The 2026 Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival will feature headliners Of Monsters and Men, Blue Rodeo and The Sheepdogs when it runs July 24 to 26.
Organizers said the three-day event at the Salmon Arm fairgrounds is expected to draw thousands of visitors for a weekend of live music.
Friday’s headliner is Of Monsters and Men, an Icelandic band likened to Mumford & Sons. The group is coming off a sold-out European tour and performances at folk festivals in Calgary and Winnipeg.
“This was an amazing opportunity for us to ensure our programming attracts younger audiences, get them into the festival fold and give them a sense of what the festival is all about. We’re really excited to have Of Monsters and Men kick off the festival and help us recapture that energy we had last year,” artistic director Kevin Tobin said.
Saturday’s headliner is Blue Rodeo as part of the band’s 40th anniversary tour. Sunday’s headliner is The Sheepdogs, who last appeared at the festival a decade ago.
“Bringing back Blue Rodeo for a full performance has been three years in the making,” Tobin added. “It was just a matter of when.”
“We’re always looking to support musicians who’ve played the festival in the past and gone on to continue putting out great music and can come back at a different stage in their career,” Tobin said. “To close the festival with this really swampy, bluesy five-piece rock band—you can’t ask for much more.”
Food and artisan vendor spots are full and camping spots are nearly sold out.
Tobin encouraged local businesses, as well as longtime and new festivalgoers, to get involved as excitement grows.
Artists performing throughout the festival include:
- Amani Brunham
- Blue Rodeo
- Chambers DesLauriers feat. Annika Chambers and Paul DesLauriers Corey Harris and Cedric Watson: True Blues
- Darla Daniels
- DUG
- Fontine
- Leaf Rapids
- Lorcarno
- LowDown Brass Band
- Mitsune
- MonkeyJunk
- Of Monster and Men
- Oh Pray Tell
- Sinkane
- Supalung
- The Balck Brothers
- The Blue Mules
- The Free Label
- The Sheepdogs
- Tiken Jah Fakoly
- Too Many Zooz
- Uncle Strut
- Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz
- Wild Rivers
- Yagody
- Secondhand Dreamcar
