Roots and Blues Festival

Canadian music legends Sarah McLachlan and Blue Rodeo will be performing in the 31st edition of the Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival, Aug. 17 to 20, 2023. (Photos contributed)

Sarah McLachlan, Blue Rodeo among artists performing at 2023 Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES

Organizers reveal first 20 musical acts coming to this year’s festival

 

The Salmon Arm Folk Music Society plans to use a $436,722 Pacific Economic Development Canada grant to support events, including the Salmon Arm Pride and Indigenous Music festivals, and work towards making Salmon Arm and the Shuswap the Live Music Capital of B.C.

Making Salmon Arm ‘Live Music Capital of B.C.’ one of the goals for federal grant funding

Salmon Arm Folk Music Society receives $436,722 to enhance music-related tourism

 

ROOTSandBLUES Festival headliner Tom Cochrane rocked the MainStage on Aug. 19, 2022. (File photo)

Summer dreams of Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival start with ticket sales

Tickets and camping passes will be available beginning Dec. 5

 

ROOTSandBLUES Festival headline Tom Cochrane rocked the MainStage on Friday night, Aug. 19, 2022. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

ROOTSandBLUES: Celebratory atmosphere fitting for festival’s 30th anniversary

‘You can’t put something like this together without support from the community.’

  • Aug 23, 2022
ROOTSandBLUES Festival headline Tom Cochrane rocked the MainStage on Friday night, Aug. 19, 2022. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Tom Cochrane closes out the night on the ROOTSandBLUES Main Stage on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

In Photos: Back in the groove at Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES

Festival marks 30th anniversary with hot weekend of live music

  • Aug 22, 2022
Tom Cochrane closes out the night on the ROOTSandBLUES Main Stage on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Cellist, composer and performing artist Christine Hanson will be playing the ROOTSandBLUES Main Stage at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21, and will take part in a “Pushing The Boundaries” workshop at 3:15 p.m. Saturday at the Barn Stage. (Contributed)

ROOTSandBLUES: Artist captivates with musical retelling of Robert W. Service poem

Award winning cellist and composer Christine Hanson to play Main Stage on Sunday

  • Aug 16, 2022
Cellist, composer and performing artist Christine Hanson will be playing the ROOTSandBLUES Main Stage at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21, and will take part in a “Pushing The Boundaries” workshop at 3:15 p.m. Saturday at the Barn Stage. (Contributed)
Kenthen Thomas will be emcee for the family oriented Plulk’w Stage at this year’s ROOTSandBLUES Festival. (File photo)

ROOTSandBLUES: Secwepemc stories and culture in spotlight on Plulk’w Stage

Festival features Indigenous acts including Northern Cree, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Piqsiq

  • Aug 9, 2022
Kenthen Thomas will be emcee for the family oriented Plulk’w Stage at this year’s ROOTSandBLUES Festival. (File photo)
Volunteer George Johnston and Luke Heart dance together to the rhythm of Amadou Fall Trio at the Boogie Bar’N Stage on the Salmon Arm fairgrounds during the 2015 ROOTSandBLUES Festival. (File photo)

Volunteers wanted for Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival

Perks include festival pass, access to after party with Five Alarm Funk

  • Jul 18, 2022
Volunteer George Johnston and Luke Heart dance together to the rhythm of Amadou Fall Trio at the Boogie Bar’N Stage on the Salmon Arm fairgrounds during the 2015 ROOTSandBLUES Festival. (File photo)
Alex Cuba and brother Adonis Puentes, aka the Puentes Brothers, were among the acts to perform in the 2001 ROOTSandBLUES Festival, the first year the event was held outdoors at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds. The 2022 Grammy Award-winning Cuba returns to the fairgrounds in August for the fest’s 30th anniversary. (File photo)

30 years of ROOTSandBLUES: Festival goes outdoors for 2001

Tegan and Sara, Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings among acts to play first fest at fairgrounds

  • Jul 15, 2022
Alex Cuba and brother Adonis Puentes, aka the Puentes Brothers, were among the acts to perform in the 2001 ROOTSandBLUES Festival, the first year the event was held outdoors at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds. The 2022 Grammy Award-winning Cuba returns to the fairgrounds in August for the fest’s 30th anniversary. (File photo)
Alex Cuba (guitar) performs with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra in Kelowna Friday, April 1, 2022. (Submitted photo)

Grammy winner Alex Cuba returning to Salmon Arm for 30th annual ROOTSandBLUES Festival

New slate of festival performers announced

Alex Cuba (guitar) performs with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra in Kelowna Friday, April 1, 2022. (Submitted photo)
The Salmon Arm Folk Music Society announced Canadian music icons Jann Arden and Tom Cochrane will be headliners for the 2022 Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival. (Contributed)

