Blues, rock and gospel in Penticton Dream Music Festival lineup

PENTICTON – A new group of artists will be centre stage at the 2016 Dream Music Festival.

The Dream Cafe Co-op announced the dates and line up for next year’s festival — where Blues and Rock will visit their Gospel roots — today, Dec. 4.

The 2016 festival will take place at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre on May 13 and May 14 next year, featuring raucous 2015 Grammy Award winner Mike Farris, who won the Best Root/Gospel Duo of the year.

Gospel group “Sojourners," the thought-provoking Naomi Wachira, and blues, rock and soul performer Shakura S’aida and former leader of the Canadian rock group Junkhouse, Tom Wilson, will also be performing for the first time at the Dream Festival.

Making return performances in second annual festival will be roots and blues artist Rita Chiarelli, winner of a JUNO award and four time nominee; bluesman Jim Byrnes, and Bill Bourne, who’s blues music is steeped in Cajun, Celtic, World beat Flamenco and funk influences.

A constantly changing troupe of performers known as the “Dream Festival Band” will back the featured performers and lend support to each others performance throughout the two day event.

Other performers returning from 2015 include Michael Kaeshammer, Paul Pigat, Silverscreen Soundrels, Brandon Isaac and Keith Picot and Gary Comeau.

Chris Norquist, Jerry Cook, Keith Bennett, and Rob Becker round out the festival’s lineup for 2016.

Tickets for the 2016 Dream Music Festival go on sale Monday, Dec. 7 at the South Okanagan Events Centre box office, at the Penticton and Wine Country Visitors Centre and online at ValleyFirstTix.com.

The Dream Co-op has over 100 members and accepts membership applications for those interested in being part of the Penticton dining and music scene. For more information about the Co-op, contact Pierre at the Dream Cafe at 250-490-9012 or email the Dream Cafe at admin@thedreamcafe.com

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.