Arsen Shomakhov with The Grand Koolios

A Maple Blues Awards nominee, guitarist, songwriter and singer Arsen Shomakhov is an electric blues performer truly dedicated to the style’s roots yet never hesitating to borrow means of expression from other genres. He established himself as a blues-devoted virtuoso musician in his native Russia making it to the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis in 2005 and winning the new talent contest at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, AR in 2007. The Grand Koolios is composed of Chris Nordquist, Tim Hearsey, Rob Becker, Jerry Cook, and Darryl Havers – western Canada’s premiere live performance and session musicians with collective biographies that read like a who’s who of the top blues, country and roots music worlds. Tickets are $35 each (plus $1.40 per ticket for online purchases). Saturday, June 6, 2026 8:00 – 11:30 pm Royal Canadian Legion Madeira Park