North Atlantic Blues Festival

View on map
MusicRockland
DatesDates TBA · Usually JulyCheck locally before booking
Duration2 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsThe festival's setting is its signature
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland

The North Atlantic Blues Festival is a two-day outdoor blues music festival held each July at the Public Landing in Rockland, Maine, overlooking Rockland Harbor. Running since the mid-1990s, it books national and touring blues acts on a single main stage and is widely regarded as one of the more prestigious blues gatherings on the East Coast.

Rockland has long identified itself through its working waterfront, and the North Atlantic Blues Festival grew out of that identity rather than displacing it.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's setting is its signature feature: a grassy oval and hillside at Rockland's Public Landing that puts the audience directly on the working harbor, with lobster boats and windjammers visible behind the stage

02

The mystery stays covered

Produced for decades by Benjamin Productions, it has built a reputation for booking touring national blues acts rather than regional cover bands, drawing repeat visitors from across New England

03

The city starts moving

Saturday night's Club Crawl extends the festival into downtown Rockland, closing Main Street so five bands can play simultaneously in different bars and storefronts

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The Saturday-night Club Crawl

Water and renewal

Living ritual

when Main Street closes to traffic and five bands play simultaneously along the street

The sacred route

Living ritual

functions as the festival's signature local tradition

The local code

Living ritual

drawing townspeople and festivalgoers together for a free evening separate from the ticketed grounds

Tradition 5

Living ritual

Staking out a hillside spot facing the harbor early in the day is also a recognizable ritual

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually July

Getting around

For North Atlantic Blues Festival, plan transport around the exact Rockland venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual outdoor festival wear suited to a Maine coastal summer: shorts, sun hats, and sunglasses for the day, with a light jacket or rain layer for evening harbor breezes. Comfortable shoes...

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For North Atlantic Blues Festival, stay near the part of Rockland you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map42.13 N, 70.92 WOpen in Google Maps

Rockland, ME

Nearest airportBOS — Boston Logan
TransportFor North Atlantic Blues Festival, plan transport around the exact Rockland venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor North Atlantic Blues Festival, stay near the part of Rockland you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Rockland via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Rockland, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for July.Compare faresFestival gearCasual outdoor festival wear suited to a Maine coastal summer: shorts, sun hats, and sunglasses for the day, with a light jacket or rain layer for evening harbor breezes. Comfortable shoes matter since the grounds slope toward the water.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is North Atlantic Blues Festival?

North Atlantic Blues Festival is listed for Past edition: 12–13 July 2025. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does North Atlantic Blues Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Rockland, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

2 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Rockland, ME

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLnorthatlanticbluesfestival.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually July
Source statusOfficial source linked
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Rock in Rio

4–13 September 2026

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Photo pending

Montreal International Jazz Festival

Past edition: 25 June–4 July 2026

Montreal, Canada
Photo pending

Tomorrowland Brasil

Past edition: 10–12 October 2025

Itu, Brazil
Photo pending

Glastonbury Festival

23–27 June 2027

Pilton, United Kingdom

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →