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Roots and Blues Festival slate expands

Organizers sign an eclectic mix of talent to the 2014 festival that runs Aug. 17 to 17 at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds.

In keeping with its mandate to bring a world of music to the world of Salmon Arm, Roots and Blues Festival organizers have added nine more acts to a growing slate of talented musical acts.

From Iceland with love comes the dynamic duo Bellstop with a ‘folk & roll’ sound that is raw, original and true.

For lovers of Celtic music, one of Cape Breton’s most captivating young bands, Còig is an exciting ensemble consisting of five solo acts.

An extraordinary performer who exudes raw energy by the bucket load, Australia’s Genevieve Chadwick has been likened to the late great Janis Joplin; she looks like an angel, roars like a lion and plays guitar like a demon.

Inspired by great singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Neil Young, Rolla Olak is credited as a songwriter and musician on more than a dozen Canadian and UK releases.

The voice of P.E.I.’s Rose Cousins is unmistakable, as is the devastating emotion her music evokes. Her songs have been featured in climatic scenes in TV shows like Gray’s Anatomy, Rookie Blue, and Heartland.

At any show, anywhere she travels, recruits from the local music scene appear with her on stage – be they emerging or well known.

Originally from Kenya, Juno winner Shad is a critically-acclaimed MC, regarded for his humour, honesty, and intelligence. His first two albums, were well received and his third LP, TSOL, continues to pique new levels of international interest.

With a timeless code of her ever-growing musical design, Tanika Charles of Ontario creates music that gets inside you and stays there, stirring a response that just feels good.

Charles and The Wonderfuls are an amazing combination of one part jazz, two parts soul, equal part control with a hint of blues.

The Stone Foxes have a deep respect for the fundamentals – a feel that’s redolent of the scare-the-parents, backcountry, wild juke joint origins, combined with an abiding drive to carve out their own unique territory.

Offering a beautiful, harmonious dichotomy between melancholy heartbreak and blow-the-barn-doors-off spunk, The Strumbellas prove that you don’t need auto tune and synthetic beats to get people’s feet moving on the dance floor.

Catch performers like these along with many other talented artists this summer, as a brilliant 2014 line-up continues to unfold.

The 22nd annual Roots and Blues Festival plays Aug. 15 to 17. Tickets are available at www.rootsandblues.ca or by calling 250-833-4096.