Black-Eyed & Blues Fest
An annual festival featuring live blues music, local food vendors, and drinks along the Connecticut River.
Join us for the 26th Annual Black-Eyed & Bluesfest! Enjoy an afternoon and evening of incredible live blues, delicious food, drinks, and plenty of good vibes along the Connecticut River. <strong>Music:</strong> 3 pm: <strong>Hartford's Young Hannah & Crew</strong> - Hartford's youth blues band, produced by the legendary XY Eli. 4 pm: <strong>The Chicago Dawgs</strong> - Winner of the 2025 Connecticut Blues Society Challenge. 5 pm: <strong>Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze</strong> - Winner of the 2019 Connecticut Blues Society Challenge. 6 pm: <strong>Amani Burnham</strong> - Blind Pigs Records recording artist from Middletown, CT. Guitar World says, "Burnham is blowing minds with his fretwork." 7:30 PM: <strong>GA-20</strong> - Known for their high-energy take on blues, GA-20 brings a sound that American Songwriter describes as "rough and tumble, relentless blues" with "maximum intensity rocking." <strong>Food & Drink:</strong> Enjoy food from Black-Eyed Sally's, beer and wine from the on-site beverage tent, Ben & Jerry's, and the Connecticut Blues Society tent featuring festival swag. <strong>Parking:</strong> Free on-street parking is available on both sides of the river. Paid parking is also available in the Connecticut Convention Center Garage. Park on the fifth floor and use the north-side exit for direct access to Mortensen Riverfront Plaza. <strong>What to Bring:</strong> Lawn chairs, portable folding seats, blankets, ground tarps, and small personal bags or soft coolers are welcome. <strong>Leave at Home:</strong> Outside alcohol, glass bottles, metal cans, unauthorized tents or canopies, large personal umbrellas, illegal drugs, and weapons are prohibited. Pets must be leashed and cleaned up after at all times in accordance with Hartford park regulations. Rain or shine. Lineup subject to change. This event is produced in partnership with <a href="https://blackeyedsallys.com/">Black-Eyed Sally's</a>.
