Festival Information
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General Event Info
FESTIVAL HAPPENINGS
Ticketing
GETTING THERE
Festival Dates & Hours
11 am – 10:30 pm, July 1-4, 2023
Gates open daily at 11 am, with music starting at 12 pm. Gold & Platinum VIP passes allow for early entry at 10:15 am. GA+ Early Entry passes allow for early entry at 10:30 am. All other passes and tickets can enter at 11 am.
Accessibility
The festival site is a City of Portland public park, with most of the terrain a sloping, grassy hill. The walkways are ADA accessible and there is a designated ADA seating area at the top of the bowl. The main entrance at SW Columbia Street provides the most direct access point to the ADA seating area. Please note that as with all seating in the venue, it is first-come, first-served. There is no reserved festival parking. Attendees can park in public lots and on the street. The closest parking garage is at SW First and Jefferson Street, just a few blocks from the festival site.
If you have specific questions regarding accessibility, please reach out to our team at info@waterfrontbluesfest.com.
Festival Schedule by Day & Time
The Lineup by Day can be viewed here. The entire schedule with artist performances by time and location will follow in early June.
Festival Amenities
• ATMs
• First-aid services
• Bicycle parking
• Delicious food and drinks
• Free water refill station
• Festival merchandise booth
• So much more!
Weather
Items to bring
• Valid ID
• Empty reusable water bottles (or factory sealed bottled water)
• One low-profile lawn chair per attendee. Please note attendees with chair seats more than 12” off the ground will be required to sit in specially designated areas.
• Good vibes!
Items to leave at home
The following items are not allowed at the festival:
• Outside beverages, other than factory sealed or empty water bottles
• Cannabis, drugs, outside alcohol and other controlled substances
• Hard-sided coolers or picnic baskets, including Styrofoam
• Smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco
• Umbrellas, tents or canopies
• Oversized blankets — please be courteous to your neighbor and only take up the space that you need (that’s about a regular beach towel-sized space per person)
• Carts or wagons
• Weapons of any kind
• Fireworks, explosives, or accelerants of any kind
• Drones
• Balloons, beachballs, frisbees, inflatable devices, or outdoor games
• Professional audio or video recording devices and equipment, including cameras with a detachable lens longer than 4″
• Animals, except service animals
• Glass of any kind
All attendees and their belongings are subject to search upon entry. The festival is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items.
Friendly Reminders
We’re all here to have a good time and we’re all a part of the Blues Fest Community, so please remember:
- Per the City of Portland, all Portland Parks are designated as smoke-free areas
- Be kind to the park — dispose of trash and recycling in designated receptacles
- Be kind to your neighbor — no physical or verbal harassment or abuse will be tolerated
- Keep on moving — please do not block aisles, walkways, esplanade or other public areas
- Be cool — please follow the guidelines and directions of the festival management team and its authorized contractors, as well as all posted signage
- No seriously, be cool — please follow all federal, state and City of Portland laws, ordinances, rules and regulations
- Waterfront Blues Festival staff will close entry to Waterfront Park when the audience reaches capacity, as directed by the City of Portland Fire Marshal
- No video or audio recording of concerts without permission from artist
- No distribution of commercial advertisements, or vending without authorization
Health & Safety / Covid-19
In accordance with current state and local guidelines, there will be no vaccination, testing or masking requirements for guests at the 2023 Waterfront Blues Festival. For those who still want to rock a mask, you do you and do what’s most comfortable so you can fully enjoy the festival. Safety remains our priority and we will continue to monitor any changes in state and local guidelines, which are subject to change at any time.
Food & Beverage at the Festival
There will be a variety of tasty food and snack options available for purchase including gluten-free and vegetarian options. There will be beer, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages available for purchase. A valid, acceptable ID is required for all alcohol purchases. All outside beverages are not allowed, however, attendees may enter with factory-sealed water bottles and empty reusable water bottles.
Merchandise
The on-site festival merchandise booth is the place to find all of your fun, new Blues Festival gear! In the meanwhile, you can shop online for shirts, swag and more from past festivals.
Become a Vendor
The 2023 vendor applications are closed.
Do you have something else to offer that isn’t food or goods? If you are a business that wants to advertise your business, sign up new customers, collect consumer data, hand out samples (or coupons, fliers or marketing materials) or simply engage with attendees without selling anything directly, you could be a sponsor! Please email sponsors@waterfrontbluesfest.com for more information.
Volunteer at the Festival
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the festival. They help with a little bit of everything, from hydration and hospitality to ticket lines and merch sales. We’ve got a volunteer role for you! Sign up to volunteer now.
P.S. Volunteering is a great way to earn a free ticket to the festival! Fulfill a shift and you can spend the rest of the day enjoying the vibes.
Perform at the Festival
Have you ever wanted to play at the Blues Fest? Does your favorite local blues band deserve a spot in the bright lights? Since 1999, the Cascade Blues Association has been hosting a contest, Journey to Memphis, to send local acts to represent our region at The Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. Applications are open, with the semi-finals hosted in June and the finals hosted on July 4 on the Front Porch Stage. And if winning isn’t exciting enough, the Waterfront Blues Festival always commits to booking the Journey to Memphis winning acts to play on the main stages at the following year’s festival. Visit the Cascade Blues Association’s website for more information and details on how to apply.
