This Weekend: North Atlantic Blues Festival Takes Center Stage in Rockland, July 11th & July 12th

Rockland, Maine - This weekend, the North Atlantic Blues Festival takes center stage from July 11th through July 12th, 2026 on the waterfront in Rockland, Maine.

From the Blues Festivals site: The North Atlantic Blues Festival:

Blues Festival is an annual two-day blues music

festival featuring national blues performers and considered one of the most prestigious on the East Coast. The festival is held at the Public Landing in Rockland, Maine, overlooking the picturesque Rockland Harbor. Some of the top names in blues music have been featured. . In addition to all day live entertainment, the festival has vendors selling a wide array of food, drinks and crafts.  Saturday evening Main Street is closed to traffic for the NABF Club Crawl.

Those taking part in this year's festival are Memphis Lightning, Tasha Taylor, Nick Moss featuring Dennis Gruenling, John Primer, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Midcoast Music Academy Blues Camp, Eliza Neals, Sean Chambers & Savoy Brown Rhythm Section, Booby Rush, Tribute to Bobby Blue Bland Rodd Bland & The Memphis Only Band & Roomful of Blues, between acts on Saturday and Sunday will be Roger "Hurricane" Wilson.

Schedule of when these performers are performing:

Saturday

Memphis Lightning 11:15am-12:15pm

Tasha Taylor 12:30pm-1:30pm

Nick Moss featuring Dennis Gruenling 1:45pm-3:00pm

John Primer 3:15pm-4:30pm

Ronnie Baker Brooks 4:45pm-6:15pm

Between acts will be Roger "Hurricane" Wilson

Sunday

Midcoast Music Academy Blues Camp 10:30am-11:00am

Eliza Neals 11:15am-12:15pm

Sean Chambers & Savoy Brown Rhythm Section 12:30pm-1:30pm

Booby Rush 1:45pm-3:00pm

Tribute to Bobby Blue Bland Rodd Bland & The Memphis Only Band 3:15pm-4:30pm

Roomful of Blues 4:45pm-6:00pm

Between acts will be Roger "Hurricane" Wilson

Weather

Saturday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 84.

Sunday will see similar temps around 83 and sunny skies.

More Festival Information:

• Ticket gates open at 9:00 a.m.
• Bring a lawnchair or blanket. Some folding chairs are available at the front of the stage for no charge.  The yellow covered chairs to the right of the stage are VIP seats.
• Chairs can be brought on the grounds 6:00-8:00 AM Saturday. We then ask you to leave until the ticket gates open.
• Rain or Shine!
• All bags will be searched, water and food OK
• No Pets, Coolers or Alcohol
• No chairs with a canopy over it. It blocks the view for the people behind you.
• A large tent is set up at the top of the hill.
• No popups or tents (if raining, small umbrellas are allowed)
• 3 sections for sun umbrella’s will be allowed (area behind the grass oval (ON THE ASPHALT), on the old cement stage, and on top of the hill next to the big tent)
• City water faucets are to left of the stage, for your use.
• Wristband allows you to come and go off the festival grounds
• Club Crawl held Sat night 7:00 PM. Main St is closed to traffic. 5 bands are set up along the street. All ages, no charge.
• Friday and Saturday night music in local bars is not a NABF event, no wristbands are issued. Some establishments may charge a cover charge.

Directions to the Festival:

VIEW NORTH ATLANTIC BLUES FESTIVAL MAP >>

The festival is in the Public Landing — 275 Main St, first left off Main St. 

• From Portland (82 miles): Take I-295 North to Exit 28 to U.S. Route 1 North (Coastal Route) at Brunswick. Follow U.S. Route 1 to Rockland’s Main St. Turn right on Main St.
• From Augusta (42 miles) take Rt 17 to Rockland. Follow Rt 1 South take a left at the Dairy Queen stop light. Next right on Main St.
• From Bangor (61 miles) take US Rt 1A to Rt 1 then South to Rockland.Follow Rt 1 South take a left at the Dairy Queen stop light. Next right on to Main St.