Winthrop, WA’s Rhythm & Blues Festival

Every year, visitors of all ages come together in Winthrop for its famed Rhythm and Blues festival. This usually laid back town surrounded by scenic mountain ranges and towering fir and pine trees, celebrate the blues on a three-day music festival by the Methow River.

Live music, rhythm and blues

A big event for blues enthusiasts, the Winthrop music festival gathers guests not just from the state but even from other countries. Past event performers include national artists such as Los Lobos, Delbert McClinton, Larkin Poe, Delbert McClinton, Los Lonely Boys, Mavis Staples and John Mayall.

For its 35th anniversary, the lineup included top blues performers such as JJ Grey & Mofro, Charlie Musselwhite, Vanessa Collier, Eric Gales, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, Too Slim & the Taildraggers, GA-20 and more.

There was also a 35th Anniversary Spotify list featuring music from this year’s performers.

Great assortment of food, arts, and crafts

Catering to the imaginative and creative spirit of the festival and its guests, traditional and non-traditional vendors were present during the festival. Guests enjoyed a diverse and exciting array of food, drinks, and products.

Camping by the riverbanks

Another great experience during this three-day music festival was camping by the banks of the Methow River. On a first come, first serve basis, the camping sites were made available through a General Camping Pass. Even better, campsites Best of all, campsites were easily accessible to all festival activities and amenities.

Beer Garden Show

Only 2,500 tickets were issued for the Friday Night Beer Garden Show tickets, included in the Festival Weekend Pass. Guests presented a valid I.D. upon entering the Beer Garden. For those staying in town, a shuttle service was made available at the front gate.

What festival goers brought

Low-profile chairs no taller than 26 inches, sunglasses, sunblock, hat, water, bug spray, a sense of humor, and love of music were must-haves. Children aged 12 and below got in free with a paid accompanying adult. Smoking was allowed in designated areas.

Longest running music fest in WA

Celebrating the blues for over 30 years, the Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival is the largest and longest running music festival in Washington state. The Memphis-based Blues Foundation awarded it the “Best US Festival.” In 2020, the Washington Blues Society gave it the Best Festival award, along with the Washington Festival & Events Association conferring the 2020 Grand Summit Award.

The festival is produced by the non-profit Winthrop Music Association (WMA), which promotes arts and culture in the Methow Valley and beyond. WMA has donated over $50,000 for causes such as music education and hunger relief in Methow for the past decade.

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