Four-day passes and single tickets to the 33rd Edmonton Folk Music Festival sold out in a single day. This is the third year in a row they’ve sold out in one day. Half the tickets are sold in-person, the other half online. This year, the online tickets sold out in less than five minutes.
“It’s crazy; it was two hours last year, it was five minutes this year,” says Festival Producer Terry Wickham.
Wickham says the event offers great value for a really cheap price, and that – combined with many disappointed fans that didn’t get tickets last year – contributed to tickets selling out so fast this time around.
“We are extremely grateful for the tremendous support from our patrons,” he says, but also apologizes to those who weren’t able to get their hands on tickets.
“I don’t know what to say to that, it’s very hard.”
“We could increase capacity, but then it starts to ruin it for everybody,” explains Wickham.
“You don’t want to let 20,000 come down, because it would just ruin in.”
When demand outstrips supply, other companies would likely increase the ticket prices, but Wickham says that’s not what Folk Fest is about.
“We’re not trying to make a profit, we’re just trying to put on a really good event, and make enough money to put it on again next year, and it’s folk music, it’s about being democratic.”
Democratic was also the way the tickets were distributed; half online and half in-person. Those who lined up outside the Folk Fest office were assigned a lineup order through a lottery.
“There are folks working today,” says Ron LaVoie, “so we want to make everybody has an equal chance, or as close to equal as possible, try to make it fair.”
“That’s a good Canadian attitude,” agrees Scott Rollans. “If you play by the rules, you will win. I’m proof, I’m proof right here.” Keep in mind, Rollans ended up being randomly selected as first in line for tickets.
The festival is held at Gallagher Park from August 9-12. Headliners include Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Jim Cuddy, Corb Lund and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. You can view the full line-up here.
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