As the Canmore Folk Music Festival drew to a close on Monday, a challenging decision loomed for organizers amidst an impending storm. With a major tempest heading towards the mountain town near Calgary, festival director Jenna Klein-Waller and her team found themselves facing a pivotal choice to ensure safety.
Backstage, as music continued to play, Klein-Waller took the stage to address the situation. “I walked on stage, and people knew what was coming out of my mouth as soon as I walked on the stage,” shared Klein-Waller, who assumed the director’s role following the departure of Sue Panning.
Quickly, crews sprang into action, cutting power, relocating equipment to safety, and clearing the stage just as rain and hail started to fall. Instrument technician Rob Maciak lauded the coordinated response, emphasizing their preparedness for such scenarios. “We had a plan in place for just this kind of thing to happen,” stated Maciak, who also had to shovel hail off the stage and safeguard instruments.
Despite the challenging conditions, some dedicated fans remained outside, sheltered under tarps or, in one case, a steadfast individual holding a folding chair above their head throughout the storm. Backstage, musicians began jamming together to pass the time, until members of the Quebec-based Celtic group The McDades took action.
Solon McDade, bassist and singer of The McDades, organized an impromptu performance. “You have to kind of tip your hat to these people, and they were all kind of sitting there and I thought well they need some music,” explained McDade. “It took about five minutes to get together, but everyone was really excited to do it.”
As their music filled the air, the rain began to recede, and the atmosphere shifted from the sound of hail to the melody of violins and an Irish tin whistle. Klein-Waller expressed her appreciation for the band’s initiative, saying, “They’re like, is this OK if we do this? Let’s get on there, let’s entertain. And it really spoke to their almost like sense of duty, of entertaining the audience and keeping a sense of calm.”
The combination of community spirit and unexpected musical collaboration ultimately allowed the festival to continue once the conditions were safe and power was restored. Fans returned to the stage, artists resumed their performances, and the festival concluded as planned.
Despite the challenges posed by the weather, Klein-Waller sees the bright side. “When do we get to do that in a regular festival setting? So it really brought some magic.” In the face of adversity, the Canmore Folk Music Festival showcased the resilience and camaraderie that define the community’s spirit.
