Blues great Taj Mahal will play the Vancouver Folk Fest

by Steve Newton on March 2nd, 2022 at 4:29 PM

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The Vancouver Folk Music Festival has announced the first artist of its 2022 lineup, and it's a legend.

Blues great Taj Mahal will bring his Grammy-winning, 79-year-old self to the much-loved event, which takes place from July 15 to 17 at its usual location of Jericho Beach Park.

I've had the pleasure of interviewing Taj Mahal--real name Henry St. Claire Fredericks, Jr.--a couple of times. The last time, back in 2013, happened just a few days after he played Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival at Madison Square Garden in New York. The two blues greats go back quite a ways.

“We played a lot over the years,” Mahal told me. “When he was first out, actually back in the Disraeli Gears years, we were opening for [Cream] when they came through on their big tours of California.

“Over the years I’ve heard his music,” he added, “and he’s always been a strong supporter of the blues, you know. He’s done a lot to create general interest in it around the world.”

Taj Mahal has done his fair share of that as well, and I would recommend seeing him if you haven't yet. Or even if you have.

For more info on the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, and to purchase tickets, visit the website here.