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<\/a>The year 2020 was tough on everything and everybody, including live music venues, artists, and festivals all over the country and the world. In Columbia, MO, the yearly Roots n Blues festival was canceled in 2020\u20144 days prior to the announcement of their first-ever all-female lineup, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To say that this was a sad and difficult blow for everyone involved–including the college town of Columbia itself–would be an understatement, as the yearly event has become a time-honored tradition of sorts for the legions of musicians and fans that perform at or attend the festival every year. Fortunately, however, and thanks to the hard work and perseverance of festival owners Shay Jasper and Tracy Lane, Roots n Blues came roaring back with a vengeance this past weekend at Stephens Lake Park. The 3-day festival took place in the 116-acre park under clear, sunny skies and with a renewed sense of hope and promise that seemed to permeate that entire festival and its revelers all weekend long.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Mavis-RnB-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a>Now in its 14th season, the festival has undergone many changes over the years, but this year\u2019s installment likely included more \u201cfirsts\u201d for the festival than in any year previously. For starters, the lineup this year was comprised completely of female solo artists or female-fronted bands. The decision to honor women in music this year was borne from the fact that the music industry in general is male dominated, despite the stellar contributions that women have made to the evolution of music since the beginning of time. These days, music festivals are often comprised of more than 70% of male-dominated acts, but this year\u2019s Roots n Blues blazed a trail for female artists of nearly every genre of music. Blues, rock, hip-hop, country, R&B, country, and even an all-female mariachi band were all featured at the festival, and every artist came out swinging, bringing their baddest selves and their unique brand of talent to one of the two ample stages within walking distance of one another in the scenic and spacious park.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Another new addition to this year\u2019s festival was the vaccine protocol put into place by the festival\u2019s organizers. Attendees were required to either present a recent negative COVID test or proof of vaccination to gain entry onto the festival grounds. This new development seems to be becoming the industry\u2019s standard at venues and events throughout the country. All of the festival attendees I spoke with regarding this vaccine mandate were in favor of this new development and praised Lane and Jasper for bravely implementing this measure, most stating that it allowed them to feel safer and to celebrate the return of live music in a more joyful and carefree manner.![\"\"](\"http:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_1243-300x298.jpg\")
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