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With the kind of determination that would impress Rick Hansen, the organizers of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival have once again put together a line-up which features some of the most interesting, exciting and diverse musical entertainment from all over the world.

And it will all be at Jericho Beach Park this weekend, starting at 6pm tonight and not ending until Sunday night when more than 30 acts will have presented their work on the seven stages set up in the park.

Generating a lot of talk for the festival is the appearance of Billy Bragg, Britain’s outspoken singer and songwriter. His forthright political style makes him a natural for the folk fest while his portable stage show (an electric guitar and amp) makes him extremely portable when travelling from the different daytime stages.

The set-up for the weekend will be much the same as last year’s. There will be an evening line-up on the main stage Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, while the six daytime stages will operate simultaneously and feature such themes as “The Human Condition” and “Love Songs.” These sets are all laid out in the program and offer some of the hardest decisions of the weekend.

Canadian folk music is well represented this year with bands like Spirit of the West from Vancouver, as well as Gaelic Cape Breton, and Connie Kaldor.

Also, much anticipated is the Vancouver premier of Michelle Shocked, who is making waves with her debut album, The Texas Campfire Tapes (Cooking Vinyl). The album was recorded in a deserted corner of The Quiet Valley Ranch Folk Festival [sic] in Texas last summer.

Probably the youngest name on the bill is Illinois fiddle player, Alison Krauss. Only 16-years-old, Krauss has been winning fiddle championships all over the United States.

For country fans, a rare treat is the appearance of Patsy Montana, the first woman country singer ever to have a million selling record (“I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart”—recorded in 1935).

Other names such as Dublin’s Nightnoise, Shari Ulrich, and Ferron, will be there as well as countless others all deserving special attention.

Tickets are available at the usual outlets and at the festival office for $50 for the weekend, $25 each Saturday and Sunday, $17 for Friday night. Children are $3, youths $15, $40 fixed incomes, and seniors are free. Pack a lunch or enjoy the on-site food which is both inexpensive and diverse. Bring a frisbee and enjoy.