The organizer behind Bluesfest, and this year's Ottawa Folk Festival, defends the eclectic musical lineups of the events, saying today's festivals are less about sticking to a particular genre than targeting a specific audience.
Marc Monahan unveiled the folk festival lineup Monday, which features venerable crossover artists Levon Helm, Bruce Hornsby, and Steve Earle, as well as many non-traditional folk acts, including Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr., Canadian alternative performer Dallas Green (City and Colour) and rocker Hawksley Workman.
Ottawa Bluesfest's lineup has also long since moved away from Blues artists, with this year's lineup featuring performances from Peter Frampton, Soundgarden, Girl Talk and the Tragically Hip.
This year's Ottawa Jazz Festival has gone in a similar direction, with headliners including rock icons Elvis Costello, Robert Plant and Daniel Lanois.
Monahan said he isn't concerned about what's blues or what's folk.
"You know I really don't. And I guess looking at the Bluesfest lineups over the years, I've felt that way for a long time."
Monahan said he books artists that audiences will want to see, or might enjoy if they're exposed to them, like indie rockers Bright Eyes.
"There's some really interesting stuff going on out there and its not about the genre anymore, it's about the artist," he said.
Monahan said the atmosphere and the audience, and not necessarily the musicians, are what defines a festival.
In the case of the folk festival, he said organizers are preserving the workshops and relaxed, family-friendly vibe "For artists like [Tom] Morello and J. Mascis, this is their chill zone," he said. "This is what they do because they enjoy it. It's not about selling records."
Marc Monahan unveiled the folk festival lineup Monday, which features venerable crossover artists Levon Helm, Bruce Hornsby, and Steve Earle, as well as many non-traditional folk acts, including Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr., Canadian alternative performer Dallas Green (City and Colour) and rocker Hawksley Workman.
Ottawa Bluesfest's lineup has also long since moved away from Blues artists, with this year's lineup featuring performances from Peter Frampton, Soundgarden, Girl Talk and the Tragically Hip.
This year's Ottawa Jazz Festival has gone in a similar direction, with headliners including rock icons Elvis Costello, Robert Plant and Daniel Lanois.
Monahan said he isn't concerned about what's blues or what's folk.
"You know I really don't. And I guess looking at the Bluesfest lineups over the years, I've felt that way for a long time."
Monahan said he books artists that audiences will want to see, or might enjoy if they're exposed to them, like indie rockers Bright Eyes.
"There's some really interesting stuff going on out there and its not about the genre anymore, it's about the artist," he said.
In the case of the folk festival, he said organizers are preserving the workshops and relaxed, family-friendly vibe "For artists like [Tom] Morello and J. Mascis, this is their chill zone," he said. "This is what they do because they enjoy it. It's not about selling records."
