The 29th Annual Briggs Farm Blues Festival is slated for the weekend of July 9–11 in the small town of Briggsville. Set in the scenic countryside just outside of Nescopeck, Pennsylvania, this three-day festival has become known as “The Best Weekend of the Year,” and 2026 is shaping up to be another powerhouse celebration of live music, featuring blues, roots, rock, soul, and Americana.
This immersive event offers two stages: the Main Stage and the intimate Back Porch Stage, where you’ll find nearly constant music throughout the weekend beginning at noon each day. With single-day and multi-day passes, along with on-site camping options, the festival offers something for everyone. Briggs Farm has built a loyal following of die-hard music lovers who return year after year. It’s a community-based experience, and that sense of connection is the reason so many come back, making Briggs Farm one of the most beloved music destinations in the region.
This is a well-run, fully staffed event, and the Briggs Farm family and crew have long been known for delivering exceptional music. Leading this year’s lineup are The Record Company, Vanessa Collier, Tab Benoit, John Németh, and Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers, joined by a vibrant mix of established favorites and rising artists from across the blues and Americana landscape. Additional performers include Gabe Stillman Band, Jamiah Rogers, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Gracie Curran & The High Falutin’ Band, The Kelli Baker Band featuring Noe Socha, Dylan Zangwill, Austin & The Syd Experience, The Outcrops, Sgt. Splendor, Gabe Lee, Skyla Burrell Band, Stew Cutler, Mikey Junior Band, The Shylocks, Scott Tournet, and Uptown Music Collective.
Nestled into the hills of northern Pennsylvania, this festival offers a unique experience where you can enjoy nationally recognized acts, emerging voices, and local talent in an intimate outdoor setting. With two stages, you can enjoy up-close-and-personal performances on the Back Porch Stage, where it feels like you’re hanging around the porch down on Grandpa’s farm. Then, just a short walk away, you’re pulled into the full-blown Main Stage experience, complete with modern lighting, professional sound production, and a crowd that stretches across the hillside. In between, you’ll find vendors offering food, crafts, merchandise, and more.
Briggs features camping of all types—from tents, vans, and RVs to elaborate camp setups and even those sleeping in the back seat of their car. All are welcome. This family-friendly event offers free admission for kids under 12. Festival amenities include on-site pizza and ice deliveries, shower houses, and plenty of room for everyone, along with community fire pits where jam circles continue late into the night. For one special weekend, this peaceful farm transforms into a village of like-minded people brought together by a shared love of music. If camping isn’t your thing, there are hotels nearby, so you can still enjoy three days of amazing performances without missing out.
The event kicks off Thursday evening as the campers start to roll in with music by The Shylocks, The Kelli Baker Band featuring Noe Socha and Dylan Zangwill. This is the “Pre-Party” to the weekend and starts the ball rolling for what is to come.
Friday’s headliners include Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers, fresh off their victory at this year’s International Blues Challenge, where the band earned top honors and Derrick Dove was named Best Guitarist. Known for gritty blues, soulful grooves, authentic Southern spirit, and smooth, face-melting guitar work, this is a band that screams classic blues while delivering a full-throttle live experience. Fans can expect songs such as “Just Walk Away,” “When Did I Get Old,” “Comeback Kinda Love,” and “Can’t Move On.”
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears bring their hard-hitting, punk-infused blues to the stage with favorites like “Bitch, I Love You” and “Sugarfoot.” John Németh delivers his signature smooth vocals and masterful harmonica playing. Having performed alongside artists such as Junior Watson, Anson Funderburgh, and Elvin Bishop, he has been captivating audiences nationwide since the early 2000s with songs like “If It Ain’t Broke,” “Sooner or Later,” and more. The Gabe Stillman Band, a festival staple and crowd favorite, kicks off the Main Stage on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday features The Record Company, the Grammy-nominated blues-rock trio that broke through in 2016 with the hit “Off the Ground” from their debut album Give It Back to You. They followed that success with tracks like “Life to Fix” and “Rita Mae Young,” and are celebrating this year with the Give It Back to You 10th Anniversary Tour. Don’t miss the opportunity to see a nationally touring act in such an intimate setting.
Saturday also includes Tab Benoit, whose signature Telecaster guitar tone and Otis Redding-style vocals have made him a modern legend of blues guitar. Vanessa Collier brings her unique blend of horn-driven blues, powerful vocals, and commanding saxophone performances, drawing comparisons to the soulful energy of Aretha Franklin and Bonnie Raitt. The Main Stage kicks off Saturday with Jamiah Rogers, a rising blues guitarist whose gritty style and relentless determination continue to earn attention across the blues world.
This is only a taste of what Briggs Farm is all about. To truly understand it, you have to experience it for yourself. That’s what makes this event the place to be for anyone interested in discovering emerging artists, experiencing nationally recognized performers just steps away, or becoming part of the Briggs community.
For long-time attendees, Briggs Farm is more than a music festival—it’s a summer tradition. For first-time visitors, it’s a chance to experience live music in one of its most welcoming and authentic forms: up close, outdoors, and surrounded by a community that returns year after year for both the music and the atmosphere. With camping available on-site, festivalgoers can fully embrace the weekend and enjoy everything Briggs Farm has to offer, from the first set to the final encore.
Briggs Farm Blues Festival has built its reputation on presenting exceptional artists in a setting that feels personal, unhurried, and deeply connected to the spirit of the music. The 2026 lineup continues that tradition, offering a weekend filled with fiery blues guitar, soulful vocals, roots-driven songwriting, and high-energy live performances from start to finish.
For more information on the 29th Annual Briggs Farm Blues Festival, please visit the links below. The website offers plenty of helpful information for first-time visitors, so check it out, make your plans, and come experience “The Best Weekend of the Year.”
facebook.com/briggsfarmbluesfestival
