(ROCKLAND, ME) – The North Atlantic 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. “There’s something at this festival for every blues fan,” says Paul Benjamin, founder of the North Atlantic Blues Festival and a member of the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee.
The festival will be held July 13-14 at the Public Landing in Rockland, Maine, overlooking the picturesque Rockland Harbor. This year’s 11 acts include multi-award-winning artists Ruthie Foster, Sugaray Rayford, Annika Chambers, Carolyn Wonderland, Estrin & The Nightcats, Joe Ross, Keeshea Pratt (2018 IBC Band winner), Al Copley & Friends, Sean Chambers, blues super-group The Proven Ones with Kid Ramos, Jimi Bott, Anthony Geraci, Willie J Campbell and Brian Templeton, and Angela Easley.
After the final acts on Saturday and Sunday stick around for the one or two song all-star jam featuring an assortment of artists appearing at the festival.
Paul Benjamin wrote Heart of Blues: 25 Years of the North Atlantic Blues Festival, a retrospective look at the festival’s rich history. Published in 2018, the book will be available at the event as well as a brand-new, triple DVD documentary film about the festival that includes its history, past performances and interviews.
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. Attendees of legal age, wearing their wristband from the festival are allowed free admission to the many bars and restaurants featuring many of the top regional blues performers. There are also bands performing on Main Street for all ages at no charge.
Tickets are $45/day or $75/weekend pass at the gate.
