39th Annual King Biscuit Blues Festival · October 8–10, 2026
Lineup
The 2026 Lineup
Artists, Set Times & Live Videos
The official schedules for October 8–10, stage by stage. We record the performances live — watch for the red LIVE pulse during each set.
Main Stage
The levee-top amphitheater overlooking the Mississippi River.
Thursday, October 8
Opening day — four sets from the festival opener to the night headliner.
Port City Blues Players
Festival opener · Pine Bluff, AR
3:30pm – 4:30pm
Main Stage
Eden Brent
Boogie-woogie blues piano
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Main Stage
Lonnie Shields
Electric Delta blues · West Helena
6:30pm – 7:45pm
Main Stage
Sean “Mack” McDonald
Rising-star headliner
8:15pm – 9:30pm
Main Stage
Friday, October 9
From the youth showcase at midday to the 10 o’clock close.
Bit O’Blues Youth Presentation
Blues-in-Schools youth showcase
10:45am – 12:30pm
Main Stage
Sterling Billingsley
Helena’s own
12:45pm – 1:45pm
Main Stage
Reba Russell
Soul-blues vocalist
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Main Stage
Rodd Bland and The Members Only Band
Son of Bobby “Blue” Bland
3:45pm – 4:45pm
Main Stage
Harmonica Kings Sonny Boy Williamson Tribute
Mark Hummel, Magic Dick & Wallace Coleman
5:15pm – 6:30pm
Main Stage
Paul Thorn
Southern songwriter headliner
7:00pm – 8:15pm
Main Stage
Chambers DesLauriers
Annika Chambers & Paul DesLauriers
8:45pm – 10:00pm
Main Stage
Saturday, October 10
The final day — from the morning sets to the Bobby Rush and John Primer finale.
Bit O’Blues Youth Presentation
Blues-in-Schools youth showcase
11:00am – 11:45am
Main Stage
Billy Jeter
Arkansas singer-songwriter
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Main Stage
Delta Divas
Delta blues & soul
1:30pm – 2:45pm
Main Stage
Bob Corritore with Willie Buck, Bob Stroger & Jimi “Primetime” Smith
All-star Chicago blues summit
3:15pm – 4:30pm
Main Stage
Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets ft. Big Joe Maher
Texas blues guitar
5:00pm – 6:15pm
Main Stage
Bobby Rush
Three-time Grammy winner
7:00pm – 8:15pm
Main Stage
John Primer
Chicago blues legend · closing set
8:45pm – 10:00pm
Main Stage
Front Porch Stage
The Delta Cultural Center is proud to host the 2026 Front Porch Stage, held in conjunction with the King Biscuit Blues Festival. The event is free and open to the public.
Thursday, October 8
Downtown Charlie Brown
Front Porch Stage opener
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Front Porch Stage
Steve Kolbus Band
Roots & blues from the Heartland
1:00pm – 1:45pm
Front Porch Stage
Front Porch Jam with Brotha Ric Patton (host)
Hosted open jam — bring your instrument
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Front Porch Stage
Friday, October 9
Stud Ford
Delta bluesman
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Front Porch Stage
Detroit Johnny
Motor City blues
1:00pm – 1:45pm
Front Porch Stage
Watermelon Slim
Oklahoma blues legend
2:00pm – 2:45pm
Front Porch Stage
Akeem Kemp
Arkansas rising star
3:00pm – 3:45pm
Front Porch Stage
Big T Williams Family Band feat. Miss Gladys
Family blues revue — closing set
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Front Porch Stage
Saturday, October 10
Australia “HoneyBee” Jones
Soul-blues vocalist
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Front Porch Stage
Edna Nicole
Blues & soul songstress
1:00pm – 1:45pm
Front Porch Stage
DuWayne Burnside
Son of R.L. Burnside · North Mississippi blues
2:00pm – 2:45pm
Front Porch Stage
Keith Johnson & The Big Muddy Band
Delta blues & boogie
3:00pm – 3:45pm
Front Porch Stage
Robert Finley
American blues & soul singer
4:00pm – 4:45pm
Front Porch Stage
Nicky Parrish
Helena’s own — closing set
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Front Porch Stage
Schedule is subject to change without notice.
Quicksand Stage
The community stage in downtown Helena — sets all three days from late morning to close.
Thursday, October 8
Maserno From Italy
Blues from Italy
11:00am – 11:45am
Quicksand Stage
Outlaw Frankie
Quicksand Stage opener set
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Mississippi Marshall
Mississippi blues
1:00pm – 1:45pm
Quicksand Stage
June Bug John Sturtley
Delta blues
2:00pm – 2:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Arkansas Delta Kings
Arkansas blues collective
3:00pm – 3:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Eric Walker
Blues guitarist
4:00pm – 4:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Ben Abt
Blues guitarist
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Quicksand Stage
Big T Williams Family Band
Family blues revue
7:00pm – 8:00pm
Quicksand Stage
Friday, October 9
Ray Cashman
Delta blues
11:00am – 11:45am
Quicksand Stage
Downtown Charlie Brown
Front Porch favorite
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Reverend Robert
Gospel blues
1:00pm – 1:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Stan Street & The Hopeless Case Band
Clarksdale blues
2:00pm – 2:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Deak Harp & Quicksand
Harp-driven blues
3:00pm – 3:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Stray Dog & The Wolves
Blues band
4:00pm – 4:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Prayer Bailey
Soul-blues vocalist
5:00pm – 5:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Erica Noledge Ray — Jimi Wallamson Tribute
With Mark Hummel, Magic Dick & Wallace Coleman
6:00pm – 6:45pm
Quicksand Stage
The Atlanta Blues Cartel
Atlanta blues
7:00pm – 7:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Split Cup & The Jukes
Blues & soul
8:00pm – 8:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Miles Minor Band
Late-night set
9:00pm
Quicksand Stage
Saturday, October 10
BBB Bob & The SpareRibs
Blues trio
11:00am – 11:45am
Quicksand Stage
Eric Walker
Blues guitarist
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Big Papa Binns
Blues & soul
1:00pm – 1:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Maxwell Street Blues Revival
Chicago-style blues
2:00pm – 2:45pm
Quicksand Stage
The Youngguns
Young blues talent
3:00pm – 3:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Deak Harp & Quicksand
Harp-driven blues
4:00pm – 4:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Gail Storm
Blues artist
5:00pm – 5:45pm
Quicksand Stage
The Atlanta Blues Cartel
Atlanta blues
6:00pm – 6:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Watermelon Slim
Oklahoma blues legend
7:00pm – 7:45pm
Quicksand Stage
Quicksand joining John Primer
Head to the Main Stage for the finale
8:45pm – 10:00pm
Quicksand Stage
Schedule is subject to change without notice.
A red pulsing dot means the performer is scheduled to be on stage right now — tap “Watch Live” for the live video.
Dozens more acts — including Grammy nominee Candice Ivory — play the festival’s other stages all weekend. The official lineup page carries the complete schedule across all five stages.
Delta Roots Merch Giveaway
Register below for the DELTA ROOTS merch giveaway, drawn at the end of the 39th Annual King Biscuit Blues Festival. No purchase needed to enter.