Let's file this under I Never Thought I'd Envy Calgary But...

No, seriously. While Montreal and Toronto (and, to a lesser extent Vancouver and Halifax) are basically the "music cities" in Canada and, well, always have been, there's definitely a newfound bit of respect being tossed Calgary's way these days. Sled Island looks like it's gonna be an amazing, amazing time this year and is perhaps the best-curated festival of its kind in the country. The Calgary Folk Music Festival, a few weeks later, might also lay claim to that unofficial title.

Stand still, while we pelt you with some numbers. From a release:

"[The Calgary Folk Music Festival is] a collective sound salvation with a cool vibe where 68 different groups from 14 countries perform to 52,000 people on 7 stages."

As you might have been able to read in the headline to this post, some of those groups/artists are of the "oh my God" variety. This includes but isn't limited to the acts in the headline (Stars, Roberta Flack, St. Vincent, Michael Franti & Spearhead), as Melbourne, Australia party peeps The Cat Empire and Alberta's own Corb Lund will also be in tow. As will Frank Turner, Greg Brown, The Avett Brothers, Natacha Atlas and more, because, well, the fest is mad inclusive. Witness:

"Indie singer-songwriters, roots and country veterans and blues masters rub sonic shoulders with global electronica divas, Latin rhythm-meisters, Ukrainian rockers and Congolese hipsters. On-the-fly collaborations create once-in-a-lifetime magic in a verdant urban village that grounds a laidback, ecologically astute community-for-a-day with cool wind power and a hot main stage, an interactive family area, an international craft market, global culinary delights, a record tent and tree-shaded beer garden."

In all, the Calgary Folk Music Fest will feature a little bit of everything, which it should. After all, as Louis Armstrong once said, "All music is folk music. I ain't never heard a horse sing a song." As such if you're one of those people who's going to whine and carry on about how a "folk music festival" can continue to call itself that while allowing the likes of, oh, say, St. Vincent or Roberta Flack to perform, well, uh, take it up with Louis Armstrong.

The Calgary Folk Music Festival will be held July 22-25, at Prince's Island Park. Tickets/further info can be found at calgaryfolkfest.com and/or by calling 403-233-0904.