Looking for even more info about fireworks, dancing, Official Partner Venues, food, vendors and all of the rad musical experiences at the festival? Be sure to check out our Festival Happenings page!
Customer Service Contact Info
Afton Tickets is our local ticketing partner. Please contact Afton Tickets at support@aftontickets.com or by calling (800) 323-0634 between 8 am – 5 pm PT, Monday through Friday.
Ticket Tiers
All 4-Day passes will be offered at each of the three ticket tiers — Early Bird, Tier One and Tier Two – for a limited amount of time. The earlier you buy, the better the price! Ticket tiers are simply different pricing levels for the same pass, so benefits and access don’t change as the tier pricing changes. Simply put, snag your pass soon at the best price!
- Ticket Tiers for all 4-Day passes
- February 15: All 4-Day passes on sale at Early Bird pricing
- February 28: Last day of Early Bird pricing for 4-Day passes
- March 1: Initial lineup announcement! All 4-Day passes move into Tier One pricing. Tier One pricing ends at 11:59 PT on May 31
- June 1: All 4-Day passes move into Tier Two pricing
- Ticket Tiers for all GA 1-Day tickets
- May 31: Tier One pricing ends on all 1-Day tickets
- June 1: 1-Day tickets move into Tier Two pricing
- July 1: 1-Day tickets move into Day-of pricing each day
Families & Children
Thanks to our partners at Buick GMC of Beaverton, children 12 and under are FREE at the festival (one child per paid accompanying adult).
Other Festival Event Tickets
Blues Cruise tickets are on sale now! We’ll also have some fun new events, so stay tuned. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to be the first to know about ticket announcements and new events!
Entry & Re-Entry
All 4-Day passes including the GA, GA+ Early Entry, Gold VIP & Platinum VIP passes allow for entry, exit and re-entry to the festival. Festival re-entry is not included for 1-Day GA ticket holders.
Gates open daily at 11 am. Gold VIP & Platinum VIP passes allow for early entry at 10:15 am. GA+ Early Entry passes allow for early entry at 10:30 am. All other passes and tickets can enter at 11 am.
Priority Festival Re-Entry: When the festival is at or near capacity, your 4-Day pass entitles you to enter or re-enter the festival when space is available, with priority over 1-Day GA ticket holders.
Can I share my 4-Day Pass with a friend?
No, all Waterfront Blues Festival passes are non-transferable, meaning the pass is meant for one person for all four festival days. We do offer GA and VIP 1-Day tickets as well, which may be a better option for you! 1-Day tickets will go on sale in May. Please note that 1-Day GA tickets do not receive re-entry.
GA 1-Day tickets | $45 Early Bird, $50 Advanced, $55 Day-of
Gold VIP 1-Day tickets | $175
Oregon Trail Card
Oregon Trail cardholders may attend the festival at no charge by presenting their Oregon Trail Card at the Columbia Gate starting at 11 am daily. Admission is limited to the cardholder plus one member of their immediate family. Kids 12 and under are free of charge. All festival passes are subject to availability and limited quantities are available. Oregon Trail cardholders will receive a 1-Day ticket and must enter the festival upon presentation of their card, and are subject to the same access and restrictions for all 1-Day ticket holders, including no re-entry. Oregon Trail Card tickets are non-transferable.
Refunds
All sales are final. No refunds. Please contact Afton Tickets with additional questions by email at support@aftontickets.com or by calling (800) 323-0634 between 8 am – 5 pm PT, Monday through Friday.
Directions
The festival takes place at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, just to the north and south of the Hawthorne Bridge on the west bank of the Willamette River, with the Main Festival entry located at 1400 SW Naito Parkway, Portland, OR 97201.
Visitor Info
Haven’t had your fix of food carts, bookstores or breweries? Check out Travel Portland for more info and things to do in the Rose City.
Wanna explore even more of the beautiful state of Oregon? Visit Travel Oregon for great ideas for the coast, Mount Hood, the Willamette Valley and more.
Parking
There is no designated general festival parking, except for 4-Day and 1-Day Gold and Platinum VIP passholders. We encourage our fans to take public transportation or use ride shares whenever possible. Street parking in downtown Portland fills quickly. SmartPark and City Center Parking are great options. You can also park on the east bank of the river and walk across the Hawthorne Bridge or along the East Bank Esplanade.
A few of the nearby parking lots include: SW First and Clay • SW First and Jefferson • SW Naito and Taylor • SW Naito and Harrison • SW Fourth and Yamhill • SW Third and Alder
We will communicate with our 4-Day and 1-Day Gold and Platinum VIP passholders before the festival with instructions on where to park and how to redeem their parking benefit.
Public Transportation
Take a TriMet bus, ride MAX light rail or hop on a Portland Street Car to make your way to the festival. Bonus – no need to worry about parking!
Visit the TriMet website to plan your ride.
Bicycle Parking
Bicycle parking will be available during event hours at your own risk. The Waterfront Blues Festival, and any associated groups coordinating the bicycle parking, are not responsible for theft or damage. Bicycles left overnight will be considered abandoned.
Hotels
Are you coming from out of town? Welcome to Portland! Our city offers tons of great hotel options close to the festival. The Waterfront Blues Festival has partnered with Hotel Vance to offer special deals for WBF fans. Looking for the closest hotel? Check out Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront or the Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel.
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General Event Info
Festival Dates & Hours
11 am – 10:30 pm, July 1-4, 2023
Gates open daily at 11 am, with music starting at 12 pm. Gold & Platinum VIP passes allow for early entry at 10:15 am. GA+ Early Entry passes allow for early entry at 10:30 am. All other passes and tickets can enter at 11 am.
