12 November 2020

Shake off the pandemic blues at Cooma’s Country Roots and Blues music festival

| Hannah Sparks
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International Blues Player of the Year, Fiona Boyes, will headline this year’s Cooma Country Roots and Blues music festival (November 15). Photo: supplied

International Blues Player of the Year Fiona Boyes will headline this year’s Cooma Country Roots and Blues music festival. Photos: Supplied.

Ready to shake off the pandemic blues and get among good music, friends, family and food? Then the Cooma Country Roots and Blues music festival is just the event for you.

The live music festival will return for the third time to Centennial Park in Cooma this Sunday (15 November), from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, with award-winning musicians, markets and southern-style food.

Even better, the event is free and will be available to watch online for those who can’t make it.

International Blues Player of the Year Fiona Boyes is this year’s headline act.

Fiona has been recording for more than 25 years and tours regularly in Australia, the United States and Europe.

In 2003 she won the solo/duo category at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, making her the only Australian musician to be recognised in the American Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards.

Stormcellar Collective will return to the stage this year. Photo: supplied

Stormcellar Collective will return to the stage this year.

Stormcellar Collective will also bring its fun mix of roots, blues, rock and folk music to the stage this year.

Stormcellar has achieved local and international recognition over more than 11 years, with three number-one albums on the local Australian blues and roots charts. They’ve also charted in the US and France.

Two new performers at this year’s festival include Rose & Co, winner of the 2009 Golden Saddle Awards for Excellence, and Wayne Tritton.

Also among this year’s offerings will be authentic southern-style food, prepared by local American expat Charlee Hommen, and Cooma Rotary’s barbecue and barista-prepared coffee.

The festival began in 2015 as part of the Cooma Rotary Markets to provide a fun day out for families, and event coordinator, Carlo Botto, said he was pleased the festival could go ahead during COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 restrictions created enormous uncertainty, but we’re thrilled we can go ahead based upon the current circumstances. The support by everyone involved has been nothing short of inspiring,” Carlo said.

“The music is curated and organised by Michael Barry from Self Propelled Artists. Michael is also the lead singer of Stormcellar, so he knows his music and it shows with the line-up he’s organised. He’s really out-done himself this year.”

COVID-safe requirements will be in place for the markets and festival, including contact logging, social distancing and covid marshals to assist.

For more information visit Cooma Country Roots and Blues.

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