This year, over and above blues, the most varied musical genres will be featured at the Festival: R & B, soul, classical rock, boogie woogie, and gospel. The Festival features more than 150 concerts on four outdoor stages, in local clubs in the pedestrian village as well as in the old village of Mont-Tremblant during the last weekend.

In addition to spokesperson Normand Braithwaite’s own show, on July 11, blues fans will see Nanette Workman, Nadja, and Steve Hill, who will make a return to blues for this festive event. Musical animation will take place in the heart of the pedestrian village as well as animation for all the duration of the Festival. Here’s a partial lineup of the performers.

TOWER OF POWER: This legendary Californian funk, soul and R&B band will rock the boat with its brass section, its huge rhythm apparatus and its emotional lyrics. Ten musicians will be on stage, for an energizing and unforgettable party.
BETTYE LAVETTE: Among the greatest names in American soul music, Bettye LaVette still succeeds in renewing herself even after a 40-year career. With 19 albums and one nomination for a Grammy Award, she was invited to attend the inauguration evening of President Barack Obama.

THE LOWRIDER BAND: Take a trip back to the 70’s with The Lowrider Band and its repertoire of classics such as Low Rider, Why Can’t We Be Friends, Cisco Kid and Spill The Wine. With more than 50 million albums sold, this band has reinvented soul music.

KIM WILSON BLUES ALL-STARS: The famed 61-year old singer and harmonica player Kim Wilson, who has co-founded the Fabulous Thunderbirds, will be accompanied by Billy Flynn at the guitar, Barrelhouse Chuck at the piano, the legendary Larry Taylor on bass and the equally famous Richard Innes on drums. With their famed “West Coast Blues” won the band a Blues Music Award in 2012.

CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE: In his 50-year career and most recently on stage with Cindy Lauper, Charlie Musselwhite has played harmonica with Tom Waits, John Lee Hooker and INXS, among many others. This dual Blues Music Awards winner in 2011 for his album The Well has had a brilliant career in Chicago’s South Side. A chance to see a living legend.

KIM CHURCHILL: The Australian writer-composer-performer Kim Churchill, who was a hit on the Vieux-Tremblant stage last year and who gathers more and more fans all over the world by the day, is back to the Festival this year. His unique approach, his perfect technique and his deeply moving voice make him the talk of the town.

ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD: Blues rock from the Southern States of the USA is back with a new generation of musicians among which are Devon Allman, son of the famed Greg Allman, guitar player Mike Zito and Cyril Neville (from the Neville Brothers).

MYLES GOODWYN AND APRIL WINE: This mythic Montreal classical rock band is fondly remembered for some legendary songs such as Just Between You and Me, Bad Side of the Moon, I Like to Rock, Rock’n Roll Is a Vicious Game, and Roller.

OUR BEST LOCAL PERFORMERS: Year in and year out, local musicians and artists deliver unforgettable performances and thereby contribute to make this Festival a renowned event. This year, Jim Zeller, Carl Tremblay, Steve Strongman, Wang Dang Doodle, Paul Deslauriers and Dawn Tyler Watson will join in the festivities.

L’AIRE DU BLUES:This is the perfect place for fans to discuss their tastes and preferences while enjoying themselves at the SAQ bistro. Also, as of July 7, workshops will be offered by artists and musicians every day at 1pm. They will recount fascinating anecdotes, give tricks of the trade, answer your questions and sign autographs in a casual atmosphere.