Folk on the Rocks: An Enduring Festival

The lengthy history, current adaptations, and hopeful future of a Northern music festival.

Interview by Brendan McShane

 — Posted July 29, 2020

Carly McFadden, the Artistic and Executive Director for the music festival Folk on the Rocks, spoke with Canada’s History intern Brendan McShane about the history and future of this festival, and how it changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Carly shares some of her favourite moments from this festival’s 40-year run and welcomes Canadians to experience all it has to offer.

Folk on the Rocks has been held on the shores of Long Lake, Yellowknife since 1980. The festival now includes six different stages, a food fair, and an artisan tent which showcases Northern artists.

  • Folk on the Rocks 1981
  • Folk on the Rocks 1989
  • Folk on the Rocks 2019
  • Folk on the Rocks crowd 2019
  • Folk on the Rocks mural 2019
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