The sun is slowly beginning its descent over Nova Scotia when we reach Afie Jurvanen by phone.
It feels like an appropriate time of day to chat with the Finnish-Canadian musician, otherwise known as the singer-strummer Bahamas, whose jangly chords, hazy, bittersweet melodies and very moniker evoke the image of peach-toned rays saying adieu.
The self-taught storyteller finds himself in the Bluenose province as part of his ongoing Bahamas is Afie tour, which has him headed our way this weekend to play the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, now in its 40th year.
Comprised of a slow, steady climb, his path to get here has been lined with a progression of hits and accolades. From Pink Strat’s lamenting love anthem “Hockey Teeth,” to Barchords’ introspective slow jam “Lost in the Light,” to the pep talk “Stronger Than That” off Bahamas is Afie, the Barrie, Ont., boy has the moments between moments dialled in. The result is an effervescent stew of folk, country and soft-rock strains with a steadily growing national and international fan base.
So what kind of set will Jurvanen and co. be bringing to the folk festival?
“We like to leave it open a little bit. It’s nice to be able to move as required, you know?” he says. “Like, two weekends ago we played at a rock festival and we were kind of like the softest, wimpiest band there,” he laughs. “And then the following weekend we played at a folk festival and we were the heaviest, hardest band.
“It’s nice to be able to flex things back and forth and be agile that way.”
Joining Canadian treasure Kathleen Edwards and bluesman Jim Byrnes in the daytime “Kindred Spirits” slot on Sunday, and then taking to the main stage later that evening, Jurvanen will be bringing much of his acclaimed, Polaris Prize-nominated catalogue to Jericho Beach – but there are some new songs waiting in the wings, as well.
“Oh yeah. We’ll play a bunch of new songs,” Jurvanen says, emphatically. “I sort of have something [an album] that’s done; we’re just figuring out how to put it out. These new songs, for me, are really exciting just because they’re new.
“That’s generally how it works,” he adds with a chuckle. “People who are making stuff are generally most excited about the stuff that’s most current. But it’s good. We’ve been playing some of them live and people seem to really respond to them.”
While reticent to say too much about the unreleased tracks, Jurvanen – a near-virtuosic guitarist who played virtually all the instruments on his last album – teases a possible departure from the measured musings of albums prior.
“I think it’s still very recognizably my music, but I definitely wanted to make something that was danceable and funky. You know?” he explains. “I basically just tried to make something that was fun to play live, because I found, over the past few years, we do have a lot of down-tempo songs. ... I love playing all those songs, but, especially when you’re playing outdoors at these folk festivals or something, it’s nice to have material that really translates to the people at the back. Like, the person who showed up last and they walk in and they’re feeling it, too.”
Don’t fear though; the newest Bahamas tunes are still likely to have that special world-weary tropical getaway vibe.
“I do think just the word Bahamas creates a picture for someone before they even hear the music. They kind of have an idea of what they’re hearing,” Jurvanen admits. “I didn’t think about that when I chose it sort of randomly, but it’s cool that it, in general, has a really positive vibe. People sort of come into it ready to spread the love, which is definitely nice to be a part of.”
• The Vancouver Folk Music Festival runs July 13-16 at Jericho Beach Park. Tickets and schedule at thefestival.bc.ca
