Meyreuil welcomes the great voices of blues to Provence

Blues Actu continues its tour of the festivals to watch in 2026. Next stop: Meyreuil, in the Bouches-du-Rhône, where the Blues Roots Festival returns to the Domaine communal de Valbrillant from September 10 to 12. For its eighth edition, the festival brings together six artists over three evenings, connecting major American voices, British blues and a new generation of musicians. Shemekia Copeland, Larry McCray, D.K. Harrell, Errol Linton, Elise Frank and Jamiah Rogers are all on the bill, with the Sainte-Victoire mountain as a backdrop. Here’s the full programme!

Since its launch in 2019, the Blues Roots Festival has been built around a simple idea: presenting high-quality blues in an intimate setting. Its identity is also rooted in the history of the town, shaped by a century of mining and the arrival of workers from across Europe. “It is a working-class area that perfectly reflects the soul and spirit of the blues,” says Jean-Pascal Gournès, Mayor of Meyreuil.

The setting is an essential part of that identity. The concerts take place outdoors at the Domaine communal de Valbrillant, facing the Sainte-Victoire mountain. The limited capacity creates a close connection between the musicians and the audience, while the festival still attracts more than 2,000 people over its three days each year.

Six concerts and three perspectives on today’s blues

The 2026 programme is built around three double bills. Each evening, the first concert will begin at 8 p.m., followed by a second performance at 10 p.m. Over the three nights, the festival will move from French blues-rock to American soul, from Chicago to Louisiana, and finally from London blues to the electric power of Arkansas.

The line-up brings together artists already firmly established on the international circuit and musicians representing a new generation of blues. It is a fitting reminder that the blues remains a music rooted in transmission, while continuing to provide an open space for new forms of expression.

Watch the 2026 teaser

Elise Frank and Shemekia Copeland to open the festival

On Thursday, September 10, Elise Frank will open the eighth edition at 8 p.m. She reached a wider audience with her excellent second album I Didn’t Pay for It, released in January 2026 on Ruf Records. Elise Frank plays direct, hard-hitting blues-rock driven by tight riffs, garage-tinged rhythms and a gritty voice.

At 10 p.m., Shemekia Copeland will take over. Born in Harlem and the daughter of guitarist Johnny Copeland, the American singer has established herself since the late 1990s as one of the major voices of contemporary blues. Her music embraces urban blues, soul and gospel, while her lyrics place human stories and social issues at their core.

A winner at the Blues Music Awards and Grammy Awards, Shemekia Copeland has that rare ability to turn every song into a story that feels completely real. Her appearance in Meyreuil will be one of the highlights of this edition and promises a particularly powerful vocal performance.

Jamiah Rogers and D.K. Harrell put the new American generation centre stage

Friday, September 11 will focus on a new generation of American guitarist-singers. At 8 p.m., Jamiah Rogers will bring the energy of Chicago to the festival. He attracted attention at a very young age and has received several honours at the Chicago Music Awards. His music combines the foundations of Chicago blues, shuffle rhythms, groove and call-and-response playing, with a more spectacular approach influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

His sense of showmanship never comes at the expense of his connection to the tradition. Moving between reworked standards and original compositions, Jamiah Rogers plays with dynamics, solos and direct interaction with the audience. His performance should be a reminder of how Chicago blues can retain its codes while remaining firmly connected to the present.

At 10 p.m., D.K. Harrell will continue an evening looking firmly towards the future. Originally from Louisiana and a great admirer of B.B. King, he belongs to a tradition in which every silence matters as much as every note. His precise touch, soulful voice and storytelling skills allow him to respect the legacy of the masters without simply reproducing their formulas.

In just a few years, D.K. Harrell has become one of the most sought-after talents on the new blues scene, both in the United States and Europe. His musicianship and immediate connection with audiences have made a strong impression wherever he performs. His appearance at the Domaine de Valbrillant will provide another opportunity to see just how far his career has come.

Errol Linton and Larry McCray bring the festival to a borderless finale

On Saturday, September 12, the festival will first shift latitude with Errol Linton. From 8 p.m., the British harmonica player, singer and songwriter will present a blues sound shaped in London, at the crossroads of Chicago blues, ska and Caribbean influences. His broad, melodic harmonica playing accompanies songwriting deeply rooted in urban culture.

A major figure on the British blues scene, Errol Linton combines a warm groove with a cosmopolitan approach that expands the vocabulary of the genre without diluting its spirit. His performance should bring a distinctive flavour to the final evening.

The festival will close at 10 p.m. with Larry McCray. Born in Arkansas and raised in Michigan, the guitarist and singer is one of the leading figures in American blues and blues-rock. First gaining recognition in the 1990s, he combines the legacy of the three Kings, B.B. King, Albert King and Freddie King, with a harder rock edge and a particularly warm voice.

His generous vibrato, deep sense of groove and instantly recognisable touch have fuelled a career spanning more than thirty years on international stages. To close the 2026 edition, Larry McCray should deliver the combination of power and lyricism that has earned him a loyal following across several generations of electric blues fans.

A look back at the atmosphere of the 2025 edition

A free jam session on Saturday afternoon

The Blues Roots Festival is about more than its six evening concerts. On Saturday, September 12, a free jam session will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jean Monnet hall. Open to both the public and musicians upon registration, it will be led by trumpeter Thierry Seneau, a concert performer, soloist with the Amazing Keystone Big Band and professor at the Lyon Regional Conservatory.

He will be joined by Christophe Le Van on double bass, Philippe Le Van on drums, Christian Mornet on keyboards and David Dupeyre on guitar. The event continues the festival’s educational approach, which also includes a concert for local schoolchildren. The jam session is free, but booking is recommended.

Meyreuil, the blues and Sainte-Victoire

The Blues Roots Festival has developed its own identity through the meeting of local history and a music born far from Provence. A former mining area shaped by the arrival of workers from across Europe, Meyreuil has a strong working-class and collective culture that naturally resonates with the blues. By bringing together on the same stage a major voice such as Shemekia Copeland, a blues-rock veteran like Larry McCray, and fast-rising artists including D.K. Harrell and Jamiah Rogers, the 2026 edition perfectly sums up the festival’s vision. Three evenings celebrating a musical heritage, following its evolution and showing how the blues continues to be passed on through sharing and close contact between artists and audiences.

Blues Roots Festival Meyreuil 2026
📆 September 10–12, 2026
📍 Domaine communal de Valbrillant, route de Valbrillant, 13590 Meyreuil
🎤 Two concerts each evening at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
🎟️ Full-price seated ticket: €35 per evening / Standing and reduced-price ticket: €20 per evening
🚌 Free shuttle buses to the festival site
🍔 Food trucks and bar on site, cash recommended for food and drinks
🌐 festival.ville-meyreuil.fr
🎟️ Official ticketing