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Concerts

Iron & Wine, Waxahatchee, The Sheepdogs Headline 65th Edition of Mariposa Folk Festival in 2025

Canada's longest-running folk/roots summer festival has just announced the full lineup of performers for this year's edition, running July 4-6 in Orillia, Ontario.

Waxahatchee

Waxahatchee

Courtesy Photo

65 years as an active music festival is a milestone that few events have achieved. Long one of Canada’s most important folk and roots fests, The Mariposa Folk Festival will celebrate that anniversary this summer with a lineup full of prominent folk and roots acts from the United States and Canada.

Headliners at the event, set to run July 4 to 6 to Tudhope Park in Orllia, Ontario, include acclaimed American roots-rock outfit Iron & Wine and Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Waxahatchee, alongside Canadian rockers The Sheepdogs.


All three acts are making their Mariposa debut, while the bill also includes Canadian artists who have shone at earlier editions. That list features such prominent performers as Jane Siberry, Serena Ryder, Ron Sexsmith, Hayden, Basia Bulat and Irish Mythen, with folk maverick Bob Snider also making a welcome return.

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Other notable names include jazz star Holly Cole, indie rock veterans Born Ruffians and Cuff The Duke, roots supertrio Blackie and The Rodeo Kings (Tom Wilson, Colin Linden and Stephen Fearing), roots troubadour Julian Taylor, Sheepdogs side project Bros, Maritime faves The East Pointers and Les Hay Babies, well-regarded singer-songwriters Charlotte Cornfield and Martha Wainwright and Quebec stars Klo Pelgaq and Elisapie.

The lineup also includes Goldie Boutillier, Bria Salmena, Rock Plaza Central, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Dan Edmonds, The Red River Ramblers and Bess Atwell.

Singled out by Mariposa artistic directr Spencer Shewen as a potential Mariposa highlight is a one-time ensemble performance from some stellar songwriters. “On Sunday evening, Serena Ryder, who has performed at the festival on no less than six previous occasions, will be joined by Martha Wainwright, Julian Taylor and special friends for a Mariposa retrospective performance," he says.

The three-day Mariposa Folk Festival features 11 stages of folk-roots and other genres, along with presentations of story, dance, and craft.

Tickets for Mariposa are on sale now here. Children 12 & under are admitted free. The festival has special pricing for youth and young adults. Onsite camping is available.

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See a full list of performing artists here.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Diwang Valdez for Billboard.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

FYI

Music News Digest: NBA Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Now Part-Owner of Hamilton's TD Coliseum

Also this week: The Canadian Country Music Association announces a new board of directors, the beloved Steve's Music Store closes all of its stores except one,

Canadian basketball star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has now heavily invested in his hometown of Hamilton, purchasing an ownership stake in that city's downtown arena, the recently rejuvenated TD Coliseum. The facility's developer, U.S. company Oak View Group (OVG), announced the investment Monday (Feb. 9) but did not reveal any financial terms. The 18,000-seat TD Coliseum, originally Copps Coliseum and FirstOntario Centre, was renamed last year after a $300-million renovation and reopened as a music-first venue. Next month it will host the 2026 Juno Awards.

The NBA's reigning most valuable player and this week's Billboard Sports Issue cover star, the 27-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander plays for the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. His investment is made through his charitable organization, the SGA Foundation, and the partnership includes naming the Ares Atrium inside the venue, as a tribute to his son.

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