Blue Rodeo will headline the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival Friday, Aug. 18. (submitted photo)

By Pete McIntyre

16 new artists

Lineup grows for Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival

Jun 15, 2023 | 7:00 AM

There will be something for everyone at the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival this summer.

In addition to headliners Blue Rodeo and Sarah McLachlan, the 31st annual event Aug. 17-20 will also feature the sounds of funk, folk, rock, reggae and salsa with 16 new artists confirmed.

The festival will kick off with a free concert downtown Thursday, Aug. 17 featuring performances by DJ Shub and Moontricks.

“We couldn’t think of a better way to set the stage for ROOTSandBLUES than with an intimate performance featuring these two incredible Canadian musicians,” Kevin Tobin, artistic director, Salmon Arm Folk Music Society, said.

“Live music fills people with such positive energy, and we wanted to share that experience with everyone in our community.”

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DJ Shub and Moontrick’s performance follows a week of live music at Ross St. Plaza that act as the unofficial start of the music extravaganza.

The Oral Fuentes Reggae Band kicks off the free music series at 11:45 a.m. Monday, Aug. 14. Concerts run daily until Melón Jiménez & Lara Wong’s Flamenco Project closes down the series at the Farmers’ Market on Saturday, Aug. 19.

“We have such a variety of world-class musicians confirmed for August. There really is something for everyone at this year’s festival,” Tobin said. “We can’t wait for another great summer of music in Salmon Arm.”

Canadian guitar icon Sue Foley, singer-songwriter Abigail Lapell, good-vibes songwriter Boy Golden, storyteller and musician Dallas Arcand, Indigenous puppeteer and comedian DerRic Starlight, bluegrass group Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys, Indigenous storytellers Kuksjammin and singer-songwriter Little Miss Higgins join the star-studded lineup and headliners announced in March.

Tropical partiers Mazacote, Saskatoon duo Munro & Patrick, festival-favourite Oral Fuentes Reggae Band, singer-songwriters Rain August and Ryley Booth, roots and reggae group The Spiritual Warriors, roots stars the Hello Darlins and local legends the Salmon Armenians round out the batch of newly confirmed artists.

“Of course, there’s more to ROOTSandBLUES than just what happens on stage,” said Tobin. “We have exciting plans for this year’s workshops, Plulk’w Place and family zone activities that we will announce in the coming weeks.”

Last summer at the 30th annual festival, the society welcomed more than 30,000 people to Salmon Arm including over 600 volunteers, food vendors, artisans and local suppliers.

Festival weekend and day passes are available online at rootsandblues.ca or by phone at 250-833-4096.

(submitted photo)