Bluesfest took over The Confluence this weekend. This was the second year the festival was held at the Confluence. The 22nd edition of Bluesfest features local, regional and international artists, ranging in age from 19 all the way to 95-year-old Bob Stroger. The festival started Monday and runs through Sunday night. Bluesfest producer and artistic director Cindy McLeod said she’s looking forward to Sunday night. “We have a tribute to Tim Williams, who is a very beloved and very high-profile Canadian musician that made his home in Calgary, and so we have his band that he started 15 years ago, the Porch Dogs, who are carrying the torch forward,” she said. “They have several renown Canadian blues musicians joining them as guests from across Canada, so we have (Juno Award winner) Steve Marriner from Toronto, Tony D from Ottawa, Big Dave McLean from Winnipeg, and David Gogo from Nanaimo. “And Kenny Blues Boss Wayne, who has recently relocated to Calgary, so those are all the special guests for that tribute – that’s a pretty special night for us with that." Williams was born and raised in California before making his way to Canada, and was considered a pillar in Calgary’s music community. He died in 2025 at the age of 77. Sunday night’s headliner is Grammy winner Dexter Allen and Lady Adrena, who performed at Werklund Centre last fall as part of Morgan Freeman’s musical event. For more about Bluesfest, go here.
