The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society’s Friends of the Festival benefit fundraiser saw an overwhelming response and participation from people. The fundraiser concert helped raise $45,000, which will help address the society’s debts and bring back its summer folk festival in August this year.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival is organized by the non-profit Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society, which announced that its 49th annual Folk Fest last year would likely be its last, following funding shortfalls. However, when the community learned about the festival’s financial troubles, more than 700 friends and fans of the arts society raised over $45,000 at its recent fundraiser to help pay off most of the festival’s debts.

The funds were raised through ticket sales and donations to the recent fundraiser, signalling that the community wants its Folk Festival to continue. The fundraiser concert on June 7 featured celebrated local artists, including Jim Payne & Fergus O’Byrne, Matthew Byrne, Rube & Rake, Sherman Downey, Zaynab Wilson, Sandy Morris, and Anita Best. A major highlight of the night was the reunion performance by original members of the legendary 1970s folk-rock band Figgy Duff.

The organization is still accepting donations to help bring its 50th edition back on track. You can find more information here.

Source: Alex Kennedy, CBC