Rock act Elvis Costello launched the 2009 Winnipeg Folk Festival – my how times have changed in the festival’s 36-year history.

Manitoba musician Big Dave McLean has appeared at least 17 times since the early years of the Folk Fest, but hadn’t been back for some time. Last year, he was called up to fill in for a couple of workshops and this year marked his official return.

“It’s becoming more of a music festival that just a folk festival. When Gord Kidder and I first played the Festival in the mid ‘70s, I was playing a Gibson Les Paul and Kidder was playing amplified harp [harmonica]. We were almost shunned by everyone for having electric instruments. It’s grown more mature; it’s more accessible with music from everywhere. Who knows, maybe in a few years they’ll have a rap tent,” McLean said.

Mark and Zoewie Simkin agree. Originally Winnipeggers, they’ve been living in Kenora for the past 36 years. Long time Folk Fest attendees, Mark Simkin said they’ve missed two festivals in the past 33 years.

“They’ve gotten a lot of kinks out over the years although it’s always been fantastic,” he said.

He cited such things as field drainage and the alcohol and smoking bans as making Folk Fest even more enjoyable – the latter particularly for those with young families.

“I really like Chris Frayer [Folk Fest’s current artistic director]. He’s really in touch with music today. They’ve got a wide variety of people coming. There’s always a very good balance for everyone,” Zoewie Simkin added.

Khalin McGiffin, 23, and Tyson Cormack, 30, both originally from Canmore, Alta. but now Winnipeggers, were part of a group of 20-somethings returning to Winnipeg via Winnipeg Transit on the Sunday following Folk Fest. Although some of their group began attending on their own, these two got the Folk Fest bug because of their parents’ attendance.

For them, there isn’t one type of music that draws them to the festival.

“Music in genres is limiting,” said McGiffin.

“Rock music is the least of attractions at the Folk Fest for me,” said Cormack.

Rich and Suzie McClear may hold the record for the longest distance traveled to attend the Folk Fest – something they’ve done at least 30 times. Initially, as the founders of KAXE, a community radio station, they only had to travel from Grand Rapids, Minnesota. But then their radio involvement took them to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1980. While there, they never missed a Folk Fest. As if that wasn’t enough, in 1993 they relocated to Albania to assess the need for a radio station to further the cause of free speech.

This year, Suzie McClear, who had been establishing a radio station in Alexandria, Egypt, met up with Rich McClear in Belgrade, Serbia, who was there assessing the need for a radio station, from which point they came to the Folk Fest – still not having missed a Folk Fest since the early years.

“We come for the ambiance as much as for the music,” said Rich McClear.