Waterfront Blues Festival is back. Portland’s longest-running downtown music event returns July 2 through 4 to Tom McCall Waterfront Park with three stages, three days, and a lineup that pulls from five continents and six decades of blues, soul, funk, Americana, and global sounds. The Revivalists, Durand Jones & The Indications, Tank and The Bangas, Cymande, Hailu Mergia, Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, and Seratones anchor an already formidable bill, now expanded with nineteen additional artists including Tyrone Hendrix Yacht Rock Allstars, Soul Vaccination with Lloyd Jones, Bon Bon Vivant, Ruby Friedman Orchestra, and the hard-to-categorize Timmer’s Guitarmageddon pairing PNW guitar heavyweights Chad Rupp, Rafael Tranquilino, and Kevin Selfe with international shred monster Paul Gilbert.
The Blues Cruises are back on the Willamette River as well, with three themed floating parties across the weekend. July 2nd brings the Big Easy Cruise with Bon Bon Vivant, Kota Dosa, and Reggie Houston. July 3rd is the Cruisin’ to Memphis boat featuring the Cascade Blues Association’s Journey to Memphis Finals. July 4th wraps with the Sail on Sister Cruise, an all-star celebration of Northwest women in blues and soul benefiting Meals on Wheels People and The Jeremy Wilson Foundation. The holiday weekend closes with a fireworks display over the Willamette River presented by Lithia & Driveway, marking America’s 250th anniversary. Kids 12 and under get in free. Tickets are on sale now at waterfrontbluesfest.com.
2026 Blues Cruises:
July 2 – Big Easy Cruise: Bon Bon Vivant, Kota Dosa, Reggie Houston Quartet
July 3 – Cruisin’ to Memphis: Journey to Memphis Finals, Journey to Memphis Allstars, Sleeper Wave, Billy Stoops
July 4 – Sail on Sister Cruise: NW Women Rhythm & Blues, Ms. Vee and a Badass Band, Mary Flower with Leon Cotter