London, lock it in. January just got louder, sweatier, and a whole lot bluesier, mun.
January Blues Festival 2026 is officially back at 229 London on Great Portland Street, running from Saturday 3rd January to Saturday 24th January 2026, delivering nineteen nights of world-class blues, blues-rock, soul, roots and guitar-heavy goodness right in the heart of the capital 🎶🔥
Presented by AGMP Concerts and hosted by legendary selector Snowboy, this year’s festival continues a near-decade-long mission to keep live blues roaring through London’s veins. No gimmicks. No nonsense. Just proper music played loud and proud.
🏠 THE VENUE
📍 229 London
Great Portland Street, Central London
Standing shows with limited side seating for access needs
🔞 18+ only
Access info here 👉 https://229.london/access/
Easy to reach, even after a few ales:
🚇 Great Portland Street, Regent’s Park & Warren Street all nearby
🚌 Night buses galore
🚗 Street parking available after 6:30pm (check Park Crescent & Outer Circle)
🎧 HOST WITH THE MOST
All dates are soundtracked by Snowboy, spinning Chicago Blues, R&B, Blues Rock and deep-cut gems between sets. Expect vibes. Expect groove. Expect dancing whether you planned to or not 💃🕺
🤝 BLUES ROYALTY BACKING
January Blues Festival 2026 once again partners with Blues In Britain Magazine, the UK’s only dedicated print blues magazine. If blues is your religion, this is the scripture 👉 https://www.bluesinbritain.org/
⭐ HIGHLIGHTS THAT’LL MELT YOUR FACE (IN A TASTEFUL WAY)
🔥 The Animals headline with founding drummer John Steel flying the flag
🔥 Band of Friends honour Rory Gallagher, led by longtime bassist Gerry McAvoy
🔥 Eric Bibb plays two London-exclusive dates ahead of his new album One Mississippi
🔥 Danielle Nicole & Malina Moye co-headline with a double-guitar smackdown
🔥 Denmark’s blues-rock stormtroopers Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado hit the UK for an exclusive date
🔥 King King return for two London-exclusive nights with French firebrands Little Odetta
🔥 Blues guitar royalty Robben Ford lands for two exclusive dates
🔥 Nine Below Zero celebrate 45 years of ‘Don’t Point Your Finger’
🔥 Ten Years After mark their 60th anniversary with original drummer Ric Lee
🔥 Fantastic Negrito, three-time GRAMMY® winner, closes in serious style
Only in January. Only in London. Proper job.
📅 FULL JANUARY BLUES FESTIVAL 2026 LINEUP
Sat 03 Jan
🎤 The Animals
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
Sun 04 Jan
🎸 Band of Friends (Rory Gallagher celebration)
The Stumble | Host/DJ Snowboy
Mon 05 & Tue 06 Jan
🎶 Eric Bibb
Ajay Srivastav
Wed 07 Jan
🎵 The Blues Side Of Fleetwood Mac
Man Of The World
Thu 08 Jan
🎸 Danielle Nicole Band & Malina Moye (Co-headline)
Fri 09 & Sat 10 Jan
🔥 King King
Little Odetta
Sun 11 Jan
🌪 Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado
TBC
Wed 14 & Thu 15 Jan
🎸 Robben Ford
Kyla Brox
Fri 16 Jan
🎤 Nine Below Zero
‘Don’t Point Your Finger’ 45th Anniversary
Peter Clark & Head Hive
Sat 17 Jan
🎷 Vanessa Collier
TBC
Sun 18 Jan
🎶 Curtis Salgado
Giles Robson & Band
Mon 19 Jan
🎵 James Hunter
TBC
Wed 21 Jan
🔥 Ten Years After
John Verity
Thu 22 & Fri 23 Jan
⚡ Fantastic Negrito
TBC
Sat 24 Jan
🎸 Ben Poole
Kirris Riviere & The Delta Du Bruit
🎟️ TICKETS & FESTIVAL PASSES
🎫 Individual tickets are on sale now
🔥 ONLY 30 FULL FESTIVAL PASSES AVAILABLE
Access every single night like an absolute legend
👉 Grab tickets here:
🎶 FINAL RIFF
Nineteen nights. One venue. Zero filler.
If your New Year’s resolution involves better music, better crowds, and better stories, January Blues Festival 2026 has you covered, butt 🤘🔥
See you down the front.
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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