15th Winter Carnival BLues Festival

The 2026 Winter Carnival Blues Festival, our 15th, boasts an incredible line of Okanagan musicians.  Join us on Saturday February 14th, it all takes place in the heart of Vernon, BC at the ANAF club - 2500 46th ave. Two stages (and 2 dances floors) of non-stop music start hopping when the doors open at 6pm.  Tickets for all 5 acts are only $40 (with 15% going directly to the Vernon Winter Carnival) and available at many outlets:

Winter Carnival Office - https://vernonwintercarnival.com/ , Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/15th-winter-carnival-blues-festival-tickets-1676624271329?aff=oddtdtcreator , ANAF 2500 46th ave Vernon, or via e-transfer at itssippytime@gmail.com

Les Copeland, born in Kelowna B.C. Canada on August 7,1959, currently resides with his wife and children in the beautiful Okanagan  Valley town of Vernon BC.  A talented Roots and Blues Artist, Les has perfromed with legendary bluesman David Honeyboy Edwards since their first  meeting in 1997. In 2009 Les toured England, Wales, Italy and Austria in the Honeyboy Edwards Trio, with Les on second guitar. A highlight of the tour was playing Venice’s 53rd  Biennale Contemporary Music Festival .

Les has also promoted concerts in western Canada and toured with the  late Jimmie Lee Robinson, Louisiana Red, Jimmy D.Lane, Dennis Binder and  Sonny Rhodes. In May of 2010, Les joined the ranks of Earwig Music label with the CD release of Don’t Let The Devil In. 

The Cd, shortly after its release, reached #1 on the  Canadian Roots Radio Airplay Chart and remains on steady rotation in  Canada . In 2010, Don’t Let The Devil In also reached #3 on the worldwide Top 20 Roots Blues Radio Airplay Chart .

In April 2011, The Les Copeland Band opened for blues legend Buddy  Guy in Kelowna B.C Canada. 

Stay Tuned for the Bag Daddies Bio!

Cat Wells Blues Band is a Canadian based band, featuring the Thunder and gravel vocals of Cat Wells.  Cats' voice has been compared to Susan Tedeschi, Beth Hart and Janis Joplin.  The Band leans towards a funky blues style, giving their music a jumpy, dancable vibe. Cat and her band have performed at numerous Blues Festivals including "White Rock Blues  Festival"-Whiterock BC, “Rendezvous Blues Festival”-Oroville Washington and "Beachs Blues Festival"-Toronto Ontario to name a few. They were  recently invited to Memphis to perform at the "Women in Blues Showcase" during the International Blues Challenge.   Some of the bands career highlights include support for Jeff Healey,  Harpdog Brown and ZZ Top amongst many others. Cat Wells Blues Band releasedthe CD  "Brand New Shoes” featuring artists Jason Buie, Johnny Ferreira (Colin James band) and the late Sonny Rhodes in December 2025.  During the release, two of the songs, Wild Women Never Get the Blues and Feel Like Dyin', reached #1 on the Canadian Blues Charts. The title song, Brand News Shoes, was nominated for Best Blues Song at the Intercontinental Music Awards. They are currently working on their next  release.

The Blueshounds are a dynamic four-member band based in the Okanagan, celebrated for their distinctive "rocking boogie blues" style. The ensemble includes Gerry Pearson on blues harmonica, Ian “Lefty” Stewart who plays guitar, pedal steel guitar, bass, keyboards, and provides vocals, Cliffe Fraser on drums, and Rob Robertson, who contributes vocals, songwriting, and plays multiple instruments. They have  captivated audiences across the Okanagan, performing at notable venues  such as Dirty Laundry Winery, Summerland Estate Winery, The Dream Cafe, and  festivals like the Copper Valley Music Festival in Princeton and the Lake Country Winter Blues Festival. Their high-energy live shows feature  a mix of original compositions and covers of blues icons, including  James Cotton, the Allman Brothers, Charlie Musselwhite, and Kirk  Fletcher, among others.

Ragged Soul bio coming soon