Accessibility
The festival site is a City of Portland public park, with most of the terrain a sloping, grassy hill. The walkways are ADA accessible and there is a designated ADA seating area at the top of the bowl. The main entrance at SW Columbia Street provides the most direct access point to the ADA seating area. Please note that as with all seating in the venue, it is first-come, first-served. There is no reserved festival parking. Attendees can park in public lots and on the street. The closest parking garage is at SW First and Jefferson Street, just a few blocks from the festival site.
If you have specific questions regarding accessibility, please reach out to our team at info@waterfrontbluesfest.com.
Festival Schedule by Day & Time
The Lineup by Day can be viewed here. The entire schedule with artist performances by time and location will follow in early June.
Festival Amenities
• ATMs
• First-aid services
• Bicycle parking
• Delicious food and drinks
• Free water refill station
• Festival merchandise booth
• So much more!
Weather
Items to bring
• Valid ID
• Empty reusable water bottles (or factory sealed bottled water)
• One low-profile lawn chair per attendee. Please note attendees with chair seats more than 12” off the ground will be required to sit in specially designated areas.
• Good vibes!
Items to leave at home
The following items are not allowed at the festival:
• Outside beverages, other than factory sealed or empty water bottles
• Cannabis, drugs, outside alcohol and other controlled substances
• Hard-sided coolers or picnic baskets, including Styrofoam
• Smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco
• Umbrellas, tents or canopies
• Oversized blankets — please be courteous to your neighbor and only take up the space that you need (that’s about a regular beach towel-sized space per person)
• Carts or wagons
• Weapons of any kind
• Fireworks, explosives, or accelerants of any kind
• Drones
• Balloons, beachballs, frisbees, inflatable devices, or outdoor games
• Professional audio or video recording devices and equipment, including cameras with a detachable lens longer than 4″
• Animals, except service animals
• Glass of any kind
All attendees and their belongings are subject to search upon entry. The festival is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items.
Friendly Reminders
We’re all here to have a good time and we’re all a part of the Blues Fest Community, so please remember:
- Per the City of Portland, all Portland Parks are designated as smoke-free areas
- Be kind to the park — dispose of trash and recycling in designated receptacles
- Be kind to your neighbor — no physical or verbal harassment or abuse will be tolerated
- Keep on moving — please do not block aisles, walkways, esplanade or other public areas
- Be cool — please follow the guidelines and directions of the festival management team and its authorized contractors, as well as all posted signage
- No seriously, be cool — please follow all federal, state and City of Portland laws, ordinances, rules and regulations
- Waterfront Blues Festival staff will close entry to Waterfront Park when the audience reaches capacity, as directed by the City of Portland Fire Marshal
- No video or audio recording of concerts without permission from artist
- No distribution of commercial advertisements, or vending without authorization
Health & Safety / Covid-19
In accordance with current state and local guidelines, there will be no vaccination, testing or masking requirements for guests at the 2023 Waterfront Blues Festival. For those who still want to rock a mask, you do you and do what’s most comfortable so you can fully enjoy the festival. Safety remains our priority and we will continue to monitor any changes in state and local guidelines, which are subject to change at any time.
Food & Beverage at the Festival
Merchandise
The on-site festival merchandise booth is the place to find all of your fun, new Blues Festival gear! In the meanwhile, you can shop online for shirts, swag and more from past festivals.
Become a Vendor
The 2023 vendor applications are closed.
Do you have something else to offer that isn’t food or goods? If you are a business that wants to advertise your business, sign up new customers, collect consumer data, hand out samples (or coupons, fliers or marketing materials) or simply engage with attendees without selling anything directly, you could be a sponsor! Please email sponsors@waterfrontbluesfest.com for more information.
Volunteer at the Festival
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the festival. They help with a little bit of everything, from hydration and hospitality to ticket lines and merch sales. We’ve got a volunteer role for you! Sign up to volunteer now.
P.S. Volunteering is a great way to earn a free ticket to the festival! Fulfill a shift and you can spend the rest of the day enjoying the vibes.
Perform at the Festival
Have you ever wanted to play at the Blues Fest? Does your favorite local blues band deserve a spot in the bright lights? Since 1999, the Cascade Blues Association has been hosting a contest, Journey to Memphis, to send local acts to represent our region at The Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. Applications are open, with the semi-finals hosted in June and the finals hosted on July 4 on the Front Porch Stage. And if winning isn’t exciting enough, the Waterfront Blues Festival always commits to booking the Journey to Memphis winning acts to play on the main stages at the following year’s festival. Visit the Cascade Blues Association’s website for more information and details on how to apply.
FESTIVAL HAPPENINGS
Looking for even more info about fireworks, dancing, Official Partner Venues, food, vendors and all of the rad musical experiences at the festival? Be sure to check out our Festival Happenings page!
Ticketing
Customer Service Contact Info
Afton Tickets is our local ticketing partner. Please contact Afton Tickets at support@aftontickets.com or by calling (800) 323-0634 between 8 am – 5 pm PT, Monday through Friday.
Ticket Tiers
All 4-Day passes will be offered at each of the three ticket tiers — Early Bird, Tier One and Tier Two – for a limited amount of time. The earlier you buy, the better the price! Ticket tiers are simply different pricing levels for the same pass, so benefits and access don’t change as the tier pricing changes. Simply put, snag your pass soon at the best price!
