The best way to get the blues is with tickets for the upcoming Nanaimo Blues Festival.
This year鈥檚 festival runs Aug. 8-10 at Maffeo Sutton Park, and celebrates its 20th anniversary with 21 acts, including international, national and local artists.
This year鈥檚 headliners include Coco Montoya, Rick Estrin and the Nightcats, Lee Oskar and Vanessa Collier.
Shakura S鈥橝ida, Tanika Charles, Marcus Mosely, Angel Forrest, George Leach, Ruzz Evans, and Lindsay Beaver are also part of the lineup along with local artists James Vickers, Jona Kristinsson, Renovation Blues Band, Mark Crissinger, and the Midnights.
This year鈥檚 festival is also presenting two workshops: Oskar discusses everything harmonica on Aug. 8, and S鈥橝ida leads a vocal workshop Aug. 9.
Festival parties happen at the Queen鈥檚 Hotel on Aug. 7 and Aug. 9.
Food trucks, artisans and licensed beverages will be on site throughout the festival and festival goers are welcome to bring their own chairs or rent one. For ticket information, visit http://nanaimoblues.tickit.ca. For the full festival schedule, visit http://nanaimoblues.com.