This year's Regina Folk Festival lineup announced

While you probably won't get to hearSinead O'Connor's smash hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" at the Regina Folk Festival this August, music fans can look forward to seeing her perform other songs.

The Irish singer-songwriter, who recently announced on Facebook that she doesn't "emotionally identify" with the song anymore, will be headlining the Saskatchewan music event.

This will be the first time she's coming to the Queen City, which is exciting for the Regina Folk Festival's artistic directorSandra Butel.

"Sinead O'Connor is a big deal because of her background. She's extremely outspoken." she said. "She keeps redefining herself. It's so important to have female role models on stage to look up to."

With other headliners such as Vance Joy, Blue Rodeo and The Sheepdogs expected to perform,the Regina Folk Fest will alsoexpose audiences to local musicians. This year, Saskatchewan artists AndyShaufandJefferyStrakerwill play on themain stage.

Butelsaid they also wanted to focus on more up and coming artists, like Montreal blues singerCcileDoo-Kingu and international bands like South Korea's Geomungo Factory.

Butel first noticed the quartet play at the Calgary Folk Fest last year. She said she was amazed by their unique sound, created with the traditional string Korean instrument known as the geomungo.

"It's music like you've never heard before," she said. "I think it's important to have a good diversity in the lineup."

A full lineup will be revealed in May.

Here are artists confirmed so far:

• Sinead O'Connor
• Vance Joy
• The Sheepdogs
• Jenny Lewis
• Bahamas
• Basia Bulat
• VoxSambou
• Geomungo Factory
• Lisa Leblan
• Ccile Doo-Kingu
• Andy Shauf
• Malika Tirolien
• Jeffrey Straker
• Vaero
• Mike Edel
• George Leach
• Kim Harris
• Karpinka Brothers
• Charly Hustle
• Little Criminals
• Steph Cameron
• Fadadance