- Ticket Tiers for all 4-Day passes
- February 15: All 4-Day passes on sale at Early Bird pricing
- February 28: Last day of Early Bird pricing for 4-Day passes
- March 1: Initial lineup announcement! All 4-Day passes move into Tier One pricing. Tier One pricing ends at 11:59 PT on May 31
- June 1: All 4-Day passes move into Tier Two pricing
- Ticket Tiers for GA 1-Day tickets
- May 31: Tier One pricing ends on all 1-Day tickets
- June 1: 1-Day tickets move into Tier Two pricing
- July 1: 1-Day tickets move into Day-of pricing each day
Families & Children
Thanks to our partners at Buick GMC of Beaverton, children 12 and under are FREE at the festival (one child per paid accompanying adult).
Other Festival Event Tickets
Blues Cruise tickets are on sale now! We’ll also have some fun new events, so stay tuned. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to be the first to know about ticket announcements and new events!
Entry & Re-Entry
All 4-Day passes including the GA, GA+ Early Entry, Gold VIP & Platinum VIP passes allow for entry, exit and re-entry to the festival. Festival re-entry is not included for 1-Day GA ticket holders.
Gates open daily at 11 am. Gold VIP & Platinum VIP passes allow for early entry at 10:15 am. GA+ Early Entry passes allow for early entry at 10:30 am. All other passes and tickets can enter at 11 am.
Priority Festival Re-Entry: When the festival is at or near capacity, your 4-Day pass entitles you to enter or re-enter the festival when space is available, with priority over 1-Day GA ticket holders.
Can I Share my 4-Day Pass with a friend?
No, all Waterfront Blues Festival passes are non-transferable, meaning the pass is meant for one person for all four festival days. We do offer GA and VIP 1-Day tickets as well, which may be a better option for you! 1-Day tickets will go on sale in May. Please note that 1-Day GA tickets do not receive re-entry.
GA 1-Day tickets | $45 Early Bird, $50 Advanced, $55 Day-of
Gold VIP 1-Day tickets | $175
Oregon Trail Card
Oregon Trail cardholders may attend the festival at no charge by presenting their Oregon Trail Card at the Columbia Gate starting at 11 am daily. Admission is limited to the cardholder plus one member of their immediate family. Kids 12 and under are free of charge. All festival passes are subject to availability and limited quantities are available. Oregon Trail cardholders will receive a 1-Day ticket and must enter the festival upon presentation of their card, and are subject to the same access and restrictions for all 1-Day ticket holders, including no re-entry. Oregon Trail Card tickets are non-transferable.
Refunds
All sales are final. No refunds. Please contact Afton Tickets with additional questions by email at support@aftontickets.com or by calling (800) 323-0634 between 8 am – 5 pm PT, Monday through Friday.
GETTING THERE
Directions
The festival takes place at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, just to the north and south of the Hawthorne Bridge on the west bank of the Willamette River, with the Main Festival entry located at 1400 SW Naito Parkway, Portland, OR 97201.
Visitor Info
Haven’t had your fix of food carts, bookstores or breweries? Check out Travel Portland for more info and things to do in the Rose City.
Wanna explore even more of the beautiful state of Oregon? Visit Travel Oregon for great ideas for the coast, Mount Hood, the Willamette Valley and more.
Parking
There is no designated general festival parking, except for 4-Day and 1-Day Gold and Platinum VIP passholders. We encourage our fans to take public transportation or use ride shares whenever possible. Street parking in downtown Portland fills quickly. SmartPark and City Center Parking are great options. You can also park on the east bank of the river and walk across the Hawthorne Bridge or along the East Bank Esplanade.
A few of the nearby parking lots include: SW First and Clay • SW First and Jefferson • SW Naito and Taylor • SW Naito and Harrison • SW Fourth and Yamhill • SW Third and Alder
We will communicate with our 4-Day and 1-Day Gold and Platinum VIP passholders before the festival with instructions on where to park and how to redeem their parking benefit.
Public Transportation
Take a TriMet bus, ride MAX light rail or hop on a Portland Street Car to make your way to the festival. Bonus – no need to worry about parking!
Visit the TriMet website to plan your ride.
Bicycle Parking
Bicycle parking will be available during event hours at your own risk. The Waterfront Blues Festival, and any associated groups coordinating the bicycle parking, are not responsible for theft or damage. Bicycles left overnight will be considered abandoned.
Hotels
Are you coming from out of town? Welcome to Portland! Our city offers tons of great hotel options close to the festival. The Waterfront Blues Festival has partnered with Hotel Vance to offer special deals for WBF fans. Looking for the closest hotel? Check out Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront or the Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel.
About The Festival
music for the community since 1988
The Waterfront Blues Festival is downtown Portland’s largest and longest-running music festival and one of the most renowned celebrations of the blues in the world. Founded in 1988, the festival has welcomed over 2,000 acts including Gregg Allman, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, Taj Mahal, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Plant, Mavis Staples and Trombone Shorty, garnering international acclaim and raising over $10 million dollars to fight hunger.
The festival is also an unparalleled showcase for Portland’s local music community and features local legends like Curtis Salgado, Liv Warfield and Norman Sylvester. As the festival heads into its 36th year, we’ll continue to build upon our longstanding legacy and fanbase while also welcoming new artists and audiences, deepening our commitment to Portland and the community, and bringing the most exciting and dynamic blues, soul, funk and R&B artists to the stage for one magical, can’t miss Fourth of July Weekend.
Want to see who else has hit the waterfront? Check out our Past Lineups page.

