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THREE STAGES • SOCIAL DISTRICT • BEVERAGES • KIDZBEAT • FOOD VENDORS

BluesFest 2026

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September 16, 17, 18, 19

in Old Town, Lansing

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Lansing's Legendary Blues Festival

Carl Caballero & The Wreckage • Nicky T & the Snake Charmers

Big L & Code Blü • Grady Hall & the Disciples of Funk • Sassiety

Lady Champagne • Stan Craig Band • Greg Nagy & Ray Goodman

517 Funktet • Brotha Earth • Generator Blues Band • Tom Duffield

Clique Vocals • Dave Mingus • DJ McCoy

and more... Program subject to change

Feel the rhythm and heart of the blues at Michigan BluesFest in beautiful Old Town Lansing!

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For over two decades, BluesFest has been a community favorite, bringing friends, families, and music lovers together to celebrate the power of live blues.​

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​Whether you're catching a soulful riff at the open-air stages or keeping the night alive at UrbanBeat, every moment is filled with passion, power, and soul.

  • World-class blues musicians

  • Local food trucks and vendors

  • Family-friendly environment

  • Community spirit in the heart of Old Town

Performer Submissions

Calling all performers! If you wish to be considered for BluesFest Michigan, complete the submission form linked here. Please be sure to include a link to your band's website, bios of your band/performers and performance history, and a promotional photo.

Immerse yourself at JazzFest in the Music Capital of Michigan - Historic Old Town!

Over thirty years ago, when you walked through north Lansing, you would see mostly empty and boarded-up buildings. In the 1980s, a handful of artists set up studios and opened a few art galleries in the vacant buildings.

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In 1995, the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA) produced the first JazzFest Michigan, which placed a spotlight on the historic commercial district we now know as Old Town.​​

 

The journey has been steady. MICA helped establish Old

Town as one of the first urban Main Streets in the nation.

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Now there are myriadthriving businesses, galleries, restaurants, boutiques, nightclubs, restored and new buildings, loft apartments and waiting lists of people wanting to live here.

 

MICA is thankful to be able to serve as the catalyst for this community transformation and recognizes the significance that arts and artists play in sustainable economic development of a region.

3 VENUES & 4 DAYS

There will be three venues this year: the MICA Stage and MessageMakers Stages, and the UrbanBeat Afterglow Stage. MICA and MessageMakers Stages are open-air. The Afterglow Stage is indoors at UrbanBeat.

ENJOY THE SOCIAL DISTRICT

Old Town’s designation as a Social District means festival-goers can buy, consume and walk on the streets with appropriately labeled alcoholic beverages from sponsor UrbanBeat and other bars and restaurants while experiencing all the Festival has to offer.

TICKET INFORMATION

  • Wednesday 16: $5 (indoor)

  • Thursday 17: $10 (indoor)

  • Friday 18: $10 (outdoor & indoor))

  • Saturday 19: $10 (outdoor & indoor)

T-SHIRTS & POSTERS

We’re excited to announce that our 2026 BluesFest t-shirts will be on sale Friday and Saturday at the festival for only $10 - so get one for yourself or grab one for a friend! Vintage T-shirts & Posters also available.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Please join us as a volunteer. In addition to free admission, you’ll meet some great people, get a cool Festival t-shirt, and know you’ve played an important role in your community. We also need folks for set-up and tear-down, before and after.

VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES

If you are looking to be a vendor at our festivals, please see our Vendor Opportunities page.

Thank you to our Sponsors

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History

Each September in Michigan’s Capital City Turner Street becomes stage to one of Michigan’s biggest and longest running outdoor blues music festivals – the Michigan BluesFest, featuring such artists such as Reverend Raven, Larry McCray, David ‘Honey Boy’ Edwards, Eric Culberson, Jimmie Stagger, Stan Budzynski & 3rd Degree, Lady Champagne, Root Doctor, Chris Canas, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Jamiah Rogers, Sun Seals, Jackie Scott & the Housewreckers, Kenny Neal, Liz Mandville, Alberta Adams, Toronzo Cannon, James Harman, Frog & the Beeftones, Thornetta Davis, W.C. Clark, Junior Watson, Carl Weathersby, Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents, Big Willy Kathleen & the Bridge Street Band, Grove Council, Cee Cee Collins and many, many more. Multiple outdoor and indoor stages, the festival is also recorded and streamed.

Michigan BluesFest is produced with the support of the Capitol Area Blues Society (CABS) and offers multiple stages on the street and in various indoor locations, including local nightclubs and other Old Town venues. Attendance at times has
surpassed that of JazzFest Michigan. Michigan BluesFest, like JazzFest has food and craft vendors, a beverage tent, KidzBeat and music workshops.


At Michigan BluesFest one can groove and dance to heartfelt blues… and maybe even fall in love!

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