SPILL FESTIVAL REVIEW: CALGARY FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026 – DAY 4 @ PRINCE’S ISLAND PARK, CALGARY (AB)

CALGARY FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026 – DAY 4

@ PRINCE’S ISLAND PARK, CALGARY (AB)

JULY 26, 2026

It is the last day of the 47th annual Calgary Folk Music Festival at Prince’s Island Park. It ended on a high note as it was the best day of the entire festival.

I headed down to the festival in the afternoon to see Canadian indie folk singer-songwriter Ora Cogan at the National Stage 4. Cogan played many of her mysteriously gothic-tinged folk songs from her fantastic 2026 album, Hard Hearted Woman (you should definitely check this album out; it is amazing). These songs left the audience spellbound. Cogan’s voice was hauntingly powerful; meanwhile, her lyrics were raw and poetic. Every song Cogan played was outstanding. Some standout songs from Cogan’s set were “Honey,” “Bury Me,” and Division.”

Up next was the Seven Deadly Spins session (The Free Label, KillaBeatMaker, and Kazdoura) at the Community Natural Foods Stage 5. This session was fantastic and got the entire crowd moving with deliciously funky beats, great stage presence, an infectiously happy energy, and fascinating jams. Each band took turns leading these impromptu jams. It was an absolute joy watching these bands share the stage and create magic on the spot. Of the sessions I saw at the festival, Seven Deadly Spins seemed to connect most with the audience, as pretty much everyone stood up and grooved along to the music.

After the Seven Deadly Spins session, Canadian folk group The Pairs delivered a heartfelt, tender set that had a very cozy atmosphere. The Pairs’ set was anchored by the stunningly bright vocal harmonies between twins Renée Coughlin, Noelle Frances Coughlin, and their lifelong friend Hillary Watson. The three of them are a powerhouse and have top-notch chemistry with one another. Their voices were backed by warm, minimalist acoustic guitar, but on every song, their mesmerizing voices take the spotlight. “Honey I,” “Everything Ends,” and “Together On A Rock” were the main highlights from The Pairs’ set.

Next, I went over to the National Stage 4 to see Cherokee folk/Americana singer-songwriter Ken Pomeroy. Pomeroy’s set was remarkable. Her brutally honest, devastatingly melancholic lyrics and gorgeous, empathetic vocals will most likely break your heart. Pomeroy’s biggest strength is her ability to craft songs with brilliant lyrical depth that listeners can easily connect to and that are full of catharsis. Meanwhile, the warm, gentle rustic-sounding nature of many of the songs she performed can be quite comforting. “Wrango,” “Cicadas,” “Days Getting Darker,” “Flannel Cowboy,” and “Pareidolia” were some highlights from Pomeroy’s set.

After Pomeroy’s set, I caught a little bit of the Denim Dreams session (Mariel Buckley, Corb Lund, Lola Kirke, and S.G. Goodman). From what I saw, each musician took a turn playing a song of theirs while also telling a story about it. After each song, there were brief conversations between the four of them as well. Even though I much preferred the Seven Deadly Spins session, I am still happy that the festival offers these unique opportunities. Not many music festivals that I know of do something like this, so it’s great that the Calgary Folk Music Festival have these sessions in place.

I saw about thirty minutes of the Denim Dreams session before I went over to the Friends Of The Festival Stage 3 to catch American folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sam Amidon’s set. Amidon’s set was a blast with superb vocals, alluringly inventive instrumentation, and fun audience sing-alongs. Additionally, his upbeat personality, wonderful storytelling, captivating stage presence, and virtuosic skills on multiple instruments made his set very engaging. Several of his songs were century-old folk songs and hymns that he put his own spin on. It was interesting to hear these songs in an entirely new way. The standout songs from Amidon’s set were “I’m On My Journey Home,” “Friends And Neighbours,” “Salt River,” “Three Five” (Amidon’s take on the traditional hymn “Old Churchyard”), and a sensational cover of Lou Reed’s “Big Sky.”

When Amidon’s set was over, I walked over to the ATB Main Stage to catch Canadian indie rock band Foxwarren. They delivered an endearingly mellow and extremely catchy set of songs that combine folk, rock, soft disco, dream pop, and samples. Foxwarren did a flawless job capturing the sound, energy, and atmosphere of their outstanding 2025 album 2. Frontman Andy Shauf constantly stole the show with his gentle, angelic voice. “Deadhead,” “Listen2Me,” “Yvonne,” “Wings,” and “Strange” were some of the best songs from their set.

Adrian Quesada’s Trio Asesino followed up with a hypnotically laid-back set. One half of the psychedelic funk/R&B duo Black Pumas and co-founder and guitarist of the funk rock group Grupo Fantasma, Quesada’s instrumental project Trio Asesino with keyboardist Joshy Soul and drummer Jay Mumford displayed some awe-inspiring musicianship. It was easy to get lost in the dreamy cinematic soundscapes, relaxing jazz-funk guitar riffs, and soulful retro Latin rhythms Quesada and his Trio Asesino created. “Asleep In The Desert,” “The Divided City,” and “Don’t Leave Me” were some of the standout songs from the set.

The last show I saw today was legendary American rapper and hip-hop artist Killer Mike. He was backed by his incredible gospel choir, the Mighty Midnight Revival. Killer Mike’s rapping was extraordinary, and the Mighty Midnight Revival sang beautifully. Killer Mike’s raw vulnerability, genuine passion, friendly stage presence, ability to effortlessly create a joyous communal experience, sharp political commentary, and between-song conversations about serious topics like the importance of men’s mental health and women’s reproductive rights and bodily autonomy made for an incredibly powerful and uplifting set. Additionally, Killer Mike’s set masterfully blended gritty, high-energy hip-hop that had the crowd going wild with an intimate, deeply emotional, church-like atmosphere. Standout songs were “Kill Jill,” “The Whole World,” “SHED TEARS,” “SPACESHIP VIEWS,” “SLUMMER,” and “SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS.”

Despite the extreme heat and smoky conditions, this year’s festival attracted over 50,000 people. All four days, Prince’s Island Park was packed with people who were excited to listen to great music, connect with fellow music lovers, and have a fun time. Overall, this year’s Calgary Folk Music Festival is one that people will be talking about for years to come.

Festival Links