Workshop recap at The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival – WE GOT HARPS, WE AIN’T NO ANGELS.
One of the highlights of this wonderful weekend festival was an all-Canadian Harp (short for harmonica) workshop. It showcased the relatively unknowns Steve Marriner, Paul Reddick and Rusty Reed on harmonica, with an incredible back up band which included Matt Sobb, Tony D, Greg Cockerill and Joe Nolan.
The session quickly became a blues harp history lesson and an all around jam session as the artists who never played together before were feeding of each other thrilling the crowd with some modern takes on blues classics.
I must note that I was absolutely amazed by the young and multi-talented Marriner who not only is an accomplished harmonica and base player but also has one of the most sweet and beautiful voices I’ve heard in a long time.
Above all was Rusty Reed whose ultimate control of the harp kept the audience mesmerized, rarely you get a chance to see an artist spilling his guts and soul in such a commanding, awe inspiring manner.
Guest post by @dorylanenter
For more information, check out the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues website.
For more information about Salmon Arm, check out the region’s tourism office, Shuswap Tourism, for all travel tips & arrangements. Special thanks to Destination BC for their support.
Feature Photo Credit: Viktoria Haack.
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