Walk Off The Earth Archives | Mariposa Folk Festival

We Are Recruiting for Candidates for the Mariposa Folk Foundation Board of Directors

Posted on June 10, 2018

For nearly 60 years, the Mariposa Folk Festival has been an icon of Canada’s cultural scene. This all-inclusive showcase of Canada’s heritage, cultures and talents is owned and governed by the Mariposa Folk Foundation. The Foundation is led by 12 directors elected to three-year terms by the Foundation membership.

We are currently developing a roster of potential Board Directors for election at the next Annual General Meeting, which will take place in February.

The Foundation strives to maintain representation from the Simcoe County area and from other parts of the Province of Ontario. Board members are expected to attend six board meetings per year. These meetings alternate between Orillia and Vaughan, Ontario.

Previous experience as a Board Director would be a benefit. We are seeking qualified candidates who have a collaborative working style, and are specifically recruiting candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas: finance, management, law, technology, marketing, merchandising, human resources, and event planning. Experience with the music industry is not required. The role of Board Director of the Mariposa Folk Foundation is an unpaid, volunteer position.

Should you wish to be considered, please send your current CV to officemanager@mariposafolk.com along with a covering message explaining why you would like to join the Mariposa Board.

Best Lineup in Years

Posted on May 3, 2018

Mariposa Folk Festival has announced the full 2018 lineup, and it’s a winner! On top of well-known artists like Walk Off The Earth, Alan Doyle, Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, Larkin Poe, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Bahamas, the festival will feature 50 plus of the best folk-roots artists on the North American and international music scenes. The finale will be a fabulous, great big show called The Matchedash Parish, a dream team of celebrated musicians and singers.

Mariposa Folk Festival takes place July 6th, 7th and 8th, 2018, in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on the shores of scenic Lake Couchiching.

According to Artistic Director, Liz Scott, “We’ve got an exciting mix of music, from worldwide sensations like Walk Off the Earth to Canadian treasures like Valdy to international stars like Nick Lowe and right back to the family area with puppet shows and hula hoop workshops and karaoke.” Scott added, “We’re staying true to our roots while providing a balanced and fun-filled folk festival with a strong focus on community. Lots of stages and interactive activities in a beautiful park. It’s a great way to spend a summer weekend!”.

The 3-day Mariposa Folk Festival will have song, story, dance and craft on more than ten stages. Tent and RV camping is available on the festival site. Special pricing for youth and young adults. Kids 12 & under admitted free.

According to Festival Chair, Pam Carter, “It’s shaping up to be one of the best editions of Mariposa Folk Festival in decades. Ticket sales are very robust, and we haven’t even announced all of our programming yet.” Carter hinted at an upcoming announcement about an important figure in Canadian folk music history, stating “Soon we will share some exciting news about a prestigious event planned for the Main Stage”.

Here is the full lineup for Mariposa Folk Festival 2018 in alphabetical order:

A.J. Croce, Abigail Lapell, Alan Doyle, Alfie Smith & Nicole Christian, Angelique Francis, Angie Nussey, Anh Phung, Ariko, Bahamas, Bill & Joel Plaskett, Birds of Bellwoods, Blind Boy Paxton, Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Cécile,
Doo-Kingué, Danny Michel, Dave Penny, Defying Gravity: A Tribute to Jesse Winchester, Earle and Coffin, Élage Diouf, Fast Romantics, Fitzgerald Sisters, Fred Eaglesmith, Fränder, Gareth Pearson, Good Enough Live Karaoke, Good Lovelies, Hat Fitz & Cara, Ilaria Graziano & Francesco Forni, Iskwé, Jenie Thai, Kevin Breit, Land Of Talk, Larkin Poe, Leif Vollebekk, Lisa LeBlanc, Madison Galloway, Mark Reeves, Molly Tuttle, Mélisande [électrotrad], Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, Port Cities, Shreem, Skye Wallace, Slocan Ramblers, Tami Neilson, The Free Label, The Heavyweights Brass Band, The Kubasonics, The Matchedash Parish, The Wanted, The Western Swing Authority, Treasa Levasseur, Valdy, Walk Off The Earth, Wendell Ferguson, Zachary Lucky.

Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets Join the Mariposa Lineup

Posted on February 11, 2018

Orillia, Ontario, Canada – Mariposa Folk Festival organizers announced today that Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets have joined the Main Stage lineup for this summer’s festival. Nick Lowe is a revered figure in rock and pop music. Los Straitjackets are an astonishingly talented instrumental rock surf band. This combination may strike the uninitiated as odd, but those who have experienced the live show rave about it.

Mariposa Folk Festival takes place July 6th, 7th and 8th, 2018, in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on the shores of scenic Lake Couchiching.

Nick Lowe has made his mark as a producer (Elvis Costello-Graham Parker-Pretenders-The Damned), songwriter of at least three songs you probably know by heart, pop star, and a musicians’ musician. But in his current ‘second act’ as a silver-haired, tender-hearted but sharp-tongued singer-songwriter, he has no equal.

Los Straitjackets are the leading practitioners of the lost art of the guitar instrumental. Using the music of The Ventures, The Shadows, and with Link Wray and Dick Dale as a jumping off point, the band has taken their unique, high energy brand of original rock & roll around the world. Clad in their trademark Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling masks, the “Jackets” have delivered their trademark guitar licks to 16 albums, thousands of concerts and dozens of films and TV shows.

According to Artistic Director, Liz Scott, “With Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, we’ll get a mix of UK alternative pop roots nostalgia and high-powered rock wrapped up in an engaging, entertaining live show. It’s pretty exciting to have these amazing musicians play Mariposa.”

The 3-day Mariposa Folk Festival features the best folk-roots music on the North American scene as well as story, dance and craft on more than ten stages. All categories of ticket are now on sale. Hot ticket pricing for youth and young adults. Kids 12 & under are admitted free. Tent and RV camping is available on site. Many more artistic announcements will be made in the coming weeks and months.

Bahamas Coming to #Mariposa2018

Posted on January 28, 2018

Orillia, Ontario, Canada –Mariposa Folk Festival organizers announced today that Bahamas, coming off a string of sold out concerts across the United States, Europe and Western Canada, is bringing his dynamic show to the Mariposa Main Stage at this summer’s festival.

Mariposa Folk Festival takes place July 6th, 7th and 8th, 2018, in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on the shores of scenic Lake Couchiching.

Bahamas’ Mariposa appearance comes on the heels of the release of his forth album, Earthtones (2018), which he says is his “…newest and totally most best album yet”. It features D’angelo’s rhythm section, and songs he describes as “…about having success, having kids, and having depression…about going on tour, going back in time and going in circles…about [his] other worldly wife, [his] jerk dad and [his] garbage relationship with [his] brother.

According to Artistic Director, Liz Scott, “I love Bahamas’ smoky, folky, acoustic roots vibe and that gentle accessibility to songs. Bahamas has been my personal go-to for years, and it’s exciting to have him back to Mariposa after watching his star get brighter everywhere he plays.”

Recruiting for Team Lead Positions for Mariposa 2018

Posted on January 17, 2018

The Mariposa Folk Festival is recruiting a Lead for the 50-50 Team and two Co-Leads for Greening. Both are volunteer positions. If you are interested, please send an email to mff@mariposafolk.com with your contact information.

