Not even the heavy rain that fell on Saturday afternoon managed to dampen the atmosphere at the Bilbao Blues Festival. The successful event has turned the Villa into the international capital of the genre over the last three days. This was demonstrated by a packed Arenal, drawn by an extraordinary roster of artists and bands, including major international stars—some of whom, like Skyler Saufley, performed in Spain for the first time. Among the thousands of attendees who enjoyed the festival were numerous visitors from across Europe and a solid base of die-hard fans who return year after year.
The festival’s two stages brought together thousands of enthusiastic fans enjoying blues and related styles such as soul, funk, rock ‘n’ roll, and swing. The summer music event, promoted by the Bilbao City Council and organized by Crazy Blues, is a clear benchmark for the genre across Europe thanks to the quality of its lineup and its strong drawing power.
Carlos Malles, director of the Bilbao Blues Festival, offered a “very positive” assessment and expressed his gratitude for the audience’s attitude. “It was incredible. They gave it their all during the three days of the festival, and even on Saturday when the rain was at its worst, they responded in a commendable way and filled the Arenal promenade,” Malles recalled. He also praised the professionalism of the artists, who “let us enjoy their art and music.” And “of course, thanks to the City Council and other collaborators for making this event possible.” The director highlighted the work of the team behind the scenes: “A heartfelt thank you to the production, artistic, and communication teams for their professionalism and expertise, making everything look easy even in the most challenging moments.”
For Kontxi Claver, Councilor for Economic Development, Trade, Employment, and Tourism at the Bilbao City Council, “this new edition consolidates our commitment to bringing this festival to the city to complete the summer music and cultural offer—a quality-driven proposal with a unique style, free of charge, and right in the heart of the Villa on the Arenal promenade. Featuring international as well as local bands, it also attracts a significant crowd.”
AN ECLECTIC LINEUP FEATURING GREAT FIGURES
The high anticipation surrounding the festival’s opening was clear from the very first chords on the Keler stage by The Cherry Boppers meets Patricia Reckless. The instrumental band from Santutxu, with over 20 years of experience, joined forces with the Bilbao vocalist to get the crowd dancing and earned the festival’s first standing ovations with a danceable mix of soul, funk, rhythm & blues, and jazz.
After the first performance, the organization paused to recognize the career and work of Carlos Javier Gorostiola “Goros”, who received the festival’s official txapela from director Carlos Malles for his involvement with the festival since its inaugural edition.
With the El Arenal esplanade packed, the first major international highlight arrived. “Mark Hummel’s Blues Blowout”, a project led by American harmonica player and singer Mark Hummel alongside superstars of the genre like Anson Funderburgh (guitar), Ted Bukowsky (bass), Bob Hall (piano), and Wes Starr (drums), delivered a masterclass in blues that captivated everyone with its depth. The experienced, tight-knit combo effortlessly showcased styles ranging from West Coast blues to Chicago blues and swing.
Closing out the day was Judith Hill. A great show was expected from this Grammy winner who has collaborated with legends like Michael Jackson, Prince, and Elton John, but her performance exceeded all expectations. Accompanied by her parents (her mother Michiko Hill on keyboards and her father Robert “Pee Wee” Hill on bass) alongside drummer Shadrack Oppong, she thrilled the audience with her powerful vocals and multi-instrumental mastery. Rhythmic perfection, heavy funk, jazz, and rhythm & blues grooves, combined with her star magnetism, made for an unforgettable show.
Saturday’s lineup kicked off at noon on the Volotea stage (Arenal Kiosk) with British bluesman Ian Siegal Electric Band. Their energetic, guitar-driven set was a journey through a wide variety of styles, including rhythm & blues, rock & roll, soul, and Delta blues.
They were followed by “Blues Train”, a supergroup led by prestigious Catalan harmonica player and singer Mingo Balaguer and vocalist Txako Jones, who masterfully delivered a rich repertoire of 1950s and 60s electric blues classics.
The afternoon session on the main stage opened with Argentine guitarist and singer Ivan Singh. As the rain poured down heavily, the Chicago-based bluesman braved the elements with a crowd-pleasing performance, even stepping into the audience to let fans play his guitar. A champion of Latin blues, Singh mixed his original tracks with classics like “Everyday I Have the Blues”, “The Sky Is Crying”, “Sweet Home Chicago-Bilbao”, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy”, and Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe”.