PLAN YOUR TRIP
We’re excited to welcome you to Portland, Oregon! For those of you traveling locally, nationally or internationally- here are some great resources for planning your trip!
TRAVEL PORTLAND
Haven’t had your fix of food carts, bookstores or breweries? Check out Travel Portland for more info and things to do in the Rose City.
TRAVEL OREGON
Wanna explore even more of the beautiful state of Oregon? Visit Travel Oregon for great ideas for the coast, Mount Hood, the Willamette Valley and more.
HOTEL PARTNERs
Need a place to rest your head during the festival? May we suggest one of our partner hotels?
Right across the street and just steps from the festival entry.
Right across the street and just steps from the festival entry.
Blues Fest fans can get special perks, including complimentary parking, at Portland’s newest lifestyle luxury hotel.
FESTIVAL MAP
A Look Back

2022
The 35th anniversary of The Waterfront Blues Festival was a triumphant and joyous homecoming. With overwhelming support from long-time fans and partners, along with the excitement and energy of first time attendees, new partners and a fresh new look, the festival was an inspiring celebration of our community, the City of Portland and of course — the music.
Lineup highlights: Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Grace Potter, The Wood Brothers, Galactic ft. Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Joseph, Lettuce, The War and Treaty, Robert Randolph Band & Cedric Burnside.