50 -50 Draw Lead
After five years doing a great job as the 50/50 Draw Crew Lead, Joanna Vaughan has decided it’s time to volunteer elsewhere at the Festival. The good news is that she’s staying on the 50/50 Draw Crew for one final year to transition the new Lead into the position.
Here are the responsibilities of the 50/50 Draw Crew Lead:

Pre-Festival (approximately 5 hours)

Receive the list of people who volunteered for the 50/50 Draw Crew from the Volunteer Coordinator
Select and confirm all 50/50 Draw volunteers (by email and/or phone) by June 1st
Identify an Assistant Crew Lead from among the list of people who volunteered
Develop a volunteer schedule to cover all of the 50/50 Draw shifts over the Festival weekend (June)

Festival Weekend (approximately 17.5 hours)

Set up the 50/50 trailer space at Festival (all equipment provided and placed)
Confirm volunteer shifts
Train volunteers as the come on shift
Sign-out blocks of tickets, receive cash from sales, record on an electronic spread sheet (laptop and template provided)
Prepare a daily cash deposit and provide it to the Festival Cash Control Crew
Separate ticket stubs in preparation for Sunday evening draw
Coordinate delivery of ticket stub tub to the Mainstage (with the Festival Treasurer)
Pack-up all 50/50 equipment and materials, including ticket stubs, for safe storage in the Mariposa office, along with a list and count for each item

Post-Festival (approximately 1 hour)

Prepare input for Festival Organizing Group on observations, pros/cons, and suggestions for improvement next year

As a result of input from previous years, we have made enhancements to the ticket tracking and cashing-out aspects of the 50/50 sales role to make the process faster for volunteers and easier for the 50/50 Draw Lead. This includes testing a staggered schedule to eliminate crowding on sign- and cash-out. It is our hope that these changes will free-up the Team Lead’s time, especially with the addition of an Assistant Crew Lead.

Greening Co-Leads
After six years of significant contribution, Erin Dixon and Adrian Bhatti have stepped-down as Co-Leads of the Festival Green Team. They will work with the new Co-Leads to transition them into the position. The Greening Team manages waste diversion and water distribution at the Festival.

Here are the responsibilities of the Greening Co-Leads:

Pre-Festival (approximately 6 hours

Receive the list of people who volunteered for the Greening Team from the Volunteer Coordinator
Select and confirm all Greening Team volunteers (by email and/or phone) by June 1st
Complete volunteer schedule for the Festival weekend, including pre-festival set up and post-festival take down
Order waste diversion bins from supplier
Order waste diversion bags through the Festival Chair
Liaise with water supplier to ensure adequate supply of water jugs, stands and hand pumps for stages
Ensure appropriate signage
Liaise with Ryerson University team in regard to their management of the Greening booth in the Community Village

Festival Weekend (approximately 17-30 hours, depending on coordination between the Co-Leads) (Thursday – Monday)

Set-up the Greening Team operations centre and waste diversion stations (all equipment provided and placed) (camping area set-up by Thursday)
Coordinate volunteers and volunteer hours, including support for Ryerson University team
Monitor waste diversion stations and bulk bins to ensure appropriate supply, collection and diversion of waste
Monitor water distribution to ensure that all stages are appropriately supplied
Pack-up all Greening equipment and materials for return to storage, with a list of items and quantities per package

Post-Festival (approximately 1 hour)

Prepare input for Festival Organizing Group on observations, pros/cons, and suggestions for improvement next year

Walk Off The Earth Joins the Mariposa Lineup

Posted on January 15, 2018

Orillia, Ontario, Canada – Mariposa Folk Festival organizers announced today that Walk Off The Earth, the multi-talented five-piece musical phenomena presently taking the world by storm, will perform at this summer’s festival.

Mariposa Folk Festival takes place July 6th, 7th and 8th, 2018, in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on the shores of scenic Lake Couchiching.

If you follow a musical path you haven’t explored before, flip a coin at the crossroads, and cross against the light, you’ll find yourself in the creative territory inhabited by Walk Off The Earth. Their unique blend of alternative rock and performance art, including original tunes and artistic covers, doesn’t fit into any pigeon hole you’ve ever known.

According to Artistic Director, Liz Scott, “Walk Off The Earth is brilliantly entertaining, artistically exciting, and hugely popular…their five-people-playing-one-guitar take on Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know garnered more than 175 million views in just four months. The Mariposa audience is in for quite a treat.”

Many more artistic announcements including additional headliners will be made in the coming weeks and months.