The Norwich Rehab Chenango Blues Festival will return to Central New York for its 33rd year on Thursday, August 20.
The unofficial kick-off of the Festival occurs on Thursday at the NBT Concert Series. This year’s double header kicks off with John “Papa” Gros and Desoto Tigers Testimony.
The Chenango Blues Festival will officially start on August 20 at 6:00 p.m. in East Park in downtown Norwich. Food trucks and a beer garden are onsite and local restaurants and taverns are steps away.
The 2026 lineup features Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Booker T. Jones, legendary harp player Charlie Musselwhite, The Record Company, John Primer, Carolyn Wonderland, Vanessa Collier, the Blackburn Brothers, Larry McCray, Roomful of Blues, Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations and Blue Avenue.
The festival will also feature camping on site. A limited number of RV sites and plenty of tent and car camping spots are available. The campground gates open on Thursday. As a bonus this year, Commerce Chenango is presenting a special show by Doug MacLeod on Friday afternoon at the newly minted 1856 Vault venue in downtown Norwich to the first two hundred people who can show they are staying at a hotel, Airbnb, or the campground for all three days of the festival.
In addition to the festival’s activities, local clubs will be offering music after the fest. Norwich’s Museum District is always worth a visit with the Northeast Classic Car Museum a highlight and local parks and hiking trails to explore.
The festival will be held at the Chenango County Fairgrounds on August 21 and 22 with the parking lot opening at 4:00 p.m. and the first act kicking off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Saturday’s show has parking opening at 9:30 a.m. and gates open at 10:30 a.m. with first notes at 11:00 a.m. Both Thursday and Friday’s shows are free admission. Saturday tickets start at $40 in advance, available on the Blues Association’s website at chenangobluesfest.org.
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