June 14th, 2025

Days

Hrs

Min

Sec

Blues Festival 2025

Now in its 27th year, the Columbia Pike Blues Festival is a high-energy summer celebration that brings music, community, and culture to the heart of Arlington’s most vibrant corridor. Presented by the Columbia Pike Partnership in collaboration with Arlington Arts, the festival showcases the best of the DMV’s musical talent while honoring the rich diversity and spirit of Columbia Pike.

Each year, thousands gather to enjoy a day filled with live blues music, local vendors, food and drink, and family-friendly fun. From legendary performers to neighborhood favorites, the festival lineup reflects the community’s creative heartbeat. More than a music event, the Columbia Pike Blues Festival is a tribute to the people, stories, and sounds that make the Pike a place like no other.

Featuring Preformances By:

Rick Franklin (Arlington Native)

1:00 pm

A Virginia native, Rick Franklin was born in Alexandria, Virginia in 1952 to a military family. The family traveled the US and England until 1968 when the family returned to Virginia and his father retired from military service. Since 1981, the Arlington, Virginia resident has been playing acoustic guitar and singing the Blues at community events, local festivals, international festivals, as well as various clubs, cafes and other venues. Rick’s musical style of blues is known as the “Piedmont” style identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson, and Archie Edwards.

Website – https://hokumblues.com/

Little Red & The Renegades

2:10 pm

Squeeze Box Rock & Roll, Zydeco, Blues, and New Orleans R&B—high energy grooves from the DMV’s one and only Little Red & the Renegades. Accordion, steel pan, a dynamic rhythm section, and great songs . . . who could ask for anything more. Little Red, on the Azalea City Recordings label based in Takoma Park, has appeared with Dr. John, Buckwheat Zydeco, Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha-Chas, T-Bone Burnett, Chubby Carrier, Queen Ida, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Brave Combo, and Rosie Ledet. Band members are Little Red (Tom Corradino), Accordion, Piano, Guitar; Carol Arthur, Zydecaribbean Steel Pans, Piano; Antoine Sanfuentes, Drums; Dave Petersen, Bass; Harry Rado, Guitar. Little Red represented DC at Austin’s famed South by SouthWest festival, and were the Kennedy Center’s New Years Eve band!

Website – https://www.littleredrenegades.com/

Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark

3:30 pm

Anthony Clark is a world class musician who has performed, and recorded with some of the best local and national blues acts. Anthony started out playing the drums at the age of five, and by the time he was twelve, started listening to the blues greats. Musicians like Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, Paul Butterfield, and Sonny Boy Williamson, just to name a few.

The band has played up and down the east coast, from Pennsylvania, to Tennessee. His CD “LIVE” has been featured on many college, and Internet radio stations. The music is a blistering mix of contemporary blues with a funk edge.

Today you can see Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark at various festivals and clubs opening for the likes of Deanna Boggart, Shamekia Copeland, and Mr Sip.

Website – https://anthonyswampdogclark.com

Sol Roots Band

5:00 pm

The Sol Roots Band performs a mix of New Orleans influenced funk, deep blues, heartfelt soul, and energetic rock. Known for his ferocious guitar skills and soulful vocals, Sol has toured around the world with many musical legends.

Sol has spent most of his life touring, recording, producing, and learning directly from roots and blues pioneers such as Beverly “Guitar” Watkins, Albert White, Robert Lee Coleman, Cool John Ferguson, Lee Gates, and more.

The Sol Roots Band have shared the stage with acts such as Jon Cleary, Soulive, Dumpstaphunk, Popa Chubby, Sonny Landreth, Eric Lindell, Roosevelt Collier, Cory Henry, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Shemekia Copeland, Jackie Greene and many more.

Guided by a deep admiration for his musical mentors and a passion for universal music, Sol emerges with a distinctive, powerful voice, accompanied by a talented band of musicians.

Sol Roots is an official Home Grown Music Network artist and a “Next Generation” Music Maker Foundation artist.

“Sol is a fierce guitarist and soulful singer”- Jambase

“Sol’s vocalizing reminds me of Mose Allison… Van Morrison, and Mississippi hill country blues performers”- Big City Blues Magazine

Website – https://solrootsmusic.com/home

Everyday Everybody (D.C. Native)

6:30 pm

Everyday Everybody is a DC-based band blending funk, soul, jazz, and afrobeats into a sound that’s as vibrant as their live shows. Since 2012, they’ve earned recognition as Best Local Original Band (Washington City Paper) and Best Funk Group (Wammies), with features in The Washington Post and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Tour. Known for electrifying performances, they’ve shared stages with The Wailers, Burning Spear, Cory Henry, Durand Jones & The Indications, The Suffers, and Cedric Burnside, and have headlined venues like the Black Cat and The Hamilton, with featured appearances at DC JazzFest, the Kennedy Center, and the 9:30 Club.

Website – https://everydayeverybody.band/

Volunteer Opportunities Available

Getting Here

The Blues Festival stretches down S. Walter Reed Dr. from Columbia Pike to 9th St. S. There are several car-free options for getting to the festival and ample parking is available in nearby garages.

Find public transportation options with Arlington’s Car-Free Diet.

Check the availability and rates of nearby garages with ParkMe.

Presented in Collaboration With:

Want to Become a Vendor?

Fill out the application below and email our Program Director, Stephen Smith at sgsmith@columbiapike.org for consideration. We will get back to you with instructions!

Vendor Application