ROOTSandBLUES: Jann Arden, Tom Cochrane to play Salmon Arm festival

Salmon Arm Folk Music Society announces acts for event’s 30th anniversary, Aug. 18-21

The Salmon Arm Folk Music Society announced Canadian music icons Jann Arden and Tom Cochrane will be headliners for the 2022 Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival. (Contributed)
Legendary singer-songwriter Barney Bentall will play Salmon Arm’s Song Sparrow Hall on April 16. The performance is hosted by the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society. (File photo)

Barney Bentall to play Salmon Arm’s Song Sparrow Hall

Salmon Arm Folk Music Society hosts April 16 concert as prelude to ROOTS&BLUES

Legendary singer-songwriter Barney Bentall will play Salmon Arm’s Song Sparrow Hall on April 16. The performance is hosted by the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society. (File photo)
Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES artistic director Kevin Tobin will be spending the coming year preparing for the festival’s 30th anniversary. (Contributed)

Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES’ Kevin Tobin talks festivals, music and all that jazz

New artistic director’s sights set on next year’s 30th anniversary event

  • Oct 22, 2021
Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES artistic director Kevin Tobin will be spending the coming year preparing for the festival’s 30th anniversary. (Contributed)
Circus Kalabanté bring a dazzling display of skill and physical agility to the 28th Annual Roots and Blues Festival, August 13-16. (Contributed) Circus Kalabanté bring a dazzling display of skill and physical agility to the 28th Annual Roots and Blues Festival, August 13-16. (Contributed)

Roots and Blues online festival live tonight on Black Press Media

Tune in to Black Press Media to watch the festival live Aug. 14, 15 and 16

Circus Kalabanté bring a dazzling display of skill and physical agility to the 28th Annual Roots and Blues Festival, August 13-16. (Contributed) Circus Kalabanté bring a dazzling display of skill and physical agility to the 28th Annual Roots and Blues Festival, August 13-16. (Contributed)
Irish Mythen closes the Roots and Blues Festival’s main stage down for the weekend with an hour long set of emotionally evocative songs on Sunday, Aug. 18. (Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer)

Roots and Blues festival to kick off virtually on Friday

Watch the festival on Black Press Media website platforms, for free

Irish Mythen closes the Roots and Blues Festival’s main stage down for the weekend with an hour long set of emotionally evocative songs on Sunday, Aug. 18. (Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer)
Lil Jimmy Reed keeps up the tune on guitar and harmonica after climbing down from the Roots & Blues main stage to walk amongst the crowd during the 2018 festival. Reed will be one of the performers featured in the online 2020 festival’s first night. (Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer)

Opening night lineup for online Roots & Blues festival released

The first night of the festival on Aug. 14 will be stacked with favourites from previous years

Lil Jimmy Reed keeps up the tune on guitar and harmonica after climbing down from the Roots & Blues main stage to walk amongst the crowd during the 2018 festival. Reed will be one of the performers featured in the online 2020 festival’s first night. (Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer)
Lil Jimmy Reed keeps up the tune on guitar and harmonica after climbing down from the Roots & Blues main stage to walk amongst the crowd during the 2018 festival. Reed will be one of the performers featured in the online 2020 festival’s first night. (Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer)

Opening night lineup for online Roots & Blues festival released

The first night of the festival on Aug. 14 will be stacked with favourites from previous years

Lil Jimmy Reed keeps up the tune on guitar and harmonica after climbing down from the Roots & Blues main stage to walk amongst the crowd during the 2018 festival. Reed will be one of the performers featured in the online 2020 festival’s first night. (Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer)
Michael Franti’s main stage performance is one of the archived shows which will be streamed for the online 2020 Roots & Blues festival. ( File photo)

Roots & Blues announces ticket giveaway ahead of online festival

The festival is streaming free online this year, but those who pre-register can win passes for 2021.

Michael Franti’s main stage performance is one of the archived shows which will be streamed for the online 2020 Roots & Blues festival. ( File photo)
Although the festival will be streamed online instead of performed live due to the COVID-19 virus, Roots & Blues favourite Irish Mythen will be back this year. (Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer)

Roots & Blues festival trades Salmon Arm stage for screens province-wide

Although COVID-19 has halted a live festival, it can be watched digitally on Black Press Media sites

Although the festival will be streamed online instead of performed live due to the COVID-19 virus, Roots & Blues favourite Irish Mythen will be back this year. (Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer)
Organizers of the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues festival have cancelled the Aug. 13-16 event, but are pursuing alternative options. (File photo)

Salmon Arm Roots & Blues cancels 2020 festival, pursuing alternatives

Organizers looking at ways to share joy, talent of festival through technology

Organizers of the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues festival have cancelled the Aug. 13-16 event, but are pursuing alternative options. (File photo)