This year the Kamloops Sports Council organized the Kamloops Ribfest, taking over from the Rotary Club. There did not appear to be many changes and once again it was a big success. Other than the ribs, live music is the backbone of this event. Eighteen musical acts made an appearance at the 2026 version of this annual event. I saw one band on Friday and stayed for the entire day Saturday. The entertainment was, as usual, very good.

Friday I caught a set by the always fun bluegrass band, Bunchgrass Boys. They played an energetic set of country, bluegrass and a few hybrids of other music. The father/son Kneeshaws (David and Jeremy) and others played a variety of guitars, banjo, mandolin and violin. Their versions of “Blue Moon of Kentucky” and a bluegrass version of “A Hard Days Night” were showstoppers!

I spent Saturday under a large tent, sitting at a table, listening to music, eating ribs and having a few cold drinks. There was a nice vibe. Everybody seemed happy and friendly.

The music started with saxophone player Jeremy Gutoski. He played a set of solo live sax. He was accompanied by some recorded music. He has a varied selection of songs. Favourites were “Hit the Road Jack,” and “What A Wonderful World.” You don’t get a chance to hear a talented live sax player in Kamloops very often.

The 1:15 time slot was covered by Chapter 9. They are a very good cover band that gets tunes from many decades. They blew the place away with their great version of the Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” and a smart, original tune Oxymoron.

Following Chapter 9, were Jenny and the Gents. This well-known group often appears at casinos in the Kamloops and Salmon Arm areas. This gifted band played a varied set that included “Go Ask Alice,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “Gold Dust Woman.” Many sang along to “Folsom Prison Blues.”

As the day wore on, many more people arrived and the beer and ribs sales rose sharply, if the lines were any indication. It was now time for Wild One. They covered genres from the 1970s through to the present. This accomplished group did a great job on songs from Melissa Etheridge, the Tragically Hip, Credence Clearwater and more. Other favourites were “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” “Whole Lotta Love,” and “Are You Gonna Be My Girl.” By now the audience was getting more involved in the bands.

Next up was a country band that I hadn’t heard before. Saddle Up made their debut at Ribfest. Their publicity mentions that they perform classic and modern country hits with powerful vocals and rich harmonies.

It hit the nail on the head, as they have two women vocalists and lots of other fire power. As a sextet they were the largest local band on stage this day. Favourite tunes were (If You’re Not in it For Love) I’m Outta Here!, and of course Earl’s Gotta Die! Kudos to their drummer Randy Sherman. One post said he played 8 different sets around town over the weekend. One was a DJ set, one set with Saddle Up both at Ribfest Kamloops and the 6 other sets where the The Angie Heinze Band at the Blue Grotto!

The headliners on this day were an Eagles tribute band called Eagle Eye. They played many songs from the Eagles catalogue. Not surprisingly, their harmonies were outstanding and their musicianship excellent. By this point the park was quite full. The band played hit after hit, including a few lesser known songs of the Eagles. The audience loved them!

I had a great time doing the Ribfest thing and running into old friends and making a few new ones. The food, drink, service and entertainment were all exceptional. The heat and smoke did not deter the crowds. The Kamloops Sports Council deserves congratulations on organizing such a big event for the first time and hopefully they will continue doing so.