As a former Montrealer, who gets back to the city often, and as one who attended Branches & Roots for the first time this year, I find this news very dismaying. Why end an annual event that seems to be growing (and not losing any money) year after year? It makes no sense.

The folk scene in the Montreal area seemed to be doing so well. A lot of concerts, a growing festival near the city, and one of the best folk radio shows anywhere. Then, suddenly and in quick succession, Mike Regenstreif stepped away from Folk Roots/Folk Branches on CKUT and the plug is pulled on the Branches & Roots Festival.

These developments, for whatever reasons, are very bad news indeed.