The relationship between the Vancouver Folk Music Festival and the Folk Song Society is, to be polite, somewhat distant.

The Festival is a pure performance event, which brings performers from many parts of the world to its stages. The Vancouver Festival does what it does very well. But it is not a participatory event like the Folklife Festival in Seattle.

It's a fine opportunity to hear a bunch of major folk acts and learn about others, all in one place. And they treat their performers very well. But it's one of the many big Canadian folk festivals that occur across the country every summer. Except for the wonderful scenery, you could as easily be in Winnipeg or any of half a dozen other festivals.

Of course, if they had to depend on the hardcore folkies as their only audience, they wouldn't attract anything close to the number of people they need to cover their budget.