2021
Those pandemic blues couldn’t stop us. 2021 saw the festival head “Upriver” to The Lot at Zidell Yards for four days of the Blues along the Willamette River. Come hell, high water, or a pandemic… long live the blues.
Lineup highlights: Samantha Fish, Curtis Salgado, Marc Broussard, Ghost-Note, MarchFourth, Jubu Smith, Hillstomp and Curley Taylor & the Zydeco Trouble

2020
In 2020 we hitched up the Blues Fest Bandwagon to bring live music to eight of our amazing fans in neighborhoods, street corners and cul-de-sacs around Portland. We also featured two ways to listen at home, with two full days of crowd favorite sets aired on the radio and a two-hour July 4th TV special celebrating memorable performances, capped off with a fireworks replay. The blues carried on!

2019
Lineup highlights: St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, The Robert Cray Band, Vintage Trouble, The California Honeydrops, Southern Avenue, Cyril Neville & the Uptown Rulers, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe & Shemekia Copeland

2018
Lineup highlights: George Thorogood & the Destroyers, The Mavericks, Larkin Poe, The Motet, The Revivalists, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Dirty Revival, Fantastic Negrito, Beth Hart & Nikki Hill

2013
Lineup highlights: Robert Plant presents the Sensational Space Shifters, Mavis Staples, Taj Mahal Trio, Eric Burdon, John Hiatt & the Combo, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Allen Stone and Too Slim & the Taildraggers

2005
Lineup highlights: Buddy Guy, Charlie Musselwhite, Paul deLay & Duffy Bishop, Liv & the Warfield Project, Guitar Shorty with the Texas Horns, Jackie Greene, Roy Tyler & the New Directions and Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen
Later that year in response to Hurricane Katrina, the Waterfront Blues Festival team produced "Blues for Katrina," a special fundraiser and concert raising over $100,000 for food banks in the Gulf Coast.

