise Manny also produced a record album in 1962 with Folkways Records. This album helped share these traditional songs with more people.
Famous Performers
Allan Kelly's Contributions
Allan Kelly (1903-2008) was a very popular singer at the festival. He was also a strong supporter of the event. One of his early performances, a song called The Petit Moine, was recorded on the 1962 album.
The Estey Brothers' Stories
Raymond and Frank Estey were brothers from Sevogle, New Brunswick. They sang at the festival every year. After their songs, the Estey brothers would entertain the audience with their famous ghost stories.
