The live experience
What reaches the room
The Ann Arbor Blues Festival is one of the foundational chapters in North American electric blues. Originating in 1969 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this historic event is widely regarded as the first major electric blues festival in the United States. Over the years, it evolved into the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival (1972–1974) before taking pauses and then returning to the stage in 2017 and continuing since 2021. The festival’s lineage runs through iconic live recordings and legendary performers, making it a touchstone for blues lovers and music historians alike.