Altered States II’s star-studded lineup welcomes Colin James, Celeigh Cardinal, among others
The Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival is bringing the music even closer to home this summer.
Now in its 29th year, the festival is returning for an online broadcast dubbed Altered States II on Friday, Aug. 13 and Saturday, Aug. 14. Over two nights, nine bands will ignite the free online event with pre-recorded performances at various studios in White Rock, Edmonton, and Winnipeg.
“These acts have been on a roll despite the slowdown in cultural activity over the last 16 months,” says Peter North, artistic director of the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society (SAFMS) and ROOTSandBLUES Festival.
“We’re excited to have such talented performers to entertain our audience as we prepare for the festival’s big 30th birthday next year.”
Altered States II welcomes two Indigenous singer-songwriters to the ROOTSandBLUES stage: Celeigh Cardinal of Edmonton and Winnipeg’s William Prince.
“Both Cardinal and Prince have watched their profiles rise considerably in the last few years,” says North.
Cardinal is most noted for her 2019 breakthrough album Stories from a Downtown Apartment. Her second solo release, the album won Indigenous Music Album of the Year at the 2020 Juno Awards.
Another Juno record, Prince took home the Juno for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year in 2017 for his debut album Earthly Days. His 2020 album, Reliever, was nominated for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year in 2021. Earlier this year, Prince won two Canadian Folk Music Awards—one for Contemporary Album of the Year and the other for English Songwriter of the Year.
Vancouver Island’s own Blue Moon Marquee, performing for ROOTSandBLUES as a quartet, shot their festival segment at Blue Frog Studios in White Rock in early June.
Alongside her long-time partner, guitarist, and singer A.W. Cardinal, Colette created a setlist that will see Marquee perform for ROOTSandBLUES as a quartet before the duo tours Spain when travel bans ease.
Crowd-favourite Canadian blues star Colin James will close Altered States II with a handful of new acoustic performances and a surprise for ROOTSandBLUES patrons Saturday night.
“Part of his performance will include footage from his electrifying main stage closing set at the 2018 festival,” says North, noting that James will reflect on his previous ROOTSandBLUES performance during Saturday evening’s show.
Rounding out the 2021 ROOTSandBLUES lineup is 2020 Folk Alliance Group of the Year recipient The Small Glories, Victoria’s folk-pop group Jon and Roy, acclaimed singer-songwriter Ben Sures, ROOTSandBLUES House Band leader Brent Parkin, and west-coast favourite Jesse Roper.
But, before ROOTSandBLUES returns to the online stage, the SAFMS is putting its love of Shuswap music to work as digital host of the new documentary Celebrate Shuswap. Premiering Saturday, June 19 on the ROOTSandBLUES website, the documentary brings the Shuswap music community together to celebrate resiliency and the power of music.
“Music weaves throughout a unique story, about a 1912 historic space, the newly renamed Song Sparrow Hall,” says Ted Crouch, Celebrate Shuswap producer.
“Located in the heart of downtown Salmon Arm, Song Sparrow Hall continues to serve our local community and beyond, ultimately merging with a vibrant cultural and music scene and taking its rightful place as part of a foundation for the future.”
The documentary showcases the work of seven local musicians who recorded sets at Song Sparrow Hall in the fall of 2020.
Celebrate Shuswap is free to watch on Saturday, June 19 at 8 p.m. online at rootsandblues.ca. For more information, visit acousticavenuemusic.com.
“The Salmon Arm Folk Music Society is proud to support this well-timed program, and super excited the music community has another great venue option at Song Sparrow Hall to hear live music,” says North. “And we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to ROOTSandBLUES for Altered States II later this summer.”
Altered States II will be broadcast on the ROOTSandBLUES website on Aug. 13 and 14 starting at 7 p.m. PST. No tickets are required. Stay tuned to rootsandblues.ca for more information.
About ROOTSandBLUES Now in its 29th season, the Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival is a destination for fans of music ranging from blues to bluegrass, Celtic to Cuban, and Americana to Afro-beat. The festival is presented by the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society—a non-profit charitable organization.