Columbia Pike Blues Festival

Now in its 28th year, the Columbia Pike Blues Festival is a high-energy summer celebration that brings music, community, and culture to the heart of Arlington’s most vibrant corridor. Presented by the Columbia Pike Partnership in collaboration with Arlington Arts, the festival showcases the best of the DMV’s musical talent while honoring the rich diversity and spirit of Columbia Pike.

^{Everyday Everybody (6:30pm)}

Each year, thousands gather to enjoy a day filled with live blues music, local vendors, food and drink, and family-friendly fun. From legendary performers to neighborhood favorites, the festival lineup reflects the community’s creative heartbeat. More than a music event, the Columbia Pike Blues Festival is a tribute to the people, stories, and sounds that make the Pike a place like no other.

Everyday Everybody

6:30 PM

Everyday Everybody is a DC-based band blending funk, soul, jazz, and afrobeats into a sound that’s as vibrant as their live shows. Since 2012, they’ve earned recognition as Best Local Original Band (Washington City Paper) and Best Funk Group (Wammies), with features in The Washington Post and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Tour. Known for electrifying performances, they’ve shared stages with The Wailers, Burning Spear, Cory Henry, Durand Jones & The Indications, The Suffers, and Cedric Burnside, and have headlined venues like the Black Cat and The Hamilton, with featured appearances at DC JazzFest, the Kennedy Center, and the 9:30 Club.

Website

Sol Roots

5:00 PM

The Sol Roots band performs a mix of New Orleans influenced funk, deep blues, heartfelt soul, and energetic rock. Known for his ferocious guitar skills and soulful vocals, Sol has toured around the world with many musical legends.

Sol has spent most of his life touring, recording, producing, and learning directly from roots and blues pioneers such as Beverly “Guitar” Watkins, Albert White, Robert Lee Coleman, Cool John Ferguson, Lee Gates, and more.

The Sol Roots band has shared the stage with acts such as Jon Cleary, Soulive, Dumpstaphunk, Popa Chubby, Sonny Landreth, Eric Lindell, Roosevelt Collier, Cory Henry, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Shemekia Copeland, Jackie Greene and many more.

Guided by a deep admiration for his musical mentors and a passion for universal music, Sol emerges with a distinctive, powerful voice, accompanied by a talented band of musicians.

Sol Roots is an official Home Grown Music Network artist and a “Next Generation” Music Maker Foundation artist.

“Sol is a fierce guitarist and soulful singer”- Jambase

“Sol’s vocalizing reminds me of Mose Allison… Van Morrison, and Mississippi hill country blues performers”- Big City Blues Magazine

Website

Anthony "Swamp Dog" Clark

3:30 PM

Anthony Clark is a world class musician who has performed, and recorded with some of the best local and national blues acts. Anthony started out playing the drums at the age of five, and by the time he was twelve, started listening to the blues greats. Musicians like Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, Paul Butterfield, and Sonny Boy Williamson, just to name a few.

The band has played up and down the east coast, from Pennsylvania, to Tennessee. His CD “LIVE” has been featured on many college, and Internet radio stations. The music is a blistering mix of contemporary blues with a funk edge.

Today you can see Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark at various festivals and clubs opening for the likes of Deanna Boggart, Shemekia Copeland, and Mr. Sip.

Website

Little Red & the Renegades

2:10 PM

Squeeze Box Rock & Roll, Zydeco, Blues, and New Orleans R&B—high energy grooves from the DMV’s one and only Little Red & the Renegades. Accordion, steel pan, a dynamic rhythm section, and great songs . . . who could ask for anything more. Little Red, on the Azalea City Recordings label based in Takoma Park, has appeared with Dr. John, Buckwheat Zydeco, Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha-Chas, T-Bone Burnett, Chubby Carrier, Queen Ida, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Brave Combo, and Rosie Ledet. Band members are Little Red (Tom Corradino), Accordion, Piano, Guitar; Carol Arthur, Zydecaribbean Steel Pans, Piano; Antoine Sanfuentes, Drums; Dave Petersen, Bass; Harry Rado, Guitar. Little Red represented DC at Austin’s famed South by SouthWest festival, and were the Kennedy Center’s New Years Eve band!

Website

Rick Franklin

1:00 PM

A Virginia native, Rick Franklin was born in Alexandria, Virginia in 1952 to a military family. The family traveled the US and England until 1968 when the family returned to Virginia and his father retired from military service. Since 1981, the Arlington, Virginia resident has been playing acoustic guitar and singing the Blues at community events, local festivals, international festivals, as well as various clubs, cafes and other venues. Rick’s musical style of blues is known as the “Piedmont” style identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson, and Archie Edwards.

Website

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Arlington Art Truck

The Arlington Art Truck delivers interactive art projects to where you live, work, and play! Exposing Life Cycles by Zofie King with Michele Montalbano will be at the Columbia Pike Blues Festival from 1 to 5pm.

Using kits developed by Arlington artist Zofie King and organic items found on site (think: leaves), create sun prints (aka cyanotypes) that turns organic waste into beautiful artwork, just as composting turns organic matter into beautiful soil and mulch, which in turn goes back into our community!

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KidZone

Along the grassy area in front of Fillmore Gardens Apartments you’ll find a ton of family fun! In recent years, the KidZone has included a moon bounce, face painter, lawn games, and more.

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Vendors

Throughout the festival you’ll find a huge selection of artisans, commercial vendors, and local nonprofits. From puppets to jewelry, home decor to home services, you’ll enjoy browsing through the dozens of tents to find something truly unique.

When

Location

S. Walter Reed Dr. and Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA, 22204, View Map