Roots & Blues to help up and comers

Emerging musicians from the Okanagan and Shuswap/North Thompson have a new development opportunity this summer.

The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, which takes place Aug. 17-20 is reaching out to musicians to support their development through a partnership with Creative Okanagan Artist and Event Development Society.

The Inside the Festival program application can be found on the Creative Okanagan website and will be available until June 15 at 9:30 am.

Okanagan artists performing music within the genres of roots and blues, can apply to participate in the program. The program would consist of:

• Meeting with Creative Okanagan creative director prior to the festival to do a performance review, go over what to expect at the festival, and to consider performance opportunity details

• Two 40-minutes performance opportunities on the Wednesday or Thursday night before the festival, a Friday night workshop or Saturday morning brunch outreach event

• Weekend passes and back stage passes to the festival. • A 40-minute media training session, • Tech walkthrough with an experienced stage manager

The festival will strive to provide accommodations for band members; this may be a billet situation

Applicants must not have previously been hired to play in the festival.

They must submit a brief statement on goals as a musician and a CV and be available to attend the festival and play a 40-minute set.

The selected applicants will be notified by July 12