Happy to be able to present the annual Roots and Blues Festival next August, the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society (SAFMS) is giving back to the community.
As financial support from the City of Salmon Arm has, in large part, made the 2015 festival possible, and as a thank you to Salmon Arm and Canoe residents for their support, the society is offering an additional $10 per ticket off the already reduced early-bird pricing on weekend passes.
Just in time for holiday gift ideas, this is an great opportunity to save more than $70 per ticket off the gate price.
Early bird member passes are on sale now for $119 – with the additional $10 off for City of Salmon Arm residents, and sales at this super-low price are limited to the first 1,000 tickets. After this, early bird non-member pricing applies, but Salmon Arm residents will still be able to receive a $10 discount up until May 29.
Purchase your tickets online at www.rootsandblues.ca or visit the Roots and Blues office at 490 Fifth Ave. SW Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In terms of content for the 2015 festival, which runs Aug. 14 to 16, artistic director Peter North is excited about the first three acts to be announced – Canned Heat, the Stooges Brass Band and Oysterband.
“I think for all the blues fans, to get a band like Canned Heat who is celebrating 50 years together with three originals, they’re gonna be a lot of fun,” said North. “They still end up in major ads and film scores, noting the band will be on-site for the entire festival and will engage in workshops. “There’s not too many bands from the Woodstock era that are still viable and attracting large audiences.”
North refers to Oysterband as British folk royalty.
“They’ve been around for a few decades but they’re still vital,” he says. “They dominated BBC’s two folk awards in 2013 – best album and named best group as well.”
North is delighted to be co-operating with two other festival directors in order to be able to get Oysterband.
There’s another note of excitement as North talks about the Stooges Brass Band, a New Orleans group that incorporates hip hop.
“That’s the band Trombone Shorty came from. They’re young and hip but really rooted in the New Orleans tradition,” he says, noting they will also be here for the whole festival. “It’s a nice start with three very diverse acts. It’s coming together nicely.”