Music festivals grow up so fast.
In 2015, Texada Island Blues and Roots Festival was a small idea in the mind of festival director Gerry Childress. Now the annual event has new and returning acts clamouring for a place on stage and all accommodations in Gillies Bay are booked for Saturday, July 29, and Sunday, July 30.
The annual event is going through a growth spurt in its third year at Gillies Bay Ball Park and organizers have had to turn some performers away, according to Childress.
The festival of blues, roots, folk, country and gospel music can almost be called the 100-kilometre musical diet. What distinguishes Texada Blues and Roots from other music-themed gatherings is its diverse selection of acts. All must come from within little more than an area the size of a thumbtack on Google Earth. Every performer lives within a 100-kilometre radius of Gillies Bay.
“There's so much great talent within 100 kilometres and they all want a place to play,” said Childress. “The word got out about the festival and we had many people phoning us this year and wanting to perform.”
Oliver Swain is the only performer from just beyond the boundary. The Victoria-based artist will not be bringing his band, Big Machine, which increases the chances of Swain performing his solo rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” on his banjo.
If Swain’s appearance is not worth the price of admission alone, a Leonard Cohen tribute the Juno-nominated musician is organizing should be. Powell River’s Devon Hanley and Pat Buckna will join Swain for the set.
“Oliver toured and released a whole album of Leonard Cohen songs revisited called Tower of Song,” said Buckna. “There are interesting interpretations of Leonard Cohen and right now we're going to need to get together and figure out how we're going to do it.”
As Cranberry Community Hall Association vice-president, Buckna has booked Swain to play at Cranberry Hall in the past and describes him as a brilliant and engaging performer.
Hanley has appeared at the festival previously, but the Cohen tribute is the only aspect she is involved with this year. She said she was thrilled to be asked to take part.
“To be honest, I didn't listen to a lot of Leonard Cohen, but I listened to a lot of other singers singing his stuff and I loved the honesty in his writing,” said Hanley.
Other performers from Powell River include Lukah Bouchard, who will participate at the festival for the first time, Ron Campbell and his band Blues Busters, who have played at Texada Island Blues and Roots Festival since year one, and jazz band Take 5.
Ryder Bachman Band headlines Saturday’s lineup, and if the name sounds familiar, it should be. Bachman’s famous uncle Randy was a member of seminal Canadian rock bands Bachman-Turner Overdrive and The Guess Who.
“Ryder is one of these guys who plays every day somewhere,” said Childress. “He's also going to head up the gospel hour. We did that last year and had four different acts get up on stage and do it together; it was impressive.”
Rounding out the lineup are Tina Jones, Andrea Smith, Ben and Wendy, Bev Finch and The Texada Boyz.
For more information, go to texadabluesfestival.com.
