The lineup of acts for the 2026 Erie Blues and Jazz Festival includes soul rockers from Canada, a Blues Award winner, a top Blues guitarist from Chicago, a blues trio familiar with the Erie area, a Jazz Group of the Year nominee and more.
On June 3 at Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park, Blues and Jazz Festival organizers Maria Gangemi and Tim Bruno announced the lineup for the 33rd Blues and Jazz Festival taking place at Frontier Park on Aug. 1 and 2.
Here’s what Blues and Jazz Festival attendees can expect from the 2026 festival.
Previous coverage: Erie Blues and Jazz Festival dates set. When the concerts will be
Bywater Call to headline first day of Blues and Jazz Festival
The Blues and Jazz Festival kicks off on Aug. 1 with the main act Bywater Call taking the stage at 8 p.m.
Bywater Call is a seven-piece southern soul band from Toronto, Canada, known for its dynamic and emotional live shows which feature powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members.
The band which originates from Toronto, Canada, has several members, comprised of Meghan Parnell on vocals, Dave Barnes on guitar, Bruce McCarthy on drums, Mike Meusel on brass, John Kervin on keys, Stephen Dyte on trumpet and Julian Nali on sax.
Other acts on Aug. 1 will have 90-minute sets beginning at noon. Those acts include:
Duke Sherman Band, one of northwest Pennsylvania’s most popular blues acts, according to Blues and Jazz Festival organizers — noon to 1:30 p.m.
The Max Schang Band, a Blues group familiar with the Erie, Pittsburgh and Cleveland area — 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Wayne Baker Brooks, top guitarist from Chicago, Illinois — 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Lao Tizer Band to headline Day 2 of Blues and Jazz Festival
A 2011 Group of the Year nominee for the Jazz Music Awards, the Lao Tizer Band, will headline the Blues and Jazz Festival on Aug. 2
The jazz band will support their new album “Amplify.”
The band is made up of “American Idol” star vocalist Elliott Yamin, saxophonist and flutist Danny Janklow, Grammy-winning drummer Gene Coye, Senegalese bassist Cheikh N’Doye and percussionist Joey De Leon.
Other acts on Aug. 2 will play an hour-to-90-minute set. Those acts include:
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The local Erie Philharmonic Jazz Ensemble — noon to 1 p.m.
Tony Grey Trio, a jazz trio led by Tony Grey who has performed at the Hollywood Bowl and Lincoln Center — 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Erin and Ross with their Better Angels, a mix of New York and Erie musicians — 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Nathan Paul and the Admirables, from the Funky Rust Belt Town of Northeast, Ohio — 5 p.m.
More information on the Blues and Jazz Festival regarding vendors and more will be released as they come available on the Blues and Jazz Festival’s Facebook page.
Contact Nicholas Sorensen at Nsorensen@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Blues & Jazz Festival 2026 lineup set. See who will play and when