Music legend Bruce Cockburn added to Winnipeg Folk Fest lineup
Singer-songwriter was part of 1st festival and will now be part of the 50th
The Winnipeg Folk Festival has come full circle for its 50th edition, bringing back legendary Canadian musician Bruce Cockburn, who played at the event that started it all back in 1974.
Cockburn will take the Big Bluestem stage at 3 p.m. on July 12 at Birds Hill Provincial Park.
It's the folk icon's first time back at the fest since 2017, but he's far from a prodigal son. He's shared his music with Birds Hill crowds in 1975, 1978, 1984, 1998 and 2006 as well.
The singer-songwriter, who turns 80 later this month, is making a special detour from his tour to be part of the milestone celebration, said a news release from festival organizers.
An advocate for human rights and the environment, Cockburn uses his music to entertain while sending messages.
If a Tree Falls speaks to the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, while If I Had a Rocket Launcher was inspired by a visit to a Guatemalan refugee camp in southern Mexico, where Cockburn was outraged to learn the Guatemalan dictatorship would regularly hit the camp with machine-gun fire from helicopters.
Over his five decades of performing, Cockburn has written more than 350 songs and released 34 albums.
Some of his best-known songs include Lovers in a Dangerous Time, Wondering Where the Lions Are and The Coldest Night of the Year.
In 2005, the Winnipeg Folk Festival presented him with its Artistic Achievement Award, given to an artist who has demonstrated musical excellence, reflects the values of the organization and has contributed at an exceptional level to the field of folk music and the community as a whole.
This year's festival runs from July 10 to 13, bringing a wide range of music genres, from gospel, funk and R&B to country, rock and several variations of folk.
A full lineup is available on the Folk Fest's website.