After wildfires sadly put a stop to Salmon Arm's 2023 edition of ROOTSandBLUES Festival, the British Columbia is back for 2024 — and it's shaping up to be a great time.
Whether getting emotional with some of Canada's most open-hearted crooners or gettin' down with some of the country's best party bands, this year's ROOTSandBLUES has a lot to offer — not to mention the incredible beauty of the Shuswap.
With the festival running from July 26 to 28 and passes on sale now, here are Exclaim!'s choices for five must-see acts playing the event last year.
Aysanabee
Last year, we asked artists to name the must-see artists performing at festivals, and both Jasmyn and Skye Wallace shouted out Aysanabee. It's easy to see why, since his rich voice and soulful songs got him onto the Polaris Music Prize shortlist last year.
Begonia
Speaking of big-voiced performers from the Polaris shortlist — Winnipeg's Begonia brings powerful pipes to pristine pop with a soulful side as she performs tunes from last year's excellent Powder Blue.
Five Alarm Funk
Five Alarm Funk are a party band, through and through. The Vancouver instrumental crew come packing funky grooves, blaring horns, and a single mission: to make fans dance until they sweat through their clothes.
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan is spending 2024 touring in support of the 30th anniversary of her seminal album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. Don't miss one of Canada's greatest-ever pop balladeers.
TEKE::TEKE
Montreal ensemble TEKE::TEKE have some skronky, unpredictable sounds — but their artiness never comes at expense of pure fun, with shows that are known for being cathartic dance parties full of psychedelia, surf and rock.
