Like Christmas for blues lovers: Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival on at Deer Lake Park
Posted August 11, 2018 7:59 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BURNABY (NEWS 1130) – Burnaby is home to the blues — at least for one day.
The Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival is on at Deer Lake Park. The line-up this year includes Nikki Lane, The Rural Alberta Advantage, and headliners Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.
“We’ve got something for everybody,” explains Jared Bowles, who’s head of marketing and sponsorship with the festival. “There’s food trucks, there’s the kids area, the whole site is licensed so you can grab a drink and take it back to your spot in the park.”
He’s hoping for a record crowd this weekend.
“We’re going to try and pack around 7,500 people into the park this year. So, it’s a big jump from previous years. We’ve been around four, five thousand but this year we’re going to be absolutely packed to the brim.”
The capacity may be a crowd of 7,500 now, but Bowles says the festival has come a long way since it began 18 years ago.
“You know, it started off with a small crowd with one little stage of 500 to 1,000 people and now we’re looking at a sold-out show this year.”
If you’ve never been to the festival, Bowles say it’s best to plan ahead.
“You know, it’s the summer, it’s the Lower Mainland, so bring sunscreen, bring a refillable water bottle, we’ve got water stations around the site.”
There is also overflow parking at BCIT’s Burnaby campus and a free shuttle to and from the venue all day long.
Gates open at 2:00 p.m., and the festival runs until 10:00 p.m. Saturday.
