Blues festivals in July 2026 and artist news

Several blues festivals are scheduled for July 2026, including Cognac Blues Passions from July 1st-4th. This follows recent news of Sonny Rollins passing away on May 25th, 2026.
By Newsroom | Music Festivals, Music Releases |

FESTIVAL CIRCUIT BUZZES AMIDST SHIFTING LANDSCAPES

The global blues panorama, ever in flux, is currently marked by an array of upcoming festivals and the recent passing of prominent figures. Festival Terre de Blues 2026 is slated to feature artists such as J.P. Bimeni & The Black Belts, Patrice Hulman, Machel Montano, and Sugaray Rayford. Alongside these, Festival Vache de Blues 2026 in Boulange and the twelfth edition of Festival Blues Berry 2026 in Ambrault, Indre, are also on the horizon. Further south, Festival Cognac Blues Passions is scheduled for July 1st-4th, 2026.

The recurring mention of "comme chaque année" across multiple festival announcements underscores a predictable rhythm in the blues calendar, even as the context of global events and artist legacies evolve.

ARTISTIC MILESTONES AND MELANCHOLY

On the recording front, GA-20 and Charlie Musselwhite are set to release a collaborative album, titled "Blues Now," on July 31st, 2026. This release adds to a series of significant events and acknowledgments within the blues community. However, this period also sees the somber news of departures. Jazz titan Sonny Rollins passed away on May 25th, 2026, at the age of 95. Earlier, on December 3rd, 2025, Steve Cropper was working on a new album with his band, The Midnight Hour, prior to his passing.

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DEEPER CURRENTS: HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY

The online platform Culture Blues positions itself as a conduit for exploring Afro-American music genres, including blues, gospel, zydeco, and jazz, while also touching upon national and international news. The site's content extends to historical contexts, such as the abolition of slavery in Guadeloupe and its musical reverberations, and profiles of foundational artists like John Lee Hooker, whose career began decades before his peak influence in the late 1960s. Simultaneously, Festival Cognac Blues Passions outlines its data usage policies, detailing the reliance on technologies like cookies for user experience and marketing, while acknowledging the potential impact of consent withdrawal on site functionalities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What blues festivals are happening in July 2026?
The Cognac Blues Passions festival is set for July 1st-4th, 2026. Other festivals like Festival Terre de Blues 2026, Festival Vache de Blues 2026, and Festival Blues Berry 2026 are also upcoming.
Q: When is the new GA-20 and Charlie Musselwhite album released?
The collaborative album, titled 'Blues Now,' by GA-20 and Charlie Musselwhite will be released on July 31st, 2026.
Q: Who are some of the artists performing at Festival Terre de Blues 2026?
Artists scheduled to perform at Festival Terre de Blues 2026 include J.P. Bimeni & The Black Belts, Patrice Hulman, Machel Montano, and Sugaray Rayford.
Q: Have there been any notable deaths in the blues and jazz community recently?
Yes, jazz titan Sonny Rollins passed away on May 25th, 2026, at the age of 95. Steve Cropper also passed away after working on a new album with his band in late 2025.