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These Folk attendees were forced to leave the site when the storm became too powerful for the show to continue. Elke Sorensen/Cabin Radio
These Folk attendees were forced to leave the site when the storm became too powerful for the show to continue. Elke Sorensen/Cabin Radio

In pictures: Storm disrupts Folk on the Rocks 2025

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Updated:

A thunderstorm forced Folk on the Rocks organizers to shut down the site in the middle of Friday evening’s Warm the Rocks, which starts the 2025 festival.

Our reporters and production team were part of the crowd told to seek shelter as lightning broke out above one of Yellowknife’s biggest annual events.

On this page we’ve collected some of the photos our team took as people scrambled for shelter and the storm moved in.

Folk on the Rocks continues on Saturday and Sunday with full live coverage from 12pm daily on Cabin Radio. Listen via the Cabin Radio website or the all-new app.

These Folk attendees were forced to leave the site when the storm became too powerful for the show to continue. Elke Sorensen/Cabin Radio
Happily, these Folkers came sartorially equipped. Elke Sorensen/Cabin Radio
Not everyone was similarly dressed for the occasion. Serra Hamilton/Cabin Radio
Not everyone was similarly dressed for the occasion. Serra Hamilton/Cabin Radio
People head for safety. Jacksen Friske/Cabin Radio
People head for safety. Jacksen Friske/Cabin Radio
The sky is illuminated by a lightning flash during HYFY's set. Ehxea Antoine/Cabin Radio
The sky is illuminated by a lightning flash during HYFY’s set. Ehxea Antoine/Cabin Radio
Exit: this way. Serra Hamilton/Cabin Radio
Exit: this way. Serra Hamilton/Cabin Radio
The Johnnys had started Warm the Rocks prior to the storm. Aastha Sethi/Cabin Radio
The Johnnys had led off Friday’s Warm the Rocks lineup prior to the storm. Aastha Sethi/Cabin Radio
HYFY, led by vocalist Cat McGurk, were on stage when the storm moved in. Aastha Sethi/Cabin Radio
HYFY, led by vocalist Cat McGurk, were on stage when the storm moved in. “The lightning touched down the second we finished our set,” McGurk noted. Aastha Sethi/Cabin Radio
The storm seen from downtown Yellowknife. Photo: Michelle MacDonald
The storm seen from downtown Yellowknife. Photo: Michelle MacDonald

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