Get ready for an unforgettable experience at Orkney Blues Festival. This year, we are thrilled to present a stellar lineup of headline artists who will set the stage on fire with their electrifying performances. Join us for a weekend filled with soulful music, vibrant energy, and pure blues magic.
Our incredible Headline Artists
2027 FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT
ALVIN YOUNGBLOOD HART
Grammy Award-Winner Makes Orkney Debut
We're thrilled to bring one of the world's most electrifying blues artists to Orkney for the very first time. Alvin Youngblood Hart is a musician's musician – praised by Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and Mick Taylor – and legendary bluesman Taj Mahal famously said: "Boy got thunder in his hands!"
Why Alvin is Special
Grammy Award winner and multiple nominee
W.C. Handy Award winner for Best New Artist
Featured in Martin Scorsese's The Blues: A Musical Journey and
Wim Wenders' The Soul of a Man
Master of acoustic Delta blues, electric guitar rock, and everything in between
Known for explosive live performances that leave audiences breathless
From Mississippi Hills to Orkney Shores
Hart's music carries the authentic spirit of the Delta – he learned blues from his Mississippi relatives in the hills of Carroll County, where his grandmother played blues piano and his uncle told stories of Charley Patton. But he's no museum piece: this cosmic blend of Howlin' Wolf and Link Wray brings raw power, versatility, and pure joy to every performance.
Whether he's channelling Skip James on acoustic guitar or unleashing electric fury, Hart delivers what The Independent called "dizzyingly versatile" performances.
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2027 FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT
BLUES 'N' TROUBLE
The legacy and good will behind the Blues’N’Trouble name has brought several original members of Scotland’s highest energy and farthest reaching blues band back into the festival circuit.
Core '80s line up players, Jivin’ Johnny Bruce & Telecaster Dave on guitars, original drummer Sean Scott; all part of their big break tour opening for BB King in the UK and Europe in 1982. Now fronted by lifelong band mate, vocalist and exceptional blues-harp player Gary Martin.
Their stage fire and fun remain in excellent musical shape, older, not wiser, playing to play 4 decades of fans with the spirit and original songs of B’N’T.
LINE UP:
Gary Martin - Vocals / Harmonica
John Bruce - Lead Guitar
Telecaster Dave - Vocals / Guitar
Andrew Stirling - Bass
Sean Scott - Drums
Our Weekend Pass Ticket is now greater value!
We are delighted to have announced our first headline artists for the 2027 festival. We're building something truly special in partnership with Orkney's hotels, restaurants, and businesses to create another Orkney Blues weekend to remember.
The Orkney Blues Festival is a must-visit destination – and your early support helps us bring world-class artists like Alvin Youngblood Hart and Blues'N'Trouble to the most northerly blues festival in the UK.
More headliners to be announced soon. Join us in making 2027 our biggest year yet.
