Gloucester has got the blues this July and August 2026, as the much-loved Gloucester Rhythm & Blues Festival returns to the city.
Supported by Gloucester BID, venues across the city centre including Cafe Rene, The Thirsty Pine, Dr Foster, The Hop Kettle at Gloucester Food Dock, The Fountain Inn, The Sisters, The Pelican Inn, and Crimson Spire at Hotel Indigo Gloucester are playing host to live bands across the 10-day festival, with performances happening every night – and entry is free to every concert at every venue.
The lineup spans blues music of all kinds, from trad to some of the most exciting contemporary blues music being made in the country.
Some of this year's highlights are sure to be the UK Blues Federation's Blues Band of the Year 2026, The Cinelli Brothers, who play Cafe Rene on Saturday 1 August 2026, with other noteable names on the lineup including The Terraplanes Blues Band, Stompin' Dave with Lucy Piper, Kevin Brown, and Sons of the Delta, as well as south west favourites like The Dirty Weather Blues Revue, Big Joe Bone, The Bob Porter Project, and Luke Philbrick & The Solid Gone Skiffle Invasion.
For the first time this year, the long-running festival is part of Visit Gloucester's new initiative, Gloucester’s Summer of Sound, which also includes Gloucester Cathedral Organ Festival, Three Choirs Festival, Gloucester Food Dock's Sunset Sessions, and Gloucester Guildhall's week-long family-friendly venue takeover, 'Lost In Music', celebrating the power of sound in the city.
Nell Bailey from The Sisters, one of the city's newest venues taking part in the festival for the first time this year, said: 'The countdown is on! The Sisters is officially taking part in this year's Gloucester Rhythm & Blues Festival 2026 and we couldn't be happier!
'Expect incredible live music, a fantastic crowd, and great drinks flowing all week at 100 Westgate Street. You won't want to miss this!'
Shair Lloyd from Big Mudfish, who are performing at The Sisters on Friday 24 July 2026, added: 'Big Mudfish can't wait to perform original and classic blues at the 2026 Gloucester Rhythm & Blues Festival.
'To us it's a local festival with global appeal, where blues from all around the world converges in this beautiful city. We were psyched to be invited to play at The Sisters. Our host Nell is a huge live music fan and we're going to give it everything we've got on the 24th!”
Tim Lee, who performs at Hotel Indigo on Saturday 25 July 2026, said: 'The Gloucester Rhythm & Blues Festival has quickly become a highlight of my summer tours. I have a great time playing for folks who come to hear some blues, and I have just as much fun hanging with fans and with other players throughout the festival.
'I’ve always had a ‘shout it from the rooftop’ approach to blues, so I’m definitely looking forward to playing the Crimson Spire rooftop bar!'
Gloucester Rhythm & Blues Festival takes place from Friday 24 July until Sunday 2 August 2026.
For more information, and to see the full lineup, visit gloucesterbid.uk/gloucester-rhythm-blues-festival-2026.
