Colin Linden has rubbed shoulders with many blues legends over-his decades long journey of becoming one himself.
The singer and slide guitarist's career started after a meeting with Howlin' Wolf. Linden was age 11 when his mom took him to see the growling legend behind classics including Smokestack Lightning, Killing Floor and The Red Rooster. Linden got to hang with Howlin' (aka Chester Burnett) for a couple of hours. In that meeting, the singer shared he wouldn't be around much longer and said "It's up to you to carry it on."
Performing since age 12, Linden has spent the past four-and-a-half decades making good on Burnett's plea, and has accompanied roots and blues greats including Greg Allman, Bob Dylan, Bruce Cockburn, Rihannon Giddens, John Prine, Pistol Annies and more
Linden continued meeting and visiting the sites of his heroes: Brownie McGhee, Muddy Waters, Sippie Wallace, Tampa Red, Blind John Davis, and more.
Decades later – and on part of a tour that brings him to Salmon Arm's Song Sparrow Hall in May – Linden says this music is, perhaps, just as important as ever.
“Much of the healing and release you get from listening to this music, the power and form of expression, has shown itself to be so vital in these times," said Linden in a Jan. 16 announcement by the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society (SAFMS). "It feels timeless because it’s such a raw nerve.”
Linden was scheduled to perform at the 2023 ROOTSandBLUES Festival, but the event was cancelled due to wildfires in the region. So the SAFMS is excited to host Linden when he performs at Song Sparrow on May 24.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8. Tickets – $34.50 for youth, seniors and members of the SAFMS, and $39.50 for adults – go on sale at 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, at rootsandblues.ca.
The 33rd ROOTSandBLUES Festival takes place July 25-27. Tickets can be purchased at rootsandblues.ca.
