The Blues Trek 2026: Your Hour-by-Hour Guide to a Full Weekend of Live Blues in Armagh

The Blues are back — and this year they've brought the sunshine with them. From Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August, Armagh City becomes the blues capital of Ireland once again as the 7 Hills Blues Fest rolls out the Blues Trek: over 40 live acts playing across the city's bars, hotels, the Bandstand, the Shambles Yard Artisan Market and the Market Place Theatre. Most of it is free to enjoy, all of it is walkable, and there is genuinely something on from lunchtime to last orders every single day.Before you plan, get a feel for it. Here's a taste of what the Blues Trek weekend looks like in Armagh. Update Whether you're a die-hard blues fan or just fancy a great weekend out with live music around every corner, here's the full programme so you can plan your trek.Friday 31 July — Easing Into the WeekendFriday builds gently from an afternoon at the Bandstand into a proper night around the town.TimeActVenue1.00pmCasino Dixieland Jazz BandBandstand3.00pmBansheeBandstand5.00pmBackbone Blues BandBandstand6.30pmNiamh Strong BandThe Hole in the Wall Bar7.30pmZac Mac BandToby Jug8.30pmVilliers And The VillainsDevlin's Bar8.30pmDavy K ProjectRafferty's Bar9.30pmThe Nite HawksArmagh City Hotel Callan Lounge9.30pmCrest of a WaveRed Neds9.30pmGary Price & GP3Keegan's Bar10.00pmThe Brown NotesMcKenna's Bar10.00pmThe Blue Katz Blues Band4th Wall @ Market Place TheatreOur tip: Start at the Bandstand in the afternoon, grab a bite in the city centre, then follow the music — by 9.30pm you'll have four venues to choose from within a few minutes' walk of each other. Saturday 1 August — The Big OneSaturday is the heart of the festival: eleven hours of music, from a morning showcase by Armagh's own MD Rafferty Music School right through to late sets at McKenna's and the Market Place Theatre.TimeActVenue11.00amMD Rafferty Music School Live LoungeBandstand12.00pmCATCH 22Bandstand1.00pmATOMIC Blues ShowcaseArtisan Market @ Shambles Yard1.30pmThe QuaysBandstand2.30pmThe Juke Joint Blues BandArtisan Market @ Shambles Yard2.30pmCrowblack ChickenTurners Bar2.30pmThe Mighty QuinnToby Jug3.00pmMcCool Blues BandBandstand4.00pmZac Mac BandArtisan Market @ Shambles Yard5.00pmOpen Mic Session (MD Rafferty Music)The 4th Wall @ Market Place Theatre5.30pmDelta FuseThe Hole in the Wall Bar7.00pmFrank Carberry DuoHughes Bar7.30pmThe SoundbitesRafferty's Bar7.30pmRob Strong BandArmagh City Hotel Spires Bar7.30pmThe Boogie MonstersToby Jug8.00pmEric Bell TrioCharlemont Arms Hotel8.00pmMark Braidner Blues TrioMickey Kellys8.30pmMr Castle Blues BandUluru9.30pmLee Hedley Blues BandDevlin's Bar9.30pmThe DirtKeegan's Bar9.30pmAlan McKelvey BandRed Neds9.30pmBen Reel BandArmagh City Callan Lounge10.00pmStonecold HobosMcKenna's Bar10.00pmFreedom 35s4th Wall @ Market Place TheatreOne not to miss: The Eric Bell Trio at the Charlemont Arms Hotel (8.00pm). Eric Bell was the original guitarist and founding member of Thin Lizzy — the man who played on "Whiskey in the Jar." Seeing a piece of rock history in an Armagh hotel bar is exactly the kind of thing that makes this festival special.Make a day of it at The Artisan Market, Shambles YardAlongside the blues acts on the Artisan Market stage, Shambles Yard hosts a full market of local makers, growers and food traders — worth building an afternoon around, especially if you've got the family with you.Craft, art and gifts: Unknown Jewellery · The Joan of Art Studio · Brown Owl Accessories · Sheilas Artwork · L Trueman Art · Masaco Candle · Material Girl · Field & Fleece · Melted by Meaghan · Scents by Suzanne · Linzi Vennard · J Rice Illustrations · Artwork by Li · Peartree Cottage OilsFood, drink and local produce: Ballydown Milk · Tux Treats · Peggys Family Farm · Vibrance Flowers · Humblebee TherapiesHot food: PIE NI Moira · Simply Crepes · The Doe BarWith live blues on the stage from 1.00pm — ATOMIC Blues Showcase, The Juke Joint Blues Band and the Zac Mac Band across the afternoon — it's the easiest way to spend a Saturday in the city: good music, good food, and something to take home with you. Sunday 2 August — A Soulful Send-OffSunday winds the weekend down in style, with afternoon sessions leading into a final evening of music across the city.TimeActVenue2.30pmRonnie Greer Trio with Ken Haddock & John McCulloughThe Hole in the Wall Bar2.30pmCourtnay GiffenToby Jug4.00pmMark Black BandRafferty's Bar4.00pmLonesome PeteHughes Bar5.30pmFrank Carberry Blues BandRed Neds5.30pmAlison McGrath & SoulanticsArmagh City Callan Lounge6.00pmMike Brookfield BandMickey Kellys Bar7.30pmRusty JacksDevlin's Bar7.30pmBob Dylan's OutlawsToby Jug9.30pmWe are GhostsMcKenna's BarOur tip: The Ronnie Greer Trio with Ken Haddock and John McCullough at The Hole in the Wall (2.30pm) is a Sunday-afternoon treat — three of the finest musicians on the Irish blues and roots scene in one room.Planning Your TrekIt's walkable. Almost every venue sits within Armagh city centre, so you can genuinely trek from one act to the next on foot.Bring the family. Daytime sessions at the Bandstand and the Shambles Yard Artisan Market are family-friendly, with food and stalls alongside the music.Eat well. Armagh's bars and restaurants will be in full swing all weekend — book ahead for Saturday evening if you can.Check before you go. The programme is correct at the time of publication but subject to change — for the latest details on every act, visit 7hillsblues.com.The 7 Hills Blues Fest is one of the highlights of the summer calendar in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon borough — and with over 40 acts across three days, the 2026 Blues Trek looks set to be the biggest yet.See you down there. 🎸Programme information courtesy of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. Correct at time of print and subject to change.