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Tift Merritt bares her country soul at folk fest

North Carolina native performing on Main Stage at Jericho Beach
Tift Merritt
Tift Merritt's latest album, Traveling Alone, is available on Yep Roc Records.

Tift Merritt performs on the Main Stage at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, tonight, 6:20 p.m. For more info go to thefestival.bc.ca.

When she's been called "a diamond in a coal patch" by her heroine Emmylou Harris, there isn't much left to do but agree with the earthy and sultry voice of Tift Merritt.

Hailing from North Carolina, she's been on the Americana map since her debut album broke in 2002, and the travelling singer/songwriter will be performing at the Vancouver Folk Festival on Friday.

Merritt has been referred to as "the bearer of a proud tradition of distaff country soul that reaches back to artists like Dusty Springfield and Bobbie Gentry," by the New Yorker when it reviewed her 2002 solo debut, Bramble Rose.

"I think you just try to open yourself to the musical moment," Merritt said about performing. "You try not to force it. But you also try to make sure that there's a little bit of adrenaline so that you can have the energy to emphasize it, as well."

Since finding her path in music, Merritt has released five albums. Her latest, Traveling Alone, was produced by Tucker Martine, who's worked with the Decemberists, and mixed by threetime Grammy award winner Ryan Freeland. But don't ask Merritt to describe her sound expecting to hear what genre she is, because "these days they just don't really mean a lot," she said.

"I certainly think that what I make is music that's earthy and natural and open," Merritt added. "But hopefully, sort of pushed into something beyond just being satisfied as being too pretty. You want it potent."

After she makes it to the folk festival at Jericho Beach Park, the North Carolina native will head to one more show in Canada, which is in Edmonton, before making her way back to a summer filled with performances dotted across the United States.

Despite the whirlwind of touring from the last couple of months, and into the next few, Merritt said singing, writing and performing are among her greatest passions in life.

"You know, I think it's like any creative moment where you really bring the summation of your thoughts and experiences, and you bring it all to the table and throw everything aside and bring it all with you at the same moment," she said.

Where does her inspiration come from? It derives from a mixture of putting pen to paper, over and over again, according to Merritt.

"I think people talk about inspiration in very trivial ways sometimes, as if it's something you can keep in your pantry," she said. "The whole thing about inspiration is it has to be something that actually is ripe and not forced. I think you just come to your blank paper again and again, and try your best and genuinely reach something."

Although Merritt's father taught her how to play guitar, she said she never expected to make a career of music. She started a band in college and just kept getting gigs.

"A lot of players aren't very fortunate," she notes. "I think it's really important there's some decision you have to make by heart, and not by guile or planning."

The decision to see Merritt perform is an easy one, as she's one of the main acts on the Friday night Vancouver Folk Music Festival's multiple stages. The 37th annual fest features more than 60 folk, world and roots music artists from around the world.

"Our 37th festival promises an extraordinary musical experience for folks of every age and background," says Linda Tanaka, the festival's artistic director. "There are almost too many genres, styles, and streams of folk, world and roots music to name.

"Some music has ancient roots, and some will be played and sung for the first time on our stages."

Artists include Andrew Bird and the Hands of Glory, The Como Mamas and Amos Lee, among many others, over the three-day festival from July 18 to 20.

As for Merritt, she's excited for her third show in Vancouver - she said she's looking forward to the people, beautiful scenery and "really, really good sushi."

Catch her and her fellow sojourners, ranging from Patty Griffin to Nick Hornby, on her public radio broadcast and podcast, The Spark with Tift Merritt.

To learn more about Merritt, visit tiftmerritt.com. For more information about the festival, go to thefestival.bc.ca.