The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival is a three-day music festival that has six stages and over 45 artists that are from Canada and the world. The event takes place every third weekend in August and is held at the Salmon Arm Fair Grounds’ 18 acre site in Salmon Arm

Salmon Arm, British Columbia

-Climate:- Education :Public schools in Salmon Arm are part of School District 83 North Okanagan-Shuswap; within the city limits, there are currently five elementary schools , one middle school , and a secondary school with two campuses...

, located on the Shuswap Lake

Shuswap Lake

Shuswap Lake is a lake located in south-central British Columbia, Canada that drains via the Little River into Little Shuswap Lake. Little Shuswap Lake is the source of the South Thompson River, a branch of the Thompson River, a tributary of the Fraser River...

 in British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

.

The festival features the folk

Folk music

Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....

, blues, world

World music

World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...

, alternative, roots and many other different types of music.

History

The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival started in 1991 and is run by the non-profit Salmon Arm Folk Music Society. The festival started out with only a small of crowd, with the last indoor concert (1999) having only 5000 people but has since moved outside and has grown to a size well over 30,000. The Festival has also won many awards including Okanagan, readers' Choice award for ' The most Rockin festival'. The festival also has food vendors, artisans’ market, beer gardens, workshops, kids area, camping and is wheelchair accessible.

Artists

Past festival performers include: Guy Davis, Downchild Blues Band, The Arrogant Worms

The Arrogant Worms

The Arrogant Worms are a Canadian musical comedy trio that parodies many musical genres. They are well known for their humorous on-stage banter in addition to their music.-History:...

, Phillip Walker, Natalie MacMaster

Natalie MacMaster

Natalie MacMaster, CM is an award-winning fiddler from the rural community of Troy in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada who plays Cape Breton fiddle music....

, Great Big Sea

Great Big Sea

Great Big Sea is a Canadian folk-rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year-old Irish, English, and French heritage...

, Tegan & Sara, Mick Taylor, Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...

, Colin James

Colin James

Colin James is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, who plays in the blues, rock, and neo-swing genres. He grew up as a Quaker.-Early years:...

, Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy

George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...

, Feist, Bedouin Soundclash

Bedouin Soundclash

Bedouin Soundclash is a Canadian band currently based in Toronto. Their sound can be described as reggae and ska.-History:The band's current lineup consists of vocalist and guitarist Jay Malinowski, and bassist Eon Sinclair with Sekou Lumumba on drums. Their debut album, Root Fire, released in 2001...

, Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans

Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans

Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans are a Canadian country music band, formerly known as the Corb Lund Band.-Corb Lund:Corb Lund, the lead singer, grew up in Southern Alberta living on his family's farm and ranches near Taber, Cardston and Rosemary. He is proud of being an Albertan...

, Pointer Sisters

Pointer Sisters

The Pointer Sisters are an American pop/R&B recording act from Oakland, California that achieved mainstream success during the 1970s and 1980s. Spanning over three decades, their repertoire has included such diverse genres as pop, disco, jazz, bebop, blues, soul, funk, dance, country and rock.The...

, Xavier Rudd, Neville Brothers, Spirit of the West

Spirit of the West

Spirit of the West are a Canadian folk rock band, who were popular on the Canadian folk music scene in the 1980s before evolving a blend of hard rock, Britpop, and Celtic folk influences which made them one of Canada's most successful alternative rock acts in the 1990s.-Early years:The band began...

, Sam Roberts Band, Sierra Noble, Trombone Shorty, and more.

2010

• AimeLaws(BC)
• Alexis P. Suter Band (USA)
• Daniel Champagne (AUS)
• Elena Yeung (BC)
• Erik Mongrain
  Erik Mongrain
  Erik Mongrain is a Canadian composer and guitarist. He uses a unique acoustic style with a wide array of different techniques, approaches and textures reminiscent of Michael Hedges.-Biography:...
  
   (QUE)
• Ex-Centric Sound System (IS/GH)
• The F-Holes (MB)
• Five Alarm Funk (BC)
• Flora Ware (BC)
• Fred Penner
  Fred Penner
  Frederick Ralph Cornelius Penner, is a Canadian children's entertainer who gives appearances throughout North America. His television show, Fred Penner's Place, aired on CBC in Canada from 1985 to 1997. It was co-produced by Nickelodeon in 1989 and 1990.Penner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
  
   (MB)
• Gord Downie & the Country of Miracles
  Gordon Downie
  Gordon Edgar Downie is a Canadian rock musician, writer and occasional actor. He is the lead singer and lyricist for the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. He has released three solo albums, Coke Machine Glow in 2001, Battle of the Nudes in 2003; and The Grand Bounce in 2010...
  
   (ON)
• Grupo Fantasma (USA)
• Jacky Essombe (BC)
• Joan Armatrading (UK)
• Joe Louis Walker (USA)
• John Lee Sanders(BC)
• John Németh (USA)
• Julian Fauth (ON)
• Kate Morgan (BC)
• The Kerplunks (BC)
• Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa (Uganda)
• K'naan
  K'naan
  K'naan , born Keinan Abdi Warsame in 1978, is a Somali Canadian poet, rapper, singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.-Biography:Born in Somalia, K'naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu and lived there during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. His aunt, Magool, was one of Somalia's most...
  
   (ON)
• The Kropotkins (USA)
• Kym Gouchie (BC)
• Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials (USA)
• MarchFourth Marching Band (USA)
• Maria Dunn (AB)
• Martha Wainwright
  Martha Wainwright
  Martha Wainwright is a Canadian-American folk-rock singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of American folk singer and actor Loudon Wainwright III and Canadian folk singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle...
  
