About New Blues Festival
Honoring the Past, Amplifying the Future of Blues
Our Story
The New Blues Festival was born out of a deep respect for the legacy of blues music and a bold vision to carry its spirit into the 21st century. What started as a grassroots celebration in Long Beach, California, has evolved into one of the West Coast's premier blues music experiences — welcoming legendary artists, passionate fans, and new generations of talent every Labor Day Weekend.
Inspired by iconic festivals that defined the genre, the New Blues Festival blends tradition with innovation. We pay homage to the greats while spotlighting rising stars who are pushing the blues into exciting new territory — from electric Delta grooves and soul-drenched ballads to rock-infused performances and modern Americana fusion.
Our story began on the sun-soaked shores of Long Beach, where blues lovers gathered for a simple idea: to create a festival where community, culture, and music converge. Year after year, the festival grew — adding more stages, more artists, and more fans who return for the love of the sound and the camaraderie it brings.
Blues is more than just a genre — it's a storytelling tradition that reflects life's struggles, joys, and everything in between. At this festival, that raw emotion and soulful expression come alive on stage, creating an atmosphere that's both powerful and intimate. Whether you're a longtime fan of Delta grooves or discovering slide guitar for the first time, there's a place for you here.
10 Years of Blues in Long Beach
A decade of live music, community, and waterfront memories. Here are some of the milestones that shaped the New Blues Festival.
Long Beach Blues Society
The New Blues Festival is presented by the Long Beach Blues Society, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting blues music in Southern California. Through the festival, educational workshops, panel discussions, and community outreach, the Society works to ensure that the blues tradition not only survives but thrives — reaching new audiences and supporting the next generation of musicians.
We believe the blues is a living, breathing tradition — not a museum piece. Our programming reflects that belief, showcasing artists who honor the roots of the music while pushing it into new territory. From youth performers sharing the stage with legends to workshops that connect blues history with contemporary music-making, the Society bridges generations through shared musical experience.
The Bernie Pearl Legacy
The New Blues Festival stands on the shoulders of a Long Beach blues institution. Bernie Pearl — widely known as the "Dean of the Blues in Southern California" — founded the original Long Beach Blues Festival, which ran for an incredible 27 years from 1980 to 2007. He also created the long-running "Nothin But the Blues" radio show on KLON (now KJAZZ 88.1 FM) and the Big Time Blues Festival, which lasted 10 years.
Bernie Pearl's presence at the New Blues Festival — performing with guitarist Ray Bailey in the Pearl-Bailey Band — is more than a set on the schedule. It's a living bridge connecting today's festival with more than 45 years of blues history in Long Beach. When Bernie takes the stage, he carries with him a lifetime of study and friendship with the original blues masters, and his music reminds us why this festival exists in the first place.
Why Long Beach
Set against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, Long Beach has long been a melting pot of culture, creativity, and resilience — all of which mirrors the essence of the blues. From the sea breeze that rolls through the festival grounds to the sunset that frames the main stage each night, our location is as much a part of the experience as the music itself.
The city's rich musical history — spanning surf rock, West Coast jazz, punk, and hip-hop — makes Long Beach the natural home for a blues festival that respects its roots and embraces all its branches. The blues isn't a relic here. It's part of an ongoing musical conversation that has echoed through Long Beach for generations.
