Colin James has been on a musical journey for 23-years. His blues, rock and big band sounds have traveled across the nation. Now, the Canadian musical traveler is bringing them back to Burnaby. The fifth annual Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival hosts James at the Aug. 21 event.

"They asked me to come and I guess I could've played hard to get... but I love playing festivals way too much" he said.

He'll be performing songs from his new album Traveler. James began listening to folk music and the blues at an early age. He played in his first band at 13 and later quit school to tour with such legends as George Thorogood, John Lee Hooker and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

"I got a bunch of huge breaks when I was young" James said.

"Stuff started happening really quick. I was wide-eyed and young. But I fully appreciated all that was happening."

No matter where his travels take him he always enjoys coming back to his B.C. roots.

"I love the mountains. I love B.C. and Vancouver especially." he said, from his vacation spot in the Interior.
James, originally from Saskatchewan, moved to Vancouver in 1984 and never looked back.

Now at 39 years old, he's thrilled to be performing the Blues and Roots Festival a second time. He first appeared in 2001.

"The festival's great and the people are great too" James said.

"There aren't that many blues festivals in this country ... it's the only one in Vancouver. Festivals have a pretty good vibe ... I love playing shows outside."

James has earned numerous Juno's including 'Most Promising New Artist in 1988' and 'Best Blues Album' in 1997 for his work on National Steel.