   (QUE)
• Mishka (Bermuda)
• Morlove (BC)
• Nomfusi (South Africa)
• Non Stop Bhangra (USA)
• Ohbijou
  Ohbijou
  -Biography:Ohbijou began as the solo project of Brantford singer-songwriter Casey Mecija . Through the process of songwriting and composition, Casey discovered a need for the musical support of her sister Jennifer Mecija , whom Casey invited to assist with her early performances...
  
   (ON)
• Old Man’s Beard (BC)
• Pura Fé
  Pura Fé
  Pura Fé is a singer-songwriter, poet, musician, artist and social activist. She founded the first native women's a cappella trio, Ulali, and created a style and genre that blends traditional Native American music with contemporary musical styles...
  
   (USA)
• Raygun Cowboys (AB)
• Royal Wood
  Royal Wood
  Royal Wood is a Canadian pop music singer-songwriter/ producer, based in Toronto, Ontario. His classic pop style has drawn comparisons to Hawksley Workman, Ron Sexsmith, Randy Newman and Rufus Wainwright.-Early life:...
  
   (ON)
• Sasha Lewis (BC)
• Scarlett the Scarecrow (BC)
• Shane Koyczan and The Short Story Long
  Shane Koyczan
  Shane L. Koyczan is a Canadian poet and writer. Born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Koyczan grew up in Penticton, British Columbia. In 2000, he became the first Canadian to win the Individual Championship title at the US National Poetry Slam. Together with Mighty Mike McGee and C. R...
  
   (BC)
• Shemekia Copeland (USA)
• Supergenerous (ON/USA)
• Tom Fun Orchestra
  Tom fun orchestra
  The Tom Fun Orchestra is an indie rock ensemble from Cape Breton, Canada. The band features an unconventional mix of electric and acoustic instruments, including violin, banjo, accordion, trumpet, double bass, electric guitars and drums, and have elicited comparisons to acts ranging from The Clash,...
  
   (NS)
• The Trollsons (BC)
• Wassabi Collective (BC)
• Watermelon Slim & the Workers (USA)
• Wil Campa & La Gran Union (Cuba)

2009

• Bedouin Soundclash
  Bedouin Soundclash
  Bedouin Soundclash is a Canadian band currently based in Toronto. Their sound can be described as reggae and ska.-History:The band's current lineup consists of vocalist and guitarist Jay Malinowski, and bassist Eon Sinclair with Sekou Lumumba on drums. Their debut album, Root Fire, released in 2001...
  
  
• The Black Pioneer Heritage Singers
• Blind God
• Ana Bon-Bon
• Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm
• CircusWest – Avatar Circus Project
• Darondo
• Sherman Doucette
• Dr. John & The Lower 911
• Elliott Brood
  Elliott Brood
  Elliott BROOD is a three-piece, alt-country band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of Mark Sasso on lead vocals, guitar, banjo, ukulele, and harmonica, Casey Laforet on guitar, backing vocals, bass pedals, keys and ukulele and Stephen Pitkin on percussion, sampler and backing vocals...
  
  
• En Karma
• Firzle the Clown
• Flock, Arnold, Hopkins Trio
• Dominique Fraissard
• Grady
  Grady (band)
  Grady is a cowboy metal band based in Austin, Texas.-History:Grady originally consisted of Canadian vocalist and guitarist Gordie Johnson , Canadian bass guitarist "Big" Ben Richardson, and Chris Layton on drums...
  
  
• Aaron Gregg
• Herting Verburg Power Trio
• Veda Hille
  Veda Hille
  Veda Hille is a Canadian singer-songwriter.- Biography :Veda Hille was born in 1968 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She started playing piano when she was 6 at her own insistence. Her family moved around a lot, from the city to the country and back again...
  
  
• Horace X
• Hoven Droven
• Kiki The Eco Elf
• Kries
• LeE HARVeY OsMOND
  Lee Harvey Osmond
  Lee Harvey Osmond, stylized as LeE HARVeY OsMOND, is a Canadian "acid folk" band, whose core member is musician Tom Wilson.The band first took shape as a collaboration between Wilson, Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies and Josh Finlayson of Skydiggers, who wrote, recorded and released the band's...
  
  
• David Ross MacDonald
• Ari(el) Neufeld
• Sierra Noble
• Opening Axe
• Oysterband
  Oysterband
  Oysterband is a British electric folk or folk rock band formed in Canterbury in or around 1976.-Early history:...
  
  
• Ana Popovic
• Murray Porter
• Donné Roberts Band – African Pow-wow Project
• Sam Roberts Band
• Rumba Calzada
• Serena Ryder
  Serena Ryder
  Serena Ryder is a Juno Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter raised in Millbrook, Ontario.Ranging musically between folk, roots, country, and adult contemporary music, Ryder possesses a five-octave range...
  
  
• Rana Santacruz
• Samantha Schultz
• Youssoupha Sidibe
• The Six String Nation
• Souljah Fyah
• Soul of John Black
• SWARM
• Aspen Switzer and Thistledowne
• Tiny Bill Cody
• Maryem Tollar & Roula Said, with Rick Shadrach Lazar
• Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue
• Chad VanGaalen
  Chad VanGaalen
  Chad VanGaalen is a Canadian musician and artist from Calgary, Alberta.-Infiniheart:Following a few scattered independent releases, done mostly on homemade CDs with hand-drawn art, VanGaalen released Infiniheart on Canadian independent label Flemish Eye...
  
  
• Ben Waters
• Johnny Winter
  Johnny Winter
  John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...