An array of musicians are busy rehearsing for this weekend’s Texada Island Blues and Roots Festival, which takes place Saturday, August 4, and Sunday, August 5, at Gillies Bay Ball Park.
Behind the scenes, organizers are putting the final touches on the fourth annual event, which features a diverse group of performers who live in close proximity to the island, according to festival director Gerry Childress.
“We adopted a policy from the start to get all of our musicians from within 100 kilometres of Gillies Bay,” says Childress. “We have performers from Vancouver, Nanaimo, Courtenay, Texada and Powell River.”
The Paul Black Band headlines the festival and will perform as the final act on Saturday night.
“He brings one guitar player from Nanaimo and picks up three musicians in Powell River, including Walter Martella and Rob Reed,” says Childress. “Paul has performed in Powell River many times, too.”
Blue Moon Marquee is another big draw, says Childress. The popular band has played in Powell River and on Texada before and always fill the venues, he adds.
Concrete Beach, Butts Girard, Tyler Bartfai and The Stowaways, Jennifer Louise Taylor, The Texada Boyz, Bev Finch, Sam Hurrie, Savary Island House Band and John Burton with the Walter Martella Trio round out the lineup.
The festival became a reality four years ago through funds remaining from a former music festival on the island: Jazz on the Rock.
“At a Texada Arts, Culture and Tourism meeting they said they had $1,700 in the Jazz on the Rock fund,” says Childress. “We thought we could do something with that.”
According to Childress, Texada Island Blues and Roots Festival was born because of those leftover funds.
“We borrowed that money for the first one and the rest is history,” he says.
Tickets are available at the Peak office and Rockit Music in Powell River, Mary Mary’s Café in Van Anda and texadabluesfestival.com.
Features include a kids’ zone, food vendors and a shuttle bus from Blubber Bay Terminal and Van Anda Boat Harbour. Texada Island Farmers’ Market will be on site as well, from 12 to 1:30 pm on Sunday.
“Also on Sunday, we start a little earlier because we have a gospel hour where all the musicians kick in together,” says Childress. “It is very cool.”
For ticket, schedule and shuttle information, or band bios, go to the festival website or search for Texada Island Blues and Roots Festival on Facebook.
Texada Island Blues and Roots Festival
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, August 4 and 5
TIMES: 12 to 9:30 pm Saturday; 11 am to 5:30 pm Sunday
WHERE: Gillies Bay Ball Park, Texada
INFORMATION: texadabluesfestival.com, 250.334.7049
