Page 83 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2013

A magical blues evening at Tremblant Courtesy of Tremblant Resort Assoc.

Tremblant International Blues Festival
Mont-Tremblant, Québec, Canada

Created in 1994 to bring more tourists to Tremblant in the
summertime, the Tremblant International Blues Festival has far
surpassed the initial objectives of the organizer, the Tremblant Resort
Association (TRA).
In the 19 years since it was launched, the Festival has grown
both in scope and reputation to become a major international outdoor
music festival. Originally presented as a four-day event, the Festival
now spans a period of 10 days each year. Concerts are held on fi ve
outdoor stages and at a number of participating local clubs.
Previous years have featured an impressive lineup of guest
artists, including the legends Buddy Guy, Clarence “Gatemouth”
Brown, Long John Baldry, Chicago Pete, EC Scott, Coco Montoya,
Taj Majal, Joe Louis Walker, John Mayall and Robert Cray, to name
but a few. Quite naturally, an important place is given to emerging
talents and the new generation of blues musicians.
The caliber of musical guests, the 150 free shows each year
and the picturesque setting are all factors that make this event a
big draw for impressive numbers of blues fans from near and far;
the 2012 festival brought more than 129,000 visitors. The event
generates signifi cant economic benefi ts, from a fi nancial perspective
and in terms of media coverage, for Tremblant and the region. The
Tremblant International Blues Festival has become a benchmark
event for blues afi cionados – locals and visitors alike – and has
earned a privileged reputation and prominent place among major
blues events in North America.
The 20th edition of the Festival will be held July 5-14, 2013.
The program for this milestone anniversary promises unique
performances, exciting discoveries and theme nights, as always in
the extraordinarily charming Laurentians setting. The organizers are
also pleased to welcome back, for the second year, the inimitable
Normand Brathwaite as the spokesperson for the 10-day event.
www.tremblant.ca ~ Pierre-Alexandre Legault

Blues Festival Guide 2013 81