Back in the spring of 2020, James Anstey (banjo) and Mark Johnson (bass) started jamming on their Vic West boulevard; they drew a crowd of neighbours, including Susan Ellenton (vocals & accordion) and Robert Anderson (vocals, guitar and bouzouki), long-time Victoria songwriters who, it turns out, lived just over the fence. Blair Mitchell (hand percussion) brings a fresh kick to Backyard Boulevard, whose members have headlined Calgary Folk Festival, performed with Grammy winners Joan Baez, Oscar Lopez and Alberto San-Martin, written Victoria's official song, cracked the top ten on Folk Alliance International charts, and toured festivals from Alaska to Newfoundland.
We respectfully acknowledge that the Filberg Festival takes place on the unceded traditional territory of the K'omoks First Nation, Gila 'kasla...Hay ch q'a'.
