Koko Taylor at Blues Festival

By Dan Hilborn
Published June 7, 2006


The woman who has won more Blues Foundation Awards than any other artist in the history of the genre will join the legendary Buddy Guy on stage in Deer Lake Park this summer.

Koko Taylor, the raspy-voiced winner of two Grammy Awards and a record-setting 24 W.C. Handy awards, has been confirmed as the second headline act for the seventh annual Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival.

And just like Guy, who describes himself as a transplanted Southerner, Taylor rose to stardom when she moved herself to Chicago to become part of the fast-rising blues scene that emerged from that city in the early 1960s.

Taylor was also the recipient of the 2004 National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honour bestowed by the Washington, D.C.- based National Endowment for the Arts.

Also appearing at this year's festival will be the Holmes Brothers, who are described as the undisputed masters of American blues-based roots music; Susan Tedeschi, a powerhouse singer from New England who belts out the soulful blues; and Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, an authentic Cajun zydeco band.

Also appearing will be the Vancouver-based folk rock trio the Be Good Tanyas, who graced the outdoor amphitheatre at Deer Lake Park last weekend when they played alongside Ben Harper.

Ian Forsyth, manager of cultural services for the city of Burnaby, said this year's festival will again feature a second stage, with even more local blues acts.

New this year is a family ticket - four for $99 - which will be available by advance purchase only. Early bird single tickets will cost $29 up to July 15. Regular ticket prices are $35 in advance or $45 at the door.

Tickets to the 2006 Burnaby Blues Blues and Roots Festival will go on sale next Thursday, June 15, through Ticketmaster and the usual outlets.