Full day of blues, roots, and Americana at Bend Blues Festival

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The second annual Bend Blues Festival will return to Silver Moon Brewing in Bend on Saturday, June 27, 2026.

This all-ages event will offer a full day of live blues, roots, soul, gospel and Americana music.

Festival organizer Bob Heffernan stated the event aims to celebrate America's musical heritage while building a thriving blues community in Central Oregon.

The festival will feature both nationally touring artists and local performers across multiple professional sound stages. The lineup includes artists such as Thunderstorm Artis, Eric Leadbetter Band and the Maxwell Friedman Group.

A special highlight will be a performance by young musicians from the School of Rock program. This showcases the festival's commitment to music education and preserving the blues tradition for future generations.

Making its festival debut is Maria Jackson & The Blue Orleans Krewe, a Bend-based ensemble. This group delivers a mix of New Orleans R&B, swamp boogie and classic blues. The band features powerhouse vocalist Jackson, James Hutchens on guitar, Patrick Bédard on drums, Tom Bury on saxophone, CJ Johnson on keyboards and Thomas T on bass.

Regarding the band's formation, "Johnson created The Blue Orleans Krewe to bring together the joy and spirit of New Orleans music with the soul of the blues," the band said. "When we play the music of artists like Professor Longhair, Dr. John, Louis Armstrong, Marcia Ball and Katie Webster, we feel a real connection with the audience. People respond with love, happiness and energy — and these days, we need more of that."

The festival will also include a dedicated gospel set. This set will honor the spiritual roots that shaped blues music throughout American history.

Attendees can expect live music from noon through late evening. The event will also offer local food vendors, craft beer and shaded seating areas. The atmosphere aims to be vibrant and family-friendly, welcoming both longtime blues fans and newcomers.

Advance tickets for the festival can be purchased online.

The Blues Revival on Tuesday, May 26 at Silver Moon Brewing provides an early opportunity to see some of the featured musicians. This pre-festival event is scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.