About the festival

Since its formation in 2001 the Upton Blues festival has had two aims. To put on a fabulous festival of the ‘Best of British Blues’ and to support the local community. To achieve these aims the Festival has always and plans to always be free from any admission charge.

In the beginning seven local people clubbed together each putting £10 into the festival kitty. Now the festival has grown through success and costs £40,000 to put on each year. The Committee gives their time for free and seeks to not only ensure all our visitors have a good time but that the businesses of Upton have their most successful weekend of the year.

Incorporating the whole of the town, by putting a main stage at either end of the High Street we take the many 1000’s of visitors in and out of all the shops, pubs and restaurants. The 2012 event will be different due to the building of a flood defence wall right across the riverside (any of you who were here in 2007 will realise just how important this new structure is to the town).

The Upton Blues Festival is a remarkable event – its size, the quality of its music, largely self funding and run completely by volunteers, completely taking over this lovely riverside town. Just remarkable – so enjoy it and support it

We look forward to seeing you in July 2012!