🗓️ Thursday 2nd – Sunday 5th October 2025
The annual Swanage Blues Festival brings the distinctive sounds of blues, roots and soul to Swanage’s pubs, bars and music venues each autumn.
This October, enjoy 76 gigs across 18 great venues in Swanage and Purbeck as the festival celebrates its 41st edition.
Line-Up
Thursday 2nd October
- 8.30pm: Hugh Budden & Blue Chords, The Legion
- 9pm: Big Joe Bones
Friday 3rd October
- 2pm: Paul Cook – The Blues Revue, The Con Club
- 2pm: Back Porch, The Legion
- 2pm: Zoe Schwarz & Rob Koral Duo, The Purbeck Plaza
- 2pm: Open Mic with Andy Bradshaw, The Red Lion
- 3pm: Staffell & Stewart with Geoff Garbow guesting, The White Swan
- 4pm: Fabulous Duck Brothers, Fonc Lounge
- 4pm: Kirris Riviere & the Delta du Bruit, Mowlem Showbar
- 5.30pm: Ray Drury & Jon Walsh, The Red Lion
- 6pm: Robin Bibi Band, Con Club
- 7pm: Geoff Garbow Band & Paul Cook, The Bay View
- 7.30pm: Jimmy Regal & The Royals, Purbeck Plaza
- 8pm: Scoundrels, Mowlem Showbar
- 8pm: Ben White & Thomas Lucas, The Arches
- 8pm: Mojo Mules, Baboo Gelato
- 8pm: Neil Sadler, Isle of Purbeck Golf Club
- 8pm: Devil’s Avocado, The Village Inn
- 8.30pm: Mighty Howlers, Donc Lounge
- 8.30pm: Zoe Schwarz Bluez Party, The Grand Hotel
- 8.30pm: Pete Harris & Co., The Legion
- 9pm: Stompin’ Dave Electric Duo, The Red Lion
- 9pm: The Mustangs, The White Horse
- 9pm: Chicago 9, The White Swan
Saturday 4th October
- 12pm: Ben White & Thomas Lucas, The Centre
- 12.30pm: Blue Touch, The White Swan
- 1pm: Robin Bibi Band Jam Session, The Con Club
- 1.15pm: Guy Tortora Duo The Centre
- 1.30pm: Back Porch, The Grand Hotel
- 2pm: Fabulous Fez Heads, Bay View
- 2pm: Stompin’ Dave Electric Duo, The Greyhound, Corfe
- 2pm: Kirris Riviere & the Delta du Bruit, Purbeck Plaza
- 2pm: Open Mic with Andy Bradshaw, The Red Lion
- 2.30pm: Joff Watkins Duo, The Centre
- 3pm: Thomas Heppell Band, The Legion
- 3.45pm: Will Killeen, The Centre
- 4pm: Back at Nick’s,. The Fonc Lounge
- 4pm: Mighty Howlers, Mowlem Showbar
- 4pm: Geoff Garbow’s Blues Band, The White Swan
- 5.30pm: Chicago 9, The Con Club
- 6pm: The Spikedrivers, The Centre
- 7pm: Fabulous Duck Brothers, The Bay View
- 7pm: The McClean Gang, Old Harry Bar, Studland
- 7.30pm: Rich Miller, The King’s Arms, Langton
- 7.30pm: Rolling Drunks, Purbeck Plaza
- 8pm: Keith Kenny, The Arches
- 8pm: Jono & the Alley Cats, Bamboo Gelato
- 8pm: The Terraplanes, Mowlem Showbar
- 8.30pm: George Hall Trio, Fonc Lounge
- 8.30pm: Neil Sadler, The Grand Hotel
- 8.30pm: Robin Bibi Band, The Legion
- 8.30pm: Jon Walsh Blues Dogs, Village Inn, Ulwell
- 9pm: Fabulous Fez Heads. The Red Lion
- 9pm: Milk Men, The White Horse
- 9pm: Jon Amor Trio, The White Swan
Sunday 5th October
- 12pm: Southern Blues Collective, The Centre
- 1pm: The McClean Gang & Friends, The Con Club
- 1pm: Open Mic with Andy Bradshaw, The Red Lion
- 1.15pm: Mojo Mules, The Centre
- 1.30pm: Blue Touch, Mowlem Showbar
- 2pm: Paul Cook – The Blues Revue, The Bay View
- 2pm: Ben White & Thomas Lucas, The Greyhound, Corfe
- 2.30pm: Thomas Heppell Solo, The Black Swan
- 2.30pm: Keith Kenny, The Centre
- 2.30pm: Hugh Budden & the Blue Chords unplugged with guests, The Grand Hotel
- 3pm: Blues Dharma & Geoff Garbow, The Fonc Lounge
- 3pm: Staffell & Stewart Duo, The King’s Arms, Langton
- 3pm: Robin Bibi Band Jam Session, The Legion
- 3pm: Southern Blues Collective, The White Swan
- 3.34pm: Rich Miller, The Centre
- 5pm: Jon Walsh, The Centre
- 5.30pm: Blues Cruise, The Showbar
- 5.30pm: Stringfellas, Purbeck Plaza
- 8pm: Pete Harris & John Vaughan, The Red Lion
- 8pm: Fat Finger (Astels – Couzens), The White Swan
- 8.30pm: Hugh Budden & the Blue Chords electric with guests, The Grand Hotel
- 8.30pm: Adam Sweet Band, The Legion
Festival cost
Swanage Blues Festival is a not-for-profit event and relies on the sale of optional £15 supporter wristbands, rather than ticket sales, to cover its costs.
Wristbands will be on sale at a range of venues around town in the lead-up to the festival: www.swanage-blues.org/default.aspx?p=wristbands
Steve Darrington
Sadly, festival founder Steve passed away unexpectedly in June 2024, and will be very much missed by the Blues community, both here in Swanage and further afield.
He was a keen musician himself and organised the Swanage Blues Festival for many years.
Steve described Swanage as having “a magic that’s been attracting visual and performing artists of all kinds for many years.
“People tell me they love the wide range of blues-based music in venues that are close to each other, meaning they can mix and match the music they like with food, drink and accommodation.”
Steve’s funeral was held on Wednesday 24th July, with a celebration held afterward at Swanage Royal British Legion.