Gates Open at 2:00pm on Friday

Main Acts for 2012 Were a "Who's Who" of the Best Canadian Blues Talent

See Performances Below

Jack de Keyser

Jack de Keyser is a two time Juno award winner and seven time Maple Blues award winning artist, blues guitarist, singer, song writer and producer and one of the finest blues guitarists on the scene today.

Bob Walsh with Guy Belanger

Bob Walsh has defined Quebec's blues history over the past three decades. For more than 30 years, this singer-guitarist has traveled all over Québec singing the blues with his unforgettable voice, and he still plays his favourite music with the same passion.

Shakura S'Aida

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Shakura S’Aida calls Canada home. Her professional involvement in the Toronto music scene has been ongoing for the past 20 years, enriching the Jazz, Blues and R&B communities with her soulful voice, enthusiastic personality and commitment to music as an art form.

David Rotundo

Toronto blues harpist David Rotundo heard James Cotton perform at the El Mocambo in 1991. "He blew one note on the harmonica that hypnotized me..." The next day Rotundo went out and bought a harmonica, "...and I've been playing the blues ever since."

JW-Jones

Canada's Top Touring Bluesman, JW-Jones is moving up with a boundary breaking CD. On his 7th release, aptly titled 'Seventh Hour', Jones has teamed up with multi-Juno award winning artist/producer, Steve Dawson, to mix the album.

Terry Gillespie

In 1965 Terry Gillespie was in Michigan hugging a radio into the wee hours. He was listening to the skip stations broadcasting from the Southern States; it was his first encounter with the roots of American music. And he's never looked back.

Rocket Rached & The Fat City 8

Way back about 15-16 years ago an idea was born out of the mind of a then young man to play some music within the Capitals bustling blues scene. April 6th 1995 was the very 1st show the listing read as “Rocket Rached & the Fat City 4… By the next gig we had 5 horns and a 6 piece string section was added we were now up to 16 musicians… since that time the band was always known as The Fat City 8 but the actual number always varied.

Bill Durst

Always an audience favourite, Bill Durst has long been compared to the best guitar player/singer/entertainers anywhere in the world. Bill has written and recorded over 100 songs on ten albums including eight charted Canadian radio hits.

Jeff Rogers

Jeff Rogers is a singer-songwriter from Ottawa. His influences include Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Donny Hathaway, Ray Charles and Jamiroquai. After the release of his blues-inspired, self-titled debut album in 2007, Jeff appeared at numerous festivals opening for various acts including Taj Mahal, Colin Linden, Sonny Landreth, and The Downchild Blues Band.

Check Out Scenes From 2011 Below

Juno nominee David Gogo takes an electric stroll around the grounds during his live performance and wows a stunned crowd

In 2011 Steve Strongman and Paul Deslaurier put on a show that lived up to the title, "GUITAR EXPLOSION". Notice the fireworks start blasting during the applause.

The fireworks display at the end of the last performance Saturday night rivalled  the best fireworks displays across the country.

We knew the festival was something special when Wild T and the Spirit played this incredible version of Jimi Hendrix All Along the Watchtower

Juno Nominees MonkeyJunk close out the festival Sunday afternoon in style