The countdown is on for Roots & Blues 2017.
The 25th-anniversary event has officially begun as early bird tickets are now on sale for the weekend of Aug. 18 to 20.
Coming off a very gratifying year that was financially successful and artistically satisfying, the organization has been hard at work since the last note was played at the volunteer party.
To that end, the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society is pleased to announce Booker T. Jones – one of the legends of soul, funk, R&B and American groove music – will be one of the headliners at the 2017 Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival.
Led by Booker T., Stax Revue and A Journey Thru Soul, Blues and R&B will be closing the main stage on Saturday, Aug. 19 with his 10 piece all-star band. The onetime leader of Booker T. and the MG’s, composer, bandleader, producer, singer, ace keyboard player, and Americana music pioneer is also a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
Roots & Blues artistic director Peter North feels, “that the festival has a lot to celebrate in August 2017. Twenty-five years is quite an accomplishment and says a lot about the audiences through the years.”
Then there’s the commitment of the community to the event, and the passion that was in place from day one when the festival was born in a community hall.
“It is also our nation’s 150th birthday. Programming will reflect the deep pool of talent we have to draw on and we want to share as many Canadian roots music traditions as possible,” said North.
Along with Booker T.’s Stax/Soul Revue, Roots & Blues announces a handful of additional acts that will be part of a 40-act bill.
Acclaimed American Jeffrey Foucault, who the New York Times calls, “contemporary and timeless,” and 21 year-old Prince Edward Island tunesmith Dylan Menzies, are the first announcements out of the gate in the singer-songwriter category.
Red-hot blues pianist/vocalist Kenny Wayne and his five piece all-star band, and American gospel/country blues powerhouse, the Rev. Robert Jones, will be holding court at the CBC Blues Stage.
Purchase a Salmon Arm Roots & Blues membership for $15 and you can purchase up to four discounted Early Bird Member tickets: Adults $119, Youth (13-19) $40, Student (20-25) $79, and Senior (65+) $99. Camping is available. Go to www.rootsandblues.ca for more information.