The Cape Fear Blues Festival is a great weekend of blues music in downtown Wilmington, NC. Get the full schedule and details here.
For more help planning your trip, check out all of our posts about Wilmington, NC.
When we first moved to Wilmington, Pete was super excited to find The Rusty Nail. It’s the town’s local blues bar, which hosts a weekly open blues jam.
It also host the annual Cape Fear Blues Festival, now in its 28th year.
The festival is happening June 20 to 22, 2025. If you’ve been curious about checking it out, we have all the details you need below.
The Cape Fear Blues Fest isn’t the only festival in town. Be sure to check out our list of Guide To Festivals In Wilmington, NC.
Cape Fear Blues Festival History
The Cape Fear Blues Festival was started in 1996 by the Cape Fear Blues Society. That makes it one of the longest-running blues events in the Carolinas.
That’s nine years after the society was formed to promote blues music in the area.
The festival is in its 28th year. Quick math says this should be the 29th year, but, like so many other things, the festival was canceled in 2020 and then again in 2021.
At one point, the Cape Fear Blues Festival was held in July. But, if you’ve ever been to Wilmington in July, it’s hot. I mean, it’s hot in June too, but it’s more hot in July. So the festival was moved a month earlier to try and beat the heat.
It also has bands perform on indoor and outdoor stages, so if you do need to hide from the heat, you can go inside where there’s air conditioning.
The Cape Fear Blues Society is who puts on the weekly Cape Fear Blues Jam at the Rusty Nail. That’s an open jam where players of any skill level sign up and play together when its their set time. The players don’t know each other ahead of time and somehow pull off songs.
It always blows my mind.
Pete has joined a bunch of times over the years and always says knowing blues is like knowing your ABC’s. So if you know the basics, you can play together.
I bring that up because part of the Cape Fear Blues Festival used to have an all day open blues jam on the Sunday of the festival. Anyone could come and sign up to play on the outdoor stage as part of the festival.
Pete joined every year he could and it was so much fun to watch him play on that big stage.
The festival eliminated that so the only bands that play now are established ones. In my opinion, that’s such a bummer because the open jam was such a fun way to get the community involved.
The Cape Fear Blues Festival also had a few other activities that are no longer held, like a free acoustic blues workshop hosted at Finkelstein Music and an acoustic blues show at Ted’s, another local venue in the area.
Cape Fear Blues Festival Frequently Asked Questions
The 2025 Cape Fear Blues Festival is being held from Friday, June 20 to Sunday, June 22.
It’s at The Rusty Nail (1310 S 5th Ave #6260).
Admission is $10 at the door on Friday, $30 at the door on Saturday (this allows you entry for all day/night), and it’s free on Sunday.
There are a bunch of seats indoors and some outdoors, but you are encouraged to bring your own folding or captain’s chairs.
Outside food and drinks are not permitted. Both, including alcoholic beverages, will be available for purchase.
The Rusty Nail has its own parking lot, although it is limited. Street parking is available for free around the venue, although it is a first come, first serve situation.
Cape Fear Blues Festival Schedule Of Events
Quick note: Drugstore Divas has no affiliation with the festival. Any specific questions or concerns should be addressed with the venue itself.
Friday, June 20
BG and The Mojo Hands: The blues, swing, and rockabilly band from Wilmington will be playing from 8 pm to 11 pm.
Saturday, June 21
Papa Midnight Blues Band: The Wilmington-based Chicago/Delta/Piedmont Power Blues band will take the stage at 2:30 pm.
Frank Grant & The Feelin’: The bluesy soul and funkrock band, who call Wilmington home, will be playing at 4:15 pm.
Bobby Messano: The New Jersey-based Hall of Fame blues guitarist plays at 6 pm.
The Nasty Chaps: The Southern-style blues band from Myrtle Beach closes the day with a set starting at 7:45 pm.
Sunday, June 22
Vendors: Food and merchandise vendors will be set up from noon to 7 pm.
The Rhythm Bones – The blues band, who is the usual Sunday house band at The Rusty Nail, will be playing their weekly set from 3 pm to 6 pm.
Have you been to the Cape Fear Blues Festival? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.