It's a rare turn of events when any act is invited back in consecutive years, but the response to the Montana-based The Lil Smokies in 2017 was so deafening ROOTSandBLUES had to extend a return invitation to this outstanding quintet.


This group of instrumental wizards had the main stage audience transfixed on the Friday night. By the time they brought their brilliantly executed and improvised interpretation of Elton John's Rocket Man in for a landing, the crowd was in a state of ecstasy and the group was on the receiving end of a spontaneous, mid-set, standing ovation.

In the ensuing ten months, The Lil Smokies continued a relentless touring schedule, behind the release of their second album Changing Shades. In addition to selling out prestigious venues like the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, the quintet was booked for renowned festivals like Telluride and Dark Star Jubilee, plus dates with Leftover Salmon and Trampled By Turtles. The Lil Smokies will be on the ROOTSandBLUES site from Friday evening right through Sunday August 19.


Vancouver's groove-fuelled band The Boom Booms will make their ROOTSandBLUES debut at the kick-off party on Thursday August 16.  Fresh off a headline performance at the Vancouver World Music Festival at the Imperial Room, The Boom Booms mix islands' grooves with the sensuality of retro and neo-soul.  Plus, readers of Vancouver's Georgia Straight  have named the Boom Booms their favourite local unsigned band an impressive four times in the past five years. High praise indeed for The Boom Booms.


Also on board for the 2018 ROOTSandBLUES Festival is Major Love. Major Love is the moniker of Canadian singer-songwriter Colleen Brown, who has a new album featuring members of Scenic Route To Alaska, Jesse and the Dandelions, Elijah Abrams, and Aaron Goldstein.

With a voice akin to that of Joni Mitchell, Brown is relentlessly unafraid. In 2015 she released her 4th solo album 'Direction' - co-produced by Joel Plaskett -topping college radio charts, and touring Canada, Germany and the UK. Kerry Doole of exclaim.ca says "she is the rare vocalist that impresses equally on vibrant soul and quiet folk...travelling in Brown's Direction is one very pleasing trek."


Rounding out this release is The Dimpker Brothers who will be bringing a folk-rock, blues-basted sound from Sweden to ROOTSandBLUES. Brothers Adam and Martin's, debut single, 'Days Of Wonder', is as much a force of nature as the brothers themselves. Recorded with their musical hero, Joshua James, in American Fork, Utah, the song blends bittersweet Scandinavian harmonies with the soul of Americana.  "The Dimpker Brothers literally fell into our laps," says artistic director Peter North, while adding, "they are coming to North American to back Rev. Sekou, so we all win and this will be one of those new acts that patrons will love discovering."

For complete information on the line-up and tickets for the 2018 edition of Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES call our office at 250-833-4096 or head to www.rootsandblues.ca

Go to our official Accommodation page 

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• Meeting with Creative Okanagan Creative Director prior to the festival to do a performance review, go over what to expect at the festival, and to consider performance opportunity details.
• Two 40-minutes performance opportunities on the Wednesday or Thursday night before the ROOTSandBLUES Festival, a Friday night workshops (to be determined by the ROOTSandBLUES Artistic Director) or Saturday morning brunch outreach event.
• Back stage passes to for the festival weekend.
• Meet with ROOTSandBLUES Artistic Director during the festival.
• Assistance connecting with media by Creative Okanagan at the festival (as determined by Creative Okanagan and ROOTSandBLUES).
• $500 honorarium.
• Accommodations for band members (up to two hotel rooms).

Criteria:

• Artist or band must perform music stemming from the roots and/or blues traditions. Music performed may be primarily covers. Quality of performance will be primary selection criteria.
• Members must have been residents of the Okanagan including the Shuswap/North Thompson for one year (same boundaries as the Okanagan Regional Library).
• Artist has not previously been hired to play the ROOTSandBLUES Festival.
• Required to submit a brief statement on goals as a musician and a CV including recent activities as a musician (tours/shows/albums/digital activities/website link).
• Applicant(s) must be a musician capable of playing a forty-minute set in a professional manner, this may be a subset of a larger band, acts of all sizes will be considered.
• Artists must be available to attend Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival, August 16 - 19, 2017.