North Atlantic Blues Festival
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Held annually in July in Harbor Park in Rockland, Maine, right at the edge of Penobscot Bay, this popular celebration of everything Blues is one of the country's best Blues festivals.
North Atlantic Blues Festival
WHERE
Rockland Harbor Park, Rockland, ME
WHEN
Held annually, third weekend in July.
North Atlantic Blues Festival Photos
The acclaimed North Atlantic Blues Festival features over fifteen Blues artists from throughout the U.S. and abroad. Held annually in July in Harbor Park in Rockland, Maine, right at the edge of Penobscot Bay, this popular celebration of everything Blues is one of the country's best Blues festivals.
North Atlantic Blues Festival - An event that puts Rockland, Maine on the map as one of the ultimate summer destinations
When it comes to summertime in Rockland, Maine, there are few places in the world that are better to be. The weather is warm, the ocean breezes are cool, the food is delicious, and people have access to the annual North Atlantic Blues Festival. Each July, Rockland becomes home base for one of the best-known blues festivals in the world.
For two days, with solid music blocks from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., thousands of blues fans flock to the public landing in Rockland for a star-studded lineup of blues musicians. Notable performers have included: Jr. Wells, Koko Taylor, Bo Diddley, Jimmie Vaughan, Charlie Musselwhite, John Lee Hooker, Rod Piazza, and many, many more. Since this venue has undoubtedly become such a popular and well-respected event in this country, big name headlines travel here each year.
While the festival doesn’t officially start until Saturday morning, many musicians play in local clubs on Friday night. If you show up with an instrument, you might end up in a group jam with one of the performers. It is an amazing way to kick off this special event.
In preparation for the festival, bring your lawn chair and find your perfect spot in front of the stage. If you purchase a two-day pass for the festival, you can even leave your chair in your spot overnight. The best part about this show is there is no such thing as a bad seat. Whether you are on the lawn or even on your boat in the harbor, you will be able to enjoy some of the best music out there. You also have access to some delicious food. Vendors at the festival offer everything from lobster, to local seafood fare, to Thai food. There are also plenty of opportunities to buy merchandise to remember this event, including the popular t-shirts.
On Saturday night, join in the Club Crawl in downtown Rockland. The city closes Main Street to vehicle traffic, and bands play all along the sidewalk. People dance in the street, and local vendors fuel the fire. Some participating clubs and restaurants offer passes during this time for you to attend local band performances.
True to form, the show will always go on, rain or shine. Parking near the festival grounds is limited, so a trolley service (to some locations in Rockland, Rockport, and Camden) is often available. For more information about the event, including ticket costs and purchase information, please visit http://www.northatlanticbluesfestival.com.
