BACK 40 FESTIVAL

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On June 7, the Back 40 Folk Festival celebrates its twenty-sixth year in Morden Park, blending the finest musical talents from across the province with the hottest up-and-coming Winnipeg acts. The yearly event makes for a beautiful Sunday of homemade family- friendly entertainment. Little has changed at the festival since its inception, aside from the obvious technological updates to equipment, as organizers aspire to maintain the homespun nature of the experience.

Notable acts from this summer's lineup include Ingrid Gatin, isKwé and Crooked Brothers.

Festival representative Allison Friesen's first encounter with the fest was as an audience member, years prior to her involvement behind the scenes. "Back 40 is as folksy as it gets," Friesen says. "You can really see our volunteers' commitment to community and supporting the arts."

Sprung from the soils of its home province, the name “Back 40” indicates of the festival's mission and spirit, as the term refers to the back forty acres of a farmer's property.

The day's events are packed with exciting options, starting in the morning with Yoga in the Bowl, hosted by Melanie Schwarz. Bargain seekers will not want to miss the food, crafts and art sales, and family activities in the children's tent. The festival is a non-profit charitable organization, founded in 1989 by Linda Hiebert, James Friesen and Wes Hamm, three musicians from the Morden-Winkler area, who dreamed of bringing the best Manitoba musicians to their own backyard.

Part of the series: The 7th Annual Summer Festival Guide

Published in Volume 69, Number 27 of The Uniter (June 3, 2015)

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