Local artist Jenie Thai is set to play at this year’s Edmonton Folk Music Festival.
Thai was born in Thailand and raised in the Hu Haven subdivision of Sturgeon County. She and her siblings attended school in Fort Saskatchewan.
“We grew up right on the river. I felt like I always had a nice balance of getting to grow up in the country but then I was still close to the Fort,” explained Thai.
She was originally asked to bring her blues-piano-infused show to the 2020 Edmonton Folk Music Festival — the show was cancelled due to COVID-19.
“It feels even sweeter to get to play the first festival back.”
Thai’s performance will be a full seven-piece show with a horn section and her band from Ontario accompanying her on stage.
Over the course of the pandemic, Thai wrote many new songs that she is eager to showcase during her set. She also had a baby girl, Elanor, who she is looking forward to bringing to the show.
“We are making the family trip out and I am really excited to bring my daughter to Edmonton Folk Fest.”
Edmonton Folk Music Festival is dear to Thai’s heart as she explained that she used to get tickets to the event as Christmas gifts when she was a teenager. She said it played a huge role in developing who she is as a musician and inspiring her to pursue her art.
“It’s been a lifelong dream.”
Thai is set to take the stage on Aug. 6 at 12:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.