Folk Festival enters third decade with new name ("CityFolk"), new location (Lansdowne)

Ottawa Folk Festival organizers today announced a new name, along with relocation plans for Ottawa’s long-standing folk festival. The event, formerly known as the Ottawa Folk Festival, will be re-named and re-imagined as CityFolk in 2015, and will be staged at Landsdowne Park, adjacent to TD Place.

When asked why a new location, the festival’s executive and artistic director, Mark Monahan responded with a straightforward answer: “It’s more central and easier to get to,” said Monahan.

Of course there’s more to it than that, but location is arguably an important criterion when any event is staged. “We feel very positive about this move for a few other reasons,” added Monahan. “Our decision was also influenced by the fact that it’s a beautiful new facility—situated downtown with the canal running alongside it—and it offers all kinds of options and infrastructure for staging the event. We have a longstanding and very productive relationship with the City of Ottawa as well, and as an anchor event this move has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm on their part.”

“The City is proud that one of Ottawa’s favourite annual events is moving to the beautiful new Lansdowne Park, which is quickly becoming a must-visit destination,” said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson. “This is exactly the kind of event that will help showcase and celebrate this unique new community gathering place.”

So, what about the new moniker? “The event has evolved in several ways since 2011—especially the programming,” says Monahan. “With the move to Landsdowne we felt that the timing was perfect for a fresh approach to branding the festival moving forward; one that reflects its musical evolution. Since we’re moving to the heart of the city, and we want all music fans in Ottawa to feel a kinship with the festival, we felt CityFolk would resonate with them.”

OK, so a new location and a new name; what about the line-up? “That’s coming together nicely,” says Monahan. “We have some interesting irons in the fire, and we’re confident we’ll be able to maintain our track record. I can’t confirm anything right now—we’ll be announcing this spring—but I can say, for those who want to be among the first to know, sign up on our new website and become a ‘CityFolk Insider’.”

The CityFolk website is: www.CityFolkfestival.ca