Attendees of Burnaby's annual Blues and Roots Festival will have to be at the park a little earlier this year, as organizers have decided to start the show an hour sooner to accommodate the number of acts performing this year.
The 14th annual festival kicks off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, which is a whole hour earlier than previous years, says Jared Bowles, marketing coordinator for the City of Burnaby.
"We've got 12 acts this year, instead of 10, so we're starting a little earlier," he adds.
The performances, which run on three stages from 1 to about 10 p.m., include musicians from a variety of genres such as R&B, rock, soul, funk and, of course, blues and roots.
Bowles says there's enough variety for everyone, even those not particularly music-savvy.
"Although it's called a blues and roots festival, there's music spanning multiple genres," he says. "Even some of the acts that people haven't heard of, they're really going to enjoy."
This year's headliners - Blue Rodeo and Charles Bradley - are great examples of the diversity of music showcased at the Burnaby festival, Bowles adds.
Canada's own Blue Rodeo broke out on the scene in the 1980s with a "countrified rock" sound that they've been finetuning for more than 20 years. Charles Bradley, meanwhile, is often referred to as the "Screaming Eagle of Soul" and offers audiences a taste of 1960s and '70s soul and funk.
Gates open at noon, and there will be tickets available for purchase on-site, although Bowles says people should get their tickets before Aug. 9 to cash in on lower ticket prices.
Organizers begin the long task of planning the next festival immediately following the event.
"It's a 12-month process," Bowles says. "We work over the course of the entire year to put together a program that's really going to appeal to, not only the citizens of Burnaby, but the Lower Mainland and beyond."
This involves booking acts and finding alternatives if they can't get the musicians on their "wish list," Bowles says. "This year we were able to get our wish list pretty quick," he adds. "At the end of the day, we were really happy with the lineup we set up."
About 3,500 people attended last year's festival and organizers hope to reach similar numbers this year. There are still tickets for sale at the Shadbolt Centre Box office, 6450 Deer Lake Ave., or online at www.burnabybluesfestival. com/tickets_2013.htm.
