Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival

Aug 13-15, Salmon Arm –

The 18th Annual Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival is coming August 13 to 15, 2010.

Presented by the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society the third weekend in August each year, Roots and Blues is truly a world-class event. Easily the top multicultural music festival of the BC Interior, it features 50 acts ranging from roots to gospel to hot and steamy blues, all showcased on 6 outdoor stages. It is perhaps the biggest, most eagerly anticipated event of the summer season, attended by music lovers from far and wide.

“Celebrating Together” is the vision statement of the society and celebrating we are definitely very good at. From now until the big weekend, Shuswap News will be giving you a sneak peek at the amazing line-up of entertainers you will hear at the festival, so keep your eye on us.

For your information, especially if you are a first-timer to the festival, the venue is the Salmon Arm fairgrounds which are located one block from the Trans Canada Highway, directly behind Centenoka Park Mall, halfway between Vancouver and Calgary.

There are many motels, hotels and B&Bs in the area and on-site camping is also available if you would prefer. Just go to http://www.rootsandblues.ca/camping/ for more information and to pre-register your camping spot. Then go to the ‘Tickets’ page to purchase. Whatever your choice of accommodation, it is recommended that you make your reservations early because spaces become scarce very quickly.

Festival hours are:

• Friday from 4-11pm
• Saturday from 9:30am-11pm
• Sunday from 9:30am-11pm

You can purchase a weekend pass or individual tickets for evening performances. Individual tickets will be available only at the gate after 5pm Saturday and Sunday and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis according to availability. Passes for the weekend event may be purchased by phoning 250-833-4096, emailing info@rootsandblues.ca or visiting the website at http://www.rootsandblues.ca/tickets2/ . All tickets purchased after July 31, 2010 may be picked up at main gate box office.

Youth/student 3-day passes must be purchased at the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society office at 490 5th Avenue SW in Salmon Arm and a valid ID must be presented. Proof of age will be required at the gate for students, youth and seniors. Children 12 and under are free.

There will be two beer gardens onsite but if you want to bring your own cooler with your favorite non-alcoholic beverages, you may. Also on site will be an artisan market, a food vendor area and a children’s area.

Stay tuned!