Flambeau specializes in fiery Cajun and zydeco two-steps, low-down blues, funky New Orleans grooves, and heartbreakingly beautiful ballads and waltzes. Most of the repertoire is composed by Rigney, but they also mix in a few classics from the Cajun/zydeco/New Orleans songbook. And if, along the way, you pick up a trace of Rigney's Irish roots or a little Swing and roots Rock and Roll, it just makes the musical gumbo that much tastier.

Tom has performed at the Penticton Jazz Festival for many years with both the Black Dogs and as a solo performer. This year he returns with two great musicians that he performs with - Eddie Metz Jr. on drums and Bobby Durham on Bass. All three of these guys are Black Dogs Alumni. Look for a mix of very danceable music from this polished group of musicians. There will still be a heavy dose of Tom's usual jump swing and New Orleans party favorites, with the addition of even more straight ahead jazz and Latin styles. Grab a refreshing Molson Canadian, put on your dancing shoes, and let’s do the Ogopogo Blues!

Gator Beat, the West Coast's hardest hitting Zydeco, New Orleans R&B band is a hand-clapping, foot-stomping, high energy concert and dance band. They are known as "The Band With A Beat That Bites". That is because Gator Beat Band has what it takes. With the same survival instinct as its namesake, Gator Beat continues to adapt itself to its audiences, always with something fresh yet true to its calling. That calling is to represent the music of South Louisiana in all its forms, Cajun, Zydeco, and New Orleans style. The result is a remarkable show with so much variety and depth that at the end of the show, the Gator Beat Band leaves you happy and hollerin' "Gimme Some Mo"!

We welcome back Bob Draga's soaring melodies, inspired improvisations and rich tones. In performance, he and 'his friends' cover music, ranging from ragtime to stride, ballads to bounces, and a surprise or two thrown in! Experience the delightful work and simpatico of a trio featuring gifted, emotional players with a touch of stand up comedy?

Comprised of six of the finest musicians in Arizona, offers traditional New Orleans and Chicago jazz, performed in a spirit and style that is true to its musical roots and wildly popular with audiences around the southwest United States. Their energetic performances are sizzling with musical energy and steeped in good humor. These "doctors of jazz" have found the cure for the common blues - it's red-hot jazz, and it's contagious!

A regular at the Pentastic Jazz Festival. Lance was named "most outstanding musician at his high school". In college he started playing with the top rock, jazz and Latin groups in LA. He joined the AFM at the age of 20 (just a few years ago!!!) and almost immediately hit Vegas working the Dunes and Aladdin Casinos. He worked with Little Anthony, Bob Marley and at 24 began a long association with The Beach Boys which included 5 albums and tours to Europe, Australia and of course the U.S. His recording career, which began in 1974, includes 24 albums, including 5 with his own band The Monarchs. He prefers being on stage in a performing capacity and is often featured with show-biz Greats. "There is nothing like being on stage with a hot band behind you and a great crowd to entertain. That is why I am here!"

Dixieland, early jazz styles, ragtime and old-time gospel music Black Swan is a fun, artistic group that specializes in Dixieland, early jazz styles, ragtime and old-time gospel. The band loves the hot jazz music of the 1920s and features the sizzling talents of vocalist Marilyn Keller.

Black Swan Classic Jazz Band Website

Since 1980, Le Dixieband has been bringing bright new shadings, vitality and intensity to the redhot strains and the hard-driving rhythms of traditional New Orleans jazz. Its dynamic, seasoned musicians have set themselves apart from similar groups by their one-of-a-kind mastery of a unique repertoire performed in the purest down-home style. We welcome them back to Pentastic, their last performance here was in 2004.

The Grand Dominion Jazz Band came together in 1982 as the musical vision of Vancouver banjoist Mike Cox, immigrant to Canada from Wales, who was steeped in the music of the New Orleans revivalist musicians such as George Lewis, Bunk Johnson, Kid Ory, Baby Dodds and others. Mike and his expatriate friends in Vancouver had grown up in the UK listening to Ken Colyer, Chris Barber, Humphrey Lyttelton, and others on the trad jazz scene. Mike decided to put a band of like-minded players together from both sides of the Canada - US border, a band that embodies all the rough-and-ready, hard-driving, ensemble playing characteristics of the revivalist bands.

The Aged to Perfection Jazz Band was formed by the late Eric Wood, co-director of music for the Pentastic Jazz Festival. He connected with the best of musicians from Revelstoke, Vernon, Salmon Arm, The Kootenays, Kelowna and Penticton. These 6 musicians were more than eager to join together for this purpose. We think you will be delightfully surprised by the musicianship of this group who have a wealth of experience behind them. Individually they have traveled and played in the U.S.A., Europe, Japan and Canada. Their versatility will show with Latin, old standards, ballads and everything in-between for your humming and dancing pleasure and the individual solos will amaze you. This is a fresh, new sound!

The Offramp Jazz Sextet is a group of local musicians from Penticton and Summerland who have been playing in other ensembles professionally for many years. Led by pianist Justin Glibbery, this band will have you dancing from the downbeat. Their set will give you a bit of everything - great swing standards of Duke Ellington and Count Basie, tasty Latin grooves, a bit of boogie, a beautiful ballad, and few small surprises along the way.