2026 Roots, Blues & Barbecue
September 12, 2026 – 9th year
Badlands Amphitheatre – Drumheller, Alberta
Hours of great music and food surrounded by the hills of the Canadian Badlands
PUBLIC SALE: Thursday, April 2, 2026 10 AM
ARTIST LINEUP:
- Crystal Shawanda
- Digging Roots
- Blue Moon Marquee
- Morgan Toney
- Musical Host: Jade Turner
Tickets: $59 to $99
$8.50 ticket fee
Parking $8 in advance /$10 at gate
When you buy your ticket, you can also pre-order your choice of 4 barbecue meals at an additional charge
- Brisket Sandwich:
Smoked brisket | Fresh local baked bun | Garlic aioli | Fresh hand-cut coleslaw | Regular potato chips| Bottle of water | - Brisket Taco Salad:
Chopped brisket | Fresh made bean and corn salad | Corn chips | Bottle of Water | - Pulled Pork Sandwich:
BBQ Pulled Pork | Fresh Handcut Coleslaw | Fresh locally baked bun | Regular potato chips | Bottle of water - Amp’d Up Burger: 1/3 Pound Burger | BBQ Sauce| Fresh locally baked bun | Regular potato chips | Bottle of water
TICKETS
$59 – $99
$8.50 Ticket Fee plus GST will be applied.
Parking: $8 advance | $10 at the door.
Barbecue food available for pre-purchase.
Details
September 12:
4:30 PM: Site gate/ pub tent open
concession, food opens
5:00 PM: Amp gates open
5:30 PM: Music begins
Musical Host: Jade Turner
Morgan Toney
Blue Moon Marquee
Digging Roots
Crystal Shawanda
10:30 PM: Event end
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The performance goes rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable.
Cancelled performance, due to weather or other circumstances, will result in a non-profit tax receipt to the purchaser, for the ticket price.
Additional concession menu and pub service is available on site.
CRYSTAL SHAWANDA
Born and raised in Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island, Crystal Shawanda grew up immersed in music. Influenced by blues legends like Etta James, Muddy Waters, and Buddy Guy, she developed a deep connection to the genre early on.
She began her career in country, signing with RCA Nashville and releasing Dawn of a New Day (2008), which became the highest-charting album by a full-blooded Canadian Indigenous country artist in the SoundScan era. Her single “You Can Let Go” quickly rose to #2 on the U.S. Mediabase chart, and she became the first Indigenous woman to win CCMA Female Artist of the Year (2009). Just Like You (2010) later earned a JUNO Award.
Shawanda transitioned to blues with The Whole World’s Got the Blues (2014), followed by multiple acclaimed releases including the JUNO-winning Church House Blues (2020). Her 2022 album Midnight Blues made her the first Indigenous woman to debut in the Billboard Blues Top 10.
Her latest album, Sing Pretty Blues (2025), reached #5 on the U.S. Big Blues Chart, #2 in Canada, and #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown, earning JUNO and Canadian Blues Music Award nominations.
A powerful vocalist with deep cultural roots, Shawanda also founded New Sun Records in 2010—the first female and Indigenous-owned record label in Canada—where she continues to mentor and produce emerging artists.
BLUE MOON MARQUEE
“To say A.W. and Jasmine are old souls is an understatement. They are poised for worldwide recognitionin a brilliant and unique genre-bending ride through American blues and folk, Gypsy jazz, Native American themes, jump blues, swing and more. These century-old traditions have been redefined and delivered in a new light here. They are astounding in their depth, groove and soul.”
– Duke Robillard, Grammy Award-winning guitar player and producer
Blue Moon Marquee write and perform original compositions influenced by anything that swings, jumps, or grooves. A.W. Cardinal (vocals/guitar) and Jasmine Colette (Jasmine Ohlhauser), also known as Badlands Jass (vocals/bass/drums), have played for a wide range of audiences at jazz clubs, lindy hop dance halls, folk venues, blues bars, hospitals, prisons, markets, motorcycle joints, dive bars, and major festival stages.
After nine years of touring across Europe and North America, the duo has developed a distinct energy and style. Their sound moves through blues, jazz, jump jive, folk, country, swing, and Indigenous soul, without settling into a single category. It blends early blues tones, jazz expression, country storytelling, folk spirit, and the rhythm and drive of rock and roll.
They bring these elements together in a way that feels natural and cohesive. Their lyrics often explore the underbelly of society, shaped by Indigenous storytelling and a strong poetic voice.
DIGGING ROOTS
Digging Roots breathe life into songs from their land, Turtle Island, raising their voices in solidarity with a global chorus of Indigenous artists, activists, and change-makers.
For over a decade, the two-time JUNO Award-winning group has traveled the world with a joyful message of resistance, celebrating Anishinaabe and Onkwehón:we traditions of round dance and interconnectedness. As Roots Music Canada describes them, they are “badass, empowering and hopeful all at the same time.”
Led by husband-and-wife team ShoShona Kish and Raven Kanatakta, the band blends blues, soul, and rock n’ roll. Their live show opens space for healing, compassion, unconditional love, and Baamaadziwin (the good life), weaving between drum culture and guitar styles shaped by their cultural upbringing and resistance to colonialism.
Beyond music, Digging Roots are involved in advocacy and organizing to support equity and representation in the arts. ShoShona is the founder of the International Indigenous Music Summit and the label Ishkōdé Records. Raven grew up in Winneway (Long Point First Nation) and spent summers in Kahnàwa:ke, while ShoShona’s family is from Batchewana and part of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge.
HOST: JADE TURNER
Jade Turner is your musical host for 2026 Roots, Blues and Barbecue.
A proud member of the Misipawistik Cree Nation, Jade Turner was raised in Northern Manitoba, with an upbringing rooted in the art of storytelling.
Her lyrics tell personal tales that range from serious topics to satirical ones, delivered with dynamic vocals that span from gritty and raw to spirited and energetic.
In 2025, Jade was honored with the Western Canadian Music Award for Country Artist of the Year, and in 2024, she was a semi-finalist in Sirius XM’s Top of the Country competition. She also received the Manitoba Music Kevin Walters Songwriter Award, the SOCAN Vince Fontaine Indigenous Song Award, and the Manitoba Country Music Award for Song of the Year. Early in 2025, Jade released her full-length album “Breathe” to national and international acclaim featured in UK publications such as Country Music People and Americana UK and home country publications CBC, Winnipeg Free Press, Billboard Canada and more.
Roots, Blues & Barbecue takes place at one of Canada’s most spectacular venues – the Badlands Amphitheatre located in Drumheller, Alberta (1.5 hours from Calgary). Surrounded by the ancient hills of the Canadian Badlands, this incredible place has clear sight lines and superior acoustics. The Badlands Amphitheatre is a non-profit arts and culture society operating from the values of community, creation, and celebration.
Past Roots, Blues & Barbecue artists have included: Matt Andersen, Blue Moon Marquee, Bebe Buckskin, Bywater Call, Celeigh Cardinal, Bill Dowey & the Blues Devils, Angelique Francis, Sue Foley, The Hello Darlins, Brandon Isaak, Angelica Jones, Gary Martin & His Heavenly Blues Band, Colin James, Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar, Spencer Mackenzie, Ndidi O., Ollee Owens, Shakura S’Aida, Kate Stevens, The Soul Motivators, Julian Taylor, The Trade-Offs, Marcus Trummer, Suzie Vinnick, Dawn Tyler Watson, Mike Watson & The 6L6’s, Tim Williams, and Garret T. Willie.
