“It would be downright rude if Roots and Blues didn’t dip into the deep talent pool of blues in British Columbia and this year we think we’ve got a lot of the shades of blue covered with these three acts,” says artistic director Peter North.
One of the finest blues piano players anywhere, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, is on a wonderful roll these days making critically acclaimed albums for Stony Plain Records and travelling the globe playing for adoring audiences in South America, Russia, the UK and all over this continent.
Just last year Wayne was honoured as the Most Outstanding Musician (keyboard) by Living Blues Magazine for the second time, which goes nicely with his many Maple Blues Piano Player of the Year awards, and his Entertainer of the Year awards from the same organization. Then there’s his Juno Award for Blues Album of the Year from 2006.
“In short, everyone in the blues world has taken notice of this amazing musician for some time now and his destiny would bring him to our country after he spent his formative years in many of the major blues and roots music centres of the U.S., adds North. “Canada has been good to Wayne and Wayne has given our blues scene a serious shot of magic as he recorded three albums for Electro Fi early in the new millennium before signing with another Canadian label, Stony Plain, in 2011.”
Wayne, who now lives just down the road in Kelowna, has just finished wrapping up a new album for the label, so festivalgoers can expect to hear a few new hot tunes from that forthcoming release and Wayne jamming up a storm on the blues stage as Roots and Blues 2016 unfolds.
Next up, Nanaimo’s red-hot and rockin’ guitar master David Gogo will help light the fuse to the entire festival weekend and he’ll be doing so in part by playing material from his 2016 Juno-nominated album, Vicksburg Call, which is his sixth Juno nomination. His first dates all the way back to 1995 when he was nominated for Best New Solo Artist.
“Gogo’s warm, rugged, seasoned vocals and his extraordinary, virtuosic guitar talents are laid bare alongside his emotions on this album – a combination that grabs you from the opening bars and keeps you hooked through all 10 tracks,” adds North.
“Known as a fierce live performer, Gogo leaves it all on stage with every show and his deep well of material will also find him pulling out faves from his Soul Bender and Come On Down albums.
Festivalgoers can also expect to hear Gogo insert himself into the mix on some acoustic blues workshop sessions built around some seriously heavy talent at Roots and Blues 2016.
Another first-rate blues artist, Steve Kozak has been turning the heads of blues fans in Canada for 30 years now since he first broke into the Vancouver scene in the mid-’80s.
“When it comes to tasty West Coast blues guitar playing, Kozak’s name is at the top of the list in this nation,” says North. “Just ask greats like Duke Robillard and James Harman who have shared the stage with this gifted bandleader, instrumentalist, writer and singer.”
Gaining national recognition in 2012, Kozak was nominated by industry professionals from across Canada and won a prestigious Maple Blues Award for New Artist or Group of the Year.
Bruce Iglauer, the head of the prestigious Alligator records in Chicago, said of Kozak’s Lookin’ At Lucky release, that “it is a well-crafted album, performed with taste and subtlety,” confirming the arrival of this artist.
Throughout his career, Kozak has shared the stage and played with many blues greats including, Pee Wee Crayton, Big Joe Duskin, Sonny Rhodes, Eddie ‘The Chief’ Clearwater, ‘Ice Pick’ James Harman, Duke Robillard, Rod Piazza, Rick Estrin, Lee Oskar, Big Joe Louis, Mitch Woods, Kenny Blues Boss Wayne, and rockabilly guitar legend Evan Johns.
“Salmon Arm Roots and Blues fans are going to be soaked in the sounds of the Best of B.C. blues and can expect the sparks to keep flying when the jammin’ starts on the CBC Blues stage all weekend long,” says North.
The member earlybird deadline has passed but festivalgoers can get great savings on tickets until May 31. Tickets are available at www.rootsandblues.ca, by calling 250-833-4096 or by dropping into the Roots and Blues office at 490 Fifth Ave. SW.
