Nolan Parker by Nolan Parker It’s only February and Portland’s already been going hard on the 2026 festival announcements, and it’s looking like it’s gonna be another packed year for music in the Rose City. Between the PDX J azz Festival next month, and both Homie Fest and Pickathon having announced dates and lineups, will there be enough room on the calendars for another music festival? Yes, yes there will be.  Today, February 19, holds the distinct pleasure of being the day the Waterfront Blues Festival announces its initial lineup for their 2026 festivities taking place at Tom McCall Waterfront Park on July 2 to July 4.  This year marks the launch of a new partnership between the Waterfront Blues Festival and TrueWest Presents. The Portland-based concert promoters and bookers TrueWest are the whizzes behind the programming at Mississippi Studios, Revolution Hall, Aladdin Theater, Polaris Hall, Show Bar, and PDX Live—the concerts at Pioneer Courthouse Square. The talent-buying muscle TrueWest provides will be invaluable for a small lineup revamp of the festival, expanding our collective understanding of what the blues are and what it sounds like, and most importantly, for getting more people to enjoy the vast and ever-evolving genre.  Similar to the aforementioned PDX Jazz Festival and Pickathon, much of the Waterfront Blues Festival’s heat comes from the smaller names on the bill. Don’t get me wrong, Tank and The Bangas bang, but digging into the lesser knowns of the festival will free your mind... your ass is sure to follow. Like all real Cascadians, the blues do not recognize political boarders, and on the first day of the fest we’re being treated to the original 1970s British funk all-stars Cymande who have hopped the pond to join us.  Day two sees alt country garage rocker (and Portland favorite) Toody Cole take the stage with her band. The woman is 77 years old and still rocking harder than any young band playing basement punk shows. TOODY COLE FOREVER.  For my money, most of the festival’s juice is fresh squeezed on the third and final day, July 4. Thank god, because while there’s not much reason for celebrating this country, at least we’ll be neck deep in good music. Tank and The Bangas headline the night—will their set happen during the fireworks? Hope so. Hands down the brightest star in the Waterfront Blues Festival’s 2026 orbit is Hailu Mergia. The Ethiopian jazz giant got his start leading The Walias band, playing the hotel circuit in early-1970s Addis Ababa. According to Wikipedia, Mergia is either 79 or 80, the festival affords the opportunity to see a still-creating artist with his entire life and career behind him. One of Portland’s best and most prolific country outfits, Jenny Don’t and The Spurs turn the festival into a honkey tonk, while fellow locals Ural Thomas The Pain help us cut loose and get nat-Ural. Longtime festival favorites Lo Steel The Steel Family Band show off their lineage as do the Portland cumbia shakers Orquestra Pacífico Tropical lead by Papi Fimbres. Blind Seattle blues and funk stalwart Brittany Davis brings her Black thunder to the festival, backin’ it up like a hard drive.  If all of this wasn't enough, the Waterfront Blues Festival is for the people, putting its money where its mouth is when creating an accessible space for blues fans. The festival offers free, yes FREE, admission to card carrying EBT/SNAP folks. This is on top of free admission for those real 12 and under blues heads.  Dig into the entire first lineup announce below, tickets and more info here. ...read more read less