Folk Fest: C.R. Avery, Emmanuel Jal wrap up the 2011 Vancouver Folk Music Festival

B.C. musician C.R. Avery's beat box and harmonica sounds and the hip hop lyrics of Sudanese singer Emmanuel Jal brought the Vancouver Folk Music Festival to a close Sunday.

Avery's lively set at Stage 3, which took place just before Jal's festival finale, drew a large crowd as he capped off an evening of impressive performances on the side stage.

Backed by a band including three vocalists and two violin players, Avery offered up a medley of sounds as he switched being spoken word, beat boxing, harmonica playing and singing.

Avery's performance came after a crowd-rousing set by Oakland duo Beats Antique, who had the whole audience up and dancing.

Also on Stage 3 Sunday evening were Ottawa folk musician Jim Bryson and The Weakerthans Band, which incorporated a member of another Winnipeg Band, Imaginary Cities. B.C. musician and New Pornographers member Kathryn Calder led off the evening.

As Avery's set wrapped up, Jal took to the main stage for the festival finale.

The South Sudanese hip hop artist's performance included songs and references to the history of his country and to his story, including the single "War Child", about his time spent as a child soldier in the Sudanese civil war.

Jal later had the crowd waving their arms and holding peace symbols in the air, and invited some young members of the audience up on stage to dance.

Jal's performance followed sets from Josh Ritter and The Royal City Band and Bogota salsa group La-33.

As the festival came to a close, the crowd on hand for the finale was still thick with folk fest fans who had stuck it out through the rain and mud for a day of great music.