Rebranded Black Mountain Blues Experience introduces intimate format in single venue
White Horse Black Mountain to host weekend of ‘blues without boundaries’ in September
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
June 23, 2026
The Black Mountain Blues Experience unveil a new format, Sept. 25-27, when the White Horse hosts three days of award-winning lineups. Photo by Fred McCormick
An annual gathering of award-winning blues artists will unveil a new format in downtown Black Mountain, Friday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 27.
The Black Mountain Blues Experience, which debuted in 2024 as a multi-venue festival, will present a versatile lineup in a series of shows at the White Horse.
Organized by the nonprofit Black Mountain Blues Society, the event will feature a thoughtfully curated, intentionally intimate format, designed to enhance the connection between artists and audiences.
“Hosted entirely indoors at the White Horse Black Mountain venue, the 2026 event will welcome approximately 200 guests per performance, offering a rare opportunity to experience world-class blues artists in a focused listening environment,” organizers announced, following a June 10 launch party at the White Horse.
The lineup, which honors the deep traditions of blues while showcasing the genre’s evolving future, blends internationally recognized headliners with rising regional and national talent. Artists representing Memphis, Nashville, the Mississippi Delta and the Carolinas, specializing in a wide range of styles.
Two-time Grammy Award nominee Southern Avenue, which debuted in 2017 with a self-titled album that reached No. 1 on the iTunes Blues Chart, released “Family” in 2025. The Memphis-based group was nominated for the 2026 Blues Music Award Band of the Year award last May.
Ra’shad the Blues Kid will join a diverse lineup of artists, Sept. 25-27, at the White Horse, when the venue hosts the Black Mountain Blues Experience. Photo by Fred McCormick
Florida-based guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, Selwyn Birchwood, who pioneered his distinct “electric swamp funk” sound, will join the list of performers, which includes the Stacy Mitchhart Band, Derrick Dove and the Peacekeepers, the Ghost Town Blues Band and MAMA, featuring Melissa McKinney. Spotlight artist include Mac Arnold, Ra’shad the Blues Kid, DaShawn and Wendy Hickman Sacred Steel and Peggy Ratusz and Daddy Longlegs.
The 200-seat venue will accommodate “a weekend of blues without boundaries,” according to organizers.
“Rather than scaling for size, the 2026 Black Mountain Blues Experience emphasizes presence—bringing legendary performers, Grammy-nominated artists, and International Blues Challenge winners into a setting where every note can be felt as much as heard,” the announcement stated. “With warm natural acoustics, reserved seating, and an atmosphere built for immersion, the weekend is designed to highlight the storytelling power and emotional depth at the heart of the blues.”
Tickets, ranging from $89 to $159, which include options for general seating or a premium table experience, are available online at blackmountainblues.org.