Peterborough Folk Festival Announces Headlining Act Loreena McKennitt To Take the Stage August 20

Award-winning composer and singer Loreena McKennitt is set to headline the Peterborough Folk Festival at Nicholls Oval Park on Sunday, August 20.

photo courtesy of the peterborough folk festival.

McKennitt says that in one way or another, we are all an extension of each other’s history. “Wanting to learn about our neighbours is also a desire to learn about ourselves,” says the singer from Morden, Manitoba.

To date, she has sold over 14 million albums with a catalogue that includes seven studio recordings, three seasonal recordings, a live in-concert DVD and two DVD documentaries.  She’s won two Juno Awards, Canada’s premier music award, and garnered two Grammy Award nominations.

“We are so honoured to have Loreena McKennitt perform at PFF 2023,” says Ryan Kemp, artistic director of the festival. During her recording career spanning more than two decades, McKennitt’s ‘eclectic Celtic’ music has received critical acclaim world-wide, with gold, platinum and multi-platinum sales awards in 15 countries across four continents.

Now in its 34th year, Peterborough Folk Festival strives for gender parity, diversity and inclusivity in the performance line-up and throughout all aspects of the festival. Of the 28 artists who performed at the Festival in 2022, 11 were local.

“Not only is Ms. McKennitt a critically acclaimed singer and composer, she is revered for her passion for human rights and the protection of the environment,” says Kemp. “As the second-largest cultural event in the region promoting inclusivity and diversity, we are so grateful to have Ms. McKennitt share her incredible talent and generosity of spirit with all of those who attend the Festival.”

McKennitt is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Manitoba. In 2002 and 2012 she was the recipient of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals and in 2013 she was appointed to the rank of Knight of the National Order of Arts and Letters by the Republic of France. Recently, she was inducted into the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

Each year, Peterborough Folk Festival welcomes more than 12,000 people to Peterborough and the surrounding region, making it the second-largest cultural event of the Summer season.

The Festival will feature three days of music, culture and community starting August 17th at Market Hall and continuing August 19th-20th at Nicholls Oval Park next to the Otonabee River.

For more information on how to get involved as an artist, volunteer or vendor, head over to the website.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.