Explore the Heartbeat of Blues - Belleville Downtown Blues Festival
BELLEVILLE DOWNTOWN BLUES EVENT SCHEDULE
September 11 -13, 2026
OPENING NIGHT – SEPTEMBER 11th
The Fabulous Tonemasters
The Fabulous Tonemasters are Gerry Archer, guitar and vocals, JP Hovercraft, bass and vocals, John Dewar on guitar and vocals, and the heartbeat of the band, John “JR” Robertson on drums. There has been a version of The Tonemasters for over fifteen years now, but this iteration has come into it’s own. Borrowing heavily from Gerry’s early influences, they have moulded a potent gumbo of funk, blues, and R&B that is very infectious. Add to that Gerry’s rabid quest for the ultimate guitar tones, you get an idea of what your in for.
7 to 9 p.m.
Location: 15 Market Square
Behind City Hall
SEPTEMBER 12th
NOTHING BUT THE BLUES
History Workshop
Paul Denyes, musicologist, former board member and vice president of the Toronto Blues Society will be giving a workshop on blues history and its influences.
Paul Denyes on Sept 12th from 11am to 12:30pm at the Belleville Public Library (3rd floor) will be having a blues workshop of a rare collection of video performances of premiere bluesmen with discussion afterwards.
11 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Belleville Public Library
Third Floor
254 Pinnacle Street
Sweet Pete and the Heat
Peter Jacobs fronts Sweet Pete and The Heat, a collection of local musicians who met through jams and participation in the local music scene. Originally formed as a “one off” for the 2017 Homegrown Festival, the band has evolved to its current form and has become quite busy!
12:30 pm – 2 pm
Location: Main Stage, Bridge Street closed between Pinnacle and Front
Balloon artist Christopher the Twistopher and face painting by Carol Bauer
Free family fun!
1 pm – 4 pm
Location: Bridge Street closed between Pinnacle and Front
Kenny Pauzé Presents: The History and the Invention of National Guitars
Discover the story behind the iconic National guitar in an exclusive workshop led by gifted Delta blues and folk musician Kenny Pauzé. Hailing from Elgin, Quebec, Pauzé is a seasoned performer who has graced major stages, including the Ottawa Folk Festival and the International Tremblant Blues Festival.
In this interactive session, he will trace the invention and evolution of these legendary resonator instruments. Attendees will explore the unique characteristics of different National models, learn about the legendary musicians who played them, and experience their distinctive sound through live musical demonstrations.
2 pm – 3 pm
Location: Upfront Cafe
313 Front Street
Tim Campbell
Timothy Campbell, is one of our region’s finest and most respected musicians. His deep lineage goes back to widely popular bands: The Sands Of Time, Boojum & Urgency…through to being a founding member of Bentwood Rocker & All You Need Is Love.!
A bluesman at heart, Timothy has established a stellar reputation as a top blues artist…representing our community as far afield as Memphis, Tennessee! Be it solo or with The Timothy Campbell Trio, the blues is always served up, red hot! He’s also shared the stage with a number of well-known acts, including Pat Travis and Colin James. Tim founded ‘Keynote Studios’ where he continues to produce, record and teach music and do guitar setup & repairs. Currently, he’s busy writing and recording original material, performing his own brand of “rockin’ boogie blues.”
2 pm to 3:30 pm
Location: Belleville Club
210 Pinnacle Street
The Blues Harvest Band
The Blues Harvest band was formed in 1996 and played many concerts, waterfronts, clubs, Shannonville drags, theatres, and numerous biker events around the area. Rick Boyle on lead guitar and vocals. Ron Bulman on drums and vocals. Dave Embury on bass and vocals. We play a variety of rock and blues. Stevie Ray Gary Moore, Colin James, Jeff Healy, Walter Trout, to name a few along with many of our original songs. We are all looking forward to playing at the Belleville Downtown Blues Festival.
2:30 pm – 4 pm
Location: Main Stage, Bridge Street closed between Pinnacle and Front
Zebulum Barnow
Graham Flett
The Role of Drums and Piano in the Blues
Local music educators Zebulun Barnow and Graham Flett join forces to discuss and demonstrate the roles of drums and piano in the Blues.
Zebulun Barnow is from Marquette, Michigan. He lived in Chicago until 2015. Through the years he performed with a variety of groups playing different styles including “B1g T1me”, a live tribute to Tom Waits. From 2004 to 2014 he was with Blue Man Group playing Chapman stick and electric zither. Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s “Timon of Athens” featured his voice in the soundtrack. He toured the People’s Republic of China in 2014 as an orchestral percussionist and studied throat singing in Tuva in 2017. Since moving to Belleville in 2021 he has remained active in music.
He graduated from Valparaiso University in 2025
Graham Flett is a diverse composer who has written for numerous ensembles and musicians in Europe, Canada, and the USA. He has established a repertoire of pieces for small and large ensembles, including compositions for vocalists, bands, soloists, works for film and theatre, operetta, and some rather experimental works. His music frequently features a sense of mystery, subtle humour, and unpredictability. At balance with the rational and the playful, Flett enjoys exploring the limits and expectations of certain musical styles, with an intent to determine ways music can be critically combined or dismantled.
3 pm -4 pm
Location: Upfront Cafe
313 Front Street
Jay Blues Trio
The Jay Blues Trio are a Canadian Psychedelic Blues & Funk band from Toronto composed of Jwoel “Jay” Benn (guitar/vocals), Ben Graffam (drums) & Kyle Colasanti (Bass/vocals).
The band formed in 2023 from a collective of Blues, Rnb, Jazz and Funk lovers who met busking and performing within the local scene. Channeling the styles of Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Albert King, BB King, Muddy Waters, The Spinners, Sly & The Family Stone, and Jimi Hendrix.
Their unique brand of entertainment fuses Chicago Blues, 70’s Funk, and Whirling solos with Slow Sultry Acid-Blues and a tight rhythm section that will make you want to groove.
5 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Main Stage, Bridge Street closed between Pinnacle and Front
EVENING HEADLINER
Sept 12th
The Angelique Francis Band
JUNO Award winner Angelique Francis and her band, The Angelique Francis Band, are versatile and exceptionally gifted musicians. These multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist, multi-genre singer-songwriters/composers have wowed audiences across the globe with their electrifying performances, instrumental abilities and powerful textured vocals. Known for their eclectic mix of various musical genres (including Blues, Folk, Soul, Jazz, Roots, Rock, Gospel and Americana), they have played and shared the stage with renowned musicians such as Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Jr, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Gales, Keb’ Mo’, Jimmy Vivino, Beth Hart, Tom Cochran, Burton Cummings, Sugar Ray and the list goes on.
7 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Main Stage, Bridge Street closed between Pinnacle and Front
SEPTEMBER 13th
The Stir
The Stir – A Perennial Blues Powerhouse! A dynamic blues-based band that delivers infectious-energetic grooves and tight-driving dance rhythms – served with a big ol’ heaping of soul on the side. The fellas are dry-aged, well seasoned and ready to sonically sear your ears to lock in a flavourful sound slathered in blues, funk, with a side of rock.
Keeping the blues alive one performance at a time.
1 pm – 3 pm
Location: Upfront Cafe
313 Front Street