Dedicated to promoting local and emerging musical talent, the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival is pleased to announce its 2025 community and satellite stage lineup.
The festival starts at 11:30am with three satellite stages at Burnaby Village Museum, featuring performances by Revelstoke-born folk-indie rock artist Jez Dylan, folk-indie-pop artist Chris Ho, JUNO nominated Adam Robert Thomas, Vancouver folk-pop Olson Lloyd, R&B pop Tiffany Rivera, Burnaby’s own Jon Müller, and the talents of What We Embrace and Cat Murphy Band.
The newly returned community stage on the festival’s east lawn promises a diverse and dynamic lineup. Ruby Singh and the Future Ancestors, hailed by the Globe and Mail as “mesmerizing, vibrant [and] straddling astral planes,” will headline this vibrant stage. Line up also includes, Canadian folk favourites The Burying Ground, the soulful Indigenous songwriter from the Osoyoos Indian Band Francis Baptiste, and the roots and country sounds of Murfitt & Main, who kicks off the community stage at 3:30pm.
The evening’s main stage will be ignited at 4pm by RBCxMusic’s First Up artist, Antonio Larosa. Through mentorship, media and promotional support, and unique performance opportunities, RBCxMusic continues to champion local talent and foster the next generation of Canadian music stars.
Mark your calendar for Burnaby’s free signature summer event: Saturday, August 9 at Deer Lake Park.
The Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival acknowledges its many sponsors and partners including: The Province of BC’s Destination Events Grant, Burnaby Refinery, RBC and Miss604.
Learn More: Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival
High resolution promotional images: RBC Artist | 2025 Community Stage Artists | 2024 Event Images
Home to the largest and free event in the region, the Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival has been a highlight of the outdoor summer concert season since 2000. Celebrating the influence of roots and blues music in a unique venue, the festival encourages cultural awareness of musical talent and provides a platform for local, Canadian and international artists and ensuring that female and BIPOC artists are represented. The Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival is presented by the City of Burnaby, in association with Live Nation.
RBCXMUSIC’S FIRST UP ARTIST – DEER LAKE PARK: FESTIVAL LAWN
Antonio Larosa is a country-rock and roots artist whose music blends the grit of blues, the soul of vintage rock, and the storytelling of classic country. With a voice that channels the spirit of Elvis Presley and the emotional weight of Chris Stapleton, Larosa creates songs that are heartfelt, lived-in, and unapologetically honest. Raised in Vancouver, BC, Larosa was drawn to the music of Johnny Cash, the Allman Brothers, BB King, and Roy Orbison from a young age. His music reflects those roots: raw, rhythmic and filled with sincerity, but filtered through his own lens and life experiences.
COMMUNITY STAGE – DEER LAKE PARK: EAST LAWN
Ruby Singh is a descendant of the land of five rivers and the moon itself, with Rajput lineage from the edge of the Thar desert. The Future Ancestors come together to conjure sonic remedies to heal, guide and inspire the spirits of our kin, both known and unknown, seen and unseen. From celestial to terrestrial, spanning ancient realms into what's to come, the Future Ancestors kick up stardust from the shelves of our spirits to bring joy into these trying times.
The Burying Ground delivers a lively sound of country blues and ragtime music inspired by artists from the 1920s and '30s. Their live performances include original tunes that hold their own beside old-time classics. With a warm sound and unique instrumentation, the band attracts a diverse audience—young and old alike.
Francis Baptiste is an Indigenous songwriter and music journalist from the Osoyoos Indian Band. His forthcoming debut LP, Snəqsilxʷ (Family), features songs in Nsyilxčn, a highly endangered language, spoken fluently by only approximately 150 people. The first single from his LP was released in November. He is also a music journalist who writes for Exclaim, Permanent Rain Press, and Vancouver Weekly.
Murfitt & Main plumb the depths of country, bluegrass, and western swing, playing home-made songs steeped in the living tradition of roots music. Their original songs possess a clarity rooted in the musical traditions of rural North America, in a contemporary voice. Heartbreak, honky-tonks, whiskey, unions, religion, the Canadian terrain, and the Berlin wall are all fair game in their songwriting. Sweet vocal harmonies draw listeners in adding that high lonesome country sound to the mix.
SATELLITE STAGE – BURNABY VILLAGE MUSEUM: VORCE STAGE, ORCHARD AND BANDSTAND
Jez Dylan Bonham is a Revelstoke-born folk/indie rock artist whose music is rooted in vivid storytelling and emotional grit. Known for his electrifying live sets, Jez has sold out shows in Vancouver and earned slots at major Canadian street festivals — all ahead of his debut album, set to release soon. His genre-defying sound, rich guitar textures, and lyrical depth set him apart as a voice not just to hear, but to feel.
Cat Murphy Band delivers a fun, high-energy show driven by raw talent and a passion for storytelling. Fronted by the effortlessly cool and charismatic Kaitlin, the band brings a mix of folk, rock, and blues with a fresh, engaging vibe. With songs that are both deeply personal and universally relatable, Cat Murphy
Band keeps audiences laughing, singing along, and fully immersed in the moment.
Chris Ho turns everyday melancholy into a bold and empowering art form, rather than a well-kept secret. A folk-meets-indie-pop artist based in Western Canada, his music explores themes of self-expression, understanding one’s identity, and resilience. Ho toured across Western Canada, including performances at Rifflandia, NXNE, and the VIA Rail "Tracks on Tracks" tour.
Olson Llyod is a Vancouver musician acclaimed for his folk, pop, and country fusion. With a soulful voice and expert guitar skills, he crafts a captivating atmosphere reminiscent of a kitchen party or campfire gathering. Passionate about storytelling, Olson's songs explore love, life adventures, and everyday joys, forming a deep emotional connection with audiences.
Jon Müller is your parent’s record collection shuffled with a best of 2000’s Spotify playlist. An eclectic mix of genres grounded by Classic Soul & Modern Pop with just a dash of backstreet Hip-Hop to keep things fresh. Touted as a force in the GVA music scene, Burnaby’s Jon Müller uses his 16 years of songwriting and formal jazz training to create music that is complex, yet accessible. Unique, yet familiar. Kind of like a Kubrick action flick that you’d rent on a cozy Tuesday night.
Tiffany Rivera was born and raised in Vancouver, Tiffany discovered her love for music at the age of six. This early passion blossomed into a multifaceted career as a musician, singer, and performer, with a particular affinity for R&B, soul, disco and pop music. Influenced by powerhouse singers like Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé, Tiffany's musical journey has taken her to various stages, including the Khatsahlano Music Festival, FIFA Women's World Cup Official Draw, Variety of Hearts Telethon, Harmony Arts Festival and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, just to name a few.
Adam Robert Thomas is a JUNO Nominated performer who resides in Burnaby, BC. An accomplished vocalist, bassist, guitarist and producer, Adam combines all these elements into his live solo looping performances: soulful renditions of well-loved favorites from classic to current.
What We Embrace show can be everything from an intimate duo, up to a full band setup. At the core it’s two voices, weaving between being in unison, harmony and intricate counter melodies, and an acoustic guitar providing a backdrop of delicate finger picking, or dynamic rhythmic chord structures. Combined these make every song its own haunting, cathartic story.
