SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST FESTIVALS: 

Dr Feelgood opens the 2016 Dereham Blues Festival
Mud Morganfield and band at Dereham Memorial Hall, 2015
Paul Jones and his band launch the festival in 2014
The Ron Sayer band headline at the 2013 Dereham Blues Festival

WHY THE BLUES AND WHY DEREHAM?

Blues is a broad based music genre, rooted deep in the social fabric of today's society and has given rise to some of the most popular forms of music we know today! Geographically smack in the centre of Norfolk, Dereham is often referred to as the 'Heart of Norfolk' and the Dereham Blues Festival is all set to supply the 'Beat'! 

With top blues bands from all over the UK, sponsored by the venues, festival goers can enjoy free access to a truly wide range of styles delivered by talented musicians. On offer will be a whole mess o' blues from Mississippi swamp through to R&B, from the Chicago blues of Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters to Hendrix and  Stevie Ray Vaughan right up to the funky, verging on jazz. There really is something for everyone! 

The Dereham Blues Festival is a must for all music lovers and we look forward to welcoming you to the only Festival in the UK that can boast literally  'More than Twelve Bars of Blues' .

STOP PRESS: FESTIVAL NEWS

Bands can now apply for 2017 click here

DEREHAM BLUES FESTIVAL 2016 
2016 saw the fourth annual blues festival, with more acts, more venues and more fantastic music for us all to enjoy. In the run up to the festival, a new feature was the information point in the Market Place, accompanied by street musicians. For more images, see our 2016 gallery here, or join our facebook group here.

Also new, as part of the planning for 2016, was the creation of a not-for-profit company for the organisation of future blues festivals. The company's Board, all of whom are volunteers, all wish to support and promote blues music to the widest possible audience. At the same time, the festival also aims to bring a new audience into Dereham to sample local shops, bars, hotels and restaurants and to contribute to the local economy.

PROGRAMME
The festival organisers are already looking ahead to 2017 and will soon put out a call for bands and musicians who would like to appear. Check the website regularly and look for the WANNA PLAY? page for the application form. 
Join the crew!
Each year, the DBF Board aim to bring new musicians and new attractions into Dereham and, as the festival grows, the organisation becomes more complicated. If you would like to be part of this initiative, please volunteer to help with the planning and delivery of next year's festival. To get involved, contact us by email here. 

​We can also offer internships to students interested in practising their social media skills during the festival run-up, from January through to July.

OTHER NEWS
Each year, the Mid-Norfolk Railway run dedicated trains over the festival weekend including reduced rate late night trains to/from Wymondham and our local stations at Yaxham, Thuxton & Kimberley