1995
Lineup highlights: Luther Allison, Bobby Parker Band with Little Jimmy King, Savoy Brown, Norton Buffalo, W.C. Clark, Tinsley Ellis, Bugs Henderson, Big Daddy Kinsey and The Kinsey Report, Little Charlie and The Nightcats, John Mayall, The Paladins, Roy Rogers and The Delta Rhythm Kings, Finis Tasby, The Holmes Brothers and the Subdudes

1988
The countdown to the annual Blues Festival began in 1988 when Oregon Food Share, the predecessor to Oregon Food Bank, became producer and beneficiary. That year, the festival raised $7,500 and 650 pounds of food.
Lineup highlights: Jesse Mae Hemphill, Blubinos with Monti Amundson, Norman Sylvester Revue, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Margo Tufo Revue, Johnnie and the Jokers, William Clarke Band, Lloyd Jones Struggle and the Jelly Roll Kings
Want to see who else has hit the waterfront? Check out our Past Lineups page.
A Look Back

2022
The 35th anniversary of The Waterfront Blues Festival was a triumphant and joyous homecoming. With overwhelming support from long-time fans and partners, along with the excitement and energy of first time attendees, new partners and a fresh new look, the festival was an inspiring celebration of our community, the City of Portland and of course — the music.
Lineup highlights: Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Grace Potter, The Wood Brothers, Galactic ft. Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Joseph, Lettuce, The War and Treaty, Robert Randolph Band & Cedric Burnside.

2021
Those pandemic blues couldn’t stop us. 2021 saw the festival head “Upriver” to The Lot at Zidell Yards for four days of the Blues along the Willamette River. Come hell, high water, or a pandemic… long live the blues.
Lineup highlights: Samantha Fish, Curtis Salgado, Marc Broussard, Ghost-Note, MarchFourth, Jubu Smith, Hillstomp and Curley Taylor & the Zydeco Trouble

2020
In 2020 we hitched up the Blues Fest Bandwagon to bring live music to eight of our amazing fans in neighborhoods, street corners and cul-de-sacs around Portland. We also featured two ways to listen at home, with two full days of crowd favorite sets aired on the radio and a two-hour July 4th TV special celebrating memorable performances, capped off with a fireworks replay. The blues carried on!

2019
Lineup highlights: St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, The Robert Cray Band, Vintage Trouble, The California Honeydrops, Southern Avenue, Cyril Neville & the Uptown Rulers, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe & Shemekia Copeland

2018
Lineup highlights: George Thorogood & the Destroyers, The Mavericks, Larkin Poe, The Motet, The Revivalists, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Dirty Revival, Fantastic Negrito, Beth Hart & Nikki Hill

2013
Lineup highlights: Robert Plant presents the Sensational Space Shifters, Mavis Staples, Taj Mahal Trio, Eric Burdon, John Hiatt & the Combo, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Allen Stone and Too Slim & the Taildraggers

2005
Lineup highlights: Buddy Guy, Charlie Musselwhite, Paul deLay & Duffy Bishop, Liv & the Warfield Project, Guitar Shorty with the Texas Horns, Jackie Greene, Roy Tyler & the New Directions and Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen
Later that year in response to Hurricane Katrina, the Waterfront Blues Festival team produced "Blues for Katrina," a special fundraiser and concert raising over $100,000 for food banks in the Gulf Coast.

1995
Lineup highlights: Luther Allison, Bobby Parker Band with Little Jimmy King, Savoy Brown, Norton Buffalo, W.C. Clark, Tinsley Ellis, Bugs Henderson, Big Daddy Kinsey and The Kinsey Report, Little Charlie and The Nightcats, John Mayall, The Paladins, Roy Rogers and The Delta Rhythm Kings, Finis Tasby, The Holmes Brothers and the Subdudes

1988
The countdown to the annual Blues Festival began in 1988 when Oregon Food Share, the predecessor to Oregon Food Bank, became producer and beneficiary. That year, the festival raised $7,500 and 650 pounds of food.
Lineup highlights: Jesse Mae Hemphill, Blubinos with Monti Amundson, Norman Sylvester Revue, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Margo Tufo Revue, Johnnie and the Jokers, William Clarke Band, Lloyd Jones Struggle and the Jelly Roll Kings
Get in Touch
General Inquiries
Talent
Media
Sponsorship
TICKETING
Afton Tickets is our local ticketing partner. Please contact Afton Tickets at support@aftontickets.com or by calling (800) 323-0634 between 8 am – 5 pm PT, Monday through Friday.
Vendors
The application for the 2023 Waterfront Blues Festival Vendor program is closed.
Volunteers
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the festival. They help with a little bit of everything, from hydration and hospitality to ticket lines and merch sales. We’ve got a volunteer role for you! Sign up to volunteer now.
(P.S. Volunteering is a great way to earn a free ticket to the festival!)
Press & Photo
Press applications are open until June 1, 2023. Apply here.