Festival director and founder Colin Thompson hosted a Blues Tram session with local musician Alawishus Jones as the tram trundled from Central Deborah Gold Mine to Alexandra Fountain and back.

This year's Bendigo Blues and Roots Festival sees more than 130 acts booked into 30 venues from Thursday, November 6, to Sunday, November 9.

"I can’t believe how big it is in hindsight," Mr Thompson said.

"We are a community festival but we punch well above our weight.

"It's a cultural venture run by volunteers. The acts we attract know that, want to work with us and be a part of it."

Chris Wilson, The Continental Blues Party and Lachy Doley are tipped to be among the most popular acts at this year's festival.

"It's amazing to get approached by these people, find out how easy they are to work with," Mr Thompson said.

"A lot of people will be. excited for Lachy Doley.

"He is play with Jimmy Barnes (who is supporting the Rolling Stones) and couldn’t stay for the whole weekend which he apologised for but we’re just glad to have him at all."

With so many local acts also getting time in the festival's spotlight, Mr Thompsons said a big part of the festival's charter was to make people realise that fantastic music is around the region all the time. 

"It’s not a once-a-year thing," he said.

"Anynight of the week, on any week of the year, there’s brilliant live music being performed in Bendigo. 

"That’s what we want to shine a light on."

Mr Thompson also paid tribute to the dozens of people who gave their time and efforts for the festival.

"It's a fantastic crew we’ve got," he said.

"We started with five or six people at the first meeting to now a couple of hundred volunteers giving their own time to make (the festival) happen."

The Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival program is out now and available from the Bendigo Visitor Centre and venues hosting acts across the festival weekend.

It's also available online at www.bendigobluesandroots.com.au

"You can get it in numerous formats," Mr Thompson said.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for people to follow what’s going on and who’s playing where."