Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Allison Russell, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Taj Mahal and The Roots Headline an Electric 2025 Edmonton Folk Fest
The 2025 Edmonton Folk Music Festival is pulling out all the stops — and fans better be ready to dance on Gallagher Park Hill from August 7–10. The full lineup just dropped, and it’s a genre-spanning celebration packed with Grammy winners, global sensations, and rising local stars. At the top of the bill are headliners The Roots, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Taj Mahal, and Mt. Joy — a sonic mix guaranteed to draw crowds across generations and tastes.
Thursday night kicks off with a double punch of Aysanabee, the Juno-winning Oji-Cree singer-songwriter, and Canadian powerhouse Serena Ryder, before North Carolina alt-rock phenoms Rainbow Kitten Surprise take over the stage with their infectious blend of indie rock and soulful storytelling.
On Friday, the emotional grit of Stephen Wilson Jr. and the triumphant return of Allison Russell headline the main stage. Russell, a Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist and advocate for Black and queer voices in folk, returns to Edmonton Folk Music Festival after a standout performance in 2022.
Saturday delivers a whirlwind of rhythm and soul. East L.A.’s Las Cafeteras bring zapateado beats and Chicano pride, leading into a must-see set from 83-year-old blues icon Taj Mahal. Also on tap: rising soul sensation Danielle Ponder, indie pop stunner Goldie Boutilier, and the cultural juggernaut that is The Roots — back after a show-stealing set at last year’s Calgary Folk Fest.
Sunday chills and thrills with global grooves from Jupiter & Okwess of the Congo, Pacific folk from John Butler, and Seattle’s Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners, before Mt. Joy closes the fest alongside the traditional lantern parade and beloved singalong “Four Strong Winds.”
Edmonton Folk Music Festival producer Terry Wickham notes this year’s event will feature no ticket price hikes despite industry-wide inflation. “I’m so tired of inflation everywhere, that at least one place, for one year, we can hold the line,” he said.
View this post on Instagram
The lineup features over 60 acts, with 60% playing Edmonton Folk Fest for the first time — from psychedelic soul crew Monophonics to Indigenous sound-sculptors Māmā Mihirangi & the Māreikura, and Alberta-born fiddling legend Calvin Vollrath.
Local talent is also centre stage. Acts like AV & the Inner City, Shaela Miller, and the School of Song crew will spotlight Edmonton’s vibrant music scene alongside Indigenous programming at the festival tipi.
Passes go on sale Saturday, June 7 at 10 a.m. at edmontonfolkfest.frontgatetickets.com. Prices remain steady, with full-weekend adult passes at $234 and free entry for kids 11 and under.
Whether you’re a folk purist or a hip-hop head, this year’s festival promises one thing: magic on the hill.