Next, the star-studded “Bilbao All Star Blues Band”—featuring 95-year-old bassist Bob Stroger, the festival’s special award winner in its first edition—left their mark on the Botxo with a spectacular show demonstrating why they are top representatives of Chicago blues. Willie Buck (vocals), Teeny Tucker (vocals), Jimi Primetime Smith (guitar), Anthony Geraci (piano), Wes Starr (drums), and Bob Corritone (harmonica) were joined on stage by Texan guitarist Anson Funderburgh.
TRAVELLIN’ BROTHERS: FESTIVAL SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS
The most anticipated performance of the festival was by Travellin’ Brothers. The local band from Bizkaia, boasting a 20-year career and over 1,300 shows, received the Honorary Txapela for the fifth edition of the Bilbao Blues Festival. Carlos Malles emotionally recalled the band’s origins and growth before presenting the txapela to bass player Eneko Cañibano.
To shouts of “Long live Travellin’ Brothers, long live Bilbao Blues Festival!” and under a heavy rainstorm that did nothing to dampen the audience’s spirits, the show began with several surprises in store. In a big-band format featuring Jon Careaga (vocals), Aitor Cañibano (guitar), Eneko Cañibano (bass), Isi Redondo (percussion/drums), Ander Unzaga (keyboards), Alain Sancho (saxophone), Inés Goñi (backing vocals), and Noa Eguiguren (backing vocals), they invited singer Ian Siegal, guitarist Dusty Ciggaar, American harmonica player Steve Krase, and acclaimed Texan saxophonist and vocalist Vanessa Collier (a standout from last year’s edition) to join them on stage.
There was no time for rest, only enjoyment. With the audience fully engaged, “Travellin’” alternated between their classic original tracks and timeless standards like “Let the Good Times Roll”, “Texas Flood”, and “You Can Leave Your Hat On”. The outstanding performance featured memorable moments, such as a saxophone duel between Vanessa Collier and Alain Sancho, great chemistry between vocalists Ian Siegal and Jon Careaga, and a touching tribute to Unax Cañibano, who “is always present on stage with us,” as recalled by his uncle Aitor.
On Sunday, guitarist and singer Skyler Saufley opened the day’s lineup on the Volotea stage. In his first performance in Spain, the young bluesman from Alabama, carrying on the traditions of jump blues and classic rhythm & blues masters, had the audience dancing in no time with sophisticated swing rhythms and nods to icons like Guitar Slim, Lowell Fulson, and T-Bone Walker.
Saufley’s seductive beats paved the way for Chicago blues—the style that served as a gateway to rock & roll and rhythm & blues in the 1950s. The “Bilbao All Star Blues Band” returned for their second set of the festival, delivering a vibrant performance. Harmonica player Mark Hummel joined the veteran band as a special guest for a rendition of Muddy Waters’ iconic “Got My Mojo Workin'”, providing a brilliant finale to three days of top-tier blues that drew massive crowds.
VOLOTEA BLUES CHALLENGE, EDUCATIONAL TALKS, AND BOOGIE-WOOGIE CLASSES
Chino Swingslide Quartet won the Volotea Blues Challenge and will represent the country at the European Blues Challenge 2027. The group is an evolution of Hernán Senra’s project, one of Barcelona’s blues benchmarks. Featuring slide guitar, double bass, drums, and harmonica, they deliver original electric blues rooted in tradition with a contemporary flare. Backed by extensive international experience and recognition at the 2013 European Blues Challenge, the group stands out for their intense, elegant live shows.
On Saturday morning, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao auditorium hosted a lecture on feminist pioneers. Delivered by Héctor Martínez as part of the museum’s TopArte program, the presentation aimed to “raise awareness about the key role women played in the fight against slavery, both as drivers of abolitionist movements and as active participants in the Underground Railroad”—referring to the 19th-century network of secret routes and safe houses in the US. The talk featured performances by Mayka Edjole (vocals) and Alex Caporuscio (guitar).
On Sunday morning, the long-awaited boogie-woogie dance classes took place, getting participants moving under the guidance of Carlos Etxebarria, instructor at the Swing Dance School of Portugalete. Hundreds gathered at El Arenal to learn the steps and have fun to the rhythm of 1950s music.
