The 2026 Saskatoon Blues Festival Presented by the Saskatoon Blues Society is Now Live!! Go to our Festival Page to get all the details on the lineup and links to Special Early Bird Tickets. We are excited!! You should be too! Come out and support the Blues in Saskatoon!!
Embedded Files
Saskatoon Blues Festival Celebrating 25 Years of the Saskatoon Blues Society!!
Brandon Isaak
Harrison Kennedy
Shakura S'aida
Charlie Jacobson
Whitey Somers' Memphis 2026 Review
Whitey Somers' Memphis 2026 Review
The magic is real!
Whitey Somers Feb. 02/26
Memphis, Oh Memphis! 2026 has started out to be a pretty good year so far. After winning my spot at Buds on Broadway in Saskatoon at the Road To Memphis Challenge last September, arrangements were made and funds were raised. It was off to the home of the Blues to meet with the best in the world. I'm still trying to take it all in. Well, while I did not make it to the finals of the 41st. International Blues Challenge I would like to take a moment to say this. I have already become a winner just by being there! What a great opportunity to be there and share my songs, I am humbled and honoured to have been part of this event. I have had a fantastic response to my music and have made quite a few new fans. The thing about going to the International Blues Challenge is that it is so much more than the competition itself. The vibe, the music, the delicious food all move to the beat of the Blues. Music is everywhere! Neon is everywhere! It’s the camaraderie, the new friends and faces from all over the world, seeing old friends, the wonderful people of the City of Memphis and their warm friendly southern hospitality. From the Speed dating with industry representatives and making good connections to the amount of knowledge to be gained are the true gold. Lots of fancy jackets and sharp dressed folk, ‘round here you dress for success. Jams all over the place, I jammed with some stellar and well known players (I didn’t get a picture of that, ‘cause I was on stage). The musicianship was incredible, from the welcoming host bands to the veterans and competitors. All were on their game. The spectacular museums with so much music history to be learned, more time is needed. I saw the King, found Gus’s fried chicken, The Arcade and The Kooky Canuck, took a masterclass with Kevin Burt, learned some new things about copyright and patents with Kamel King. The finals at the Orpheum were spectacular. There is much more networking and connecting still to be done. WOW! This was one of the many highlights of my journey. It was a privilege for Whitey Somers Music, representing the Saskatoon Blues Society, Saskatchewan and Canada to open the International Blues Challenge on Beale Street in the City of Memphis. And an honour to meet with the "Honorary Consulate for Canada in Nashville" Lori Odom pictured here with The Blues Foundation President Kimberly Horton, Production Manager Joe Whitmer and myself. Thank you to The Blues Foundation for hosting such an amazing event. And thanks to Creative Saskatchewan and Saskatoon Blues Society for all the support and opportunity to have attended.
Our mission
Our mission
Saskatoon Blues Society promotes, fosters, supports and celebrates Blues music in Saskatoon and throughout our province, Saskatchewan. We put on an annual Blues Festival, as well as other live shows, but we support all Blues performers. We are dedicated to telling the history of the music, and of the people who created it.
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