Planning for this year's ROOTSandBLUES Festival started at last year's event as artistic director Kevin Tobin gazed at the main stage under a dark sky, save for the stars, and imagined which stars he would bring to Salmon Arm in 2025.
That star-studded lineup will be headlined by acclaimed Canadian acts Burton Cummings and Colin James, as well as Los Lobos for the 33rd annual festival, a three-day event being held the weekend of July 25 to 27.
"For the closing band on Saturday night, I was thinking about classic Canadiana and the artists we'd love to see on that stage" Tobin said in a March 20 media release. "I thought of Burton Cummings, one of the greatest rock voices in history, let alone Canadian history, and I could picture what that would look like, with our mountain backdrop and the crowd coming together.
"This is a very rare opportunity to have a musician of that calibre on our stage."
As the lead singer songwriter for The Guess Who, "Canada's original rock 'n' roll superstars" that formed in 1965, Cummings scored an unprecedented series of internationally acclaimed hit singles and albums, including American Woman, These Eyes and No Time. By 1970, his band had sold more records than the entire Canadian music industry combined before breaking up in 1975.
On the first night, Friday, the headliner will also be one of nostalgia for many, with Los Lobos, famous for their hit La Bamba, taking the stage.
"They have this whole history of being influential on the rock 'n' roll scene," Tobin said. "As well as with other sounds like Tex-Mex and world music."
In a year that is seeing many focusing on the arts and supporting Canadian, festival audiences can also look forward to returning performer and Sunday night headliner Colin James as the closing act.
"A lot of what's special about this festival is celebrating Canadian artists who have paved the way and those who are up-and-coming," Tobin added. "After last year's Sunday night performance by Sarah McLachlan, we wanted to close the festival with another feel-good B.C. artist who would bring some incredible energy to closing out three momentous days 香蕉视频直播� and we couldn't think of anyone better than Colin James.
"He has such a dynamic band and he's just released another outstanding album [Chasing the Sun, released June 18, 2024]."
With the Canadian dollar currently weak against the American dollar, the currency of many bands, Tobin said curating a special lineup this called for "being smart with our choices and responsible with a budget, especially as we look to offer a diverse, multi-generational lineup where you've got artists that will appeal to all ages," he added of the mix containing both well-known and new acts.
Beyond the main stage, audiences will have the opportunity to experience an eclectic mix of artists and music, from Africa and Scandinavia to string bands, banjo pickers, blues, funk and much more, including Indigenous performers on the Pluk'w Place stage.
"Attendees are going to experience a lineup that will take them almost right across the world, and they're all going to come here and perform in Salmon Arm," Tobin said, adding that he and the team look forward to announcing more artists every month.
The currently confirmed lineup, and information about passes and camping, can be found online at , or by calling 250-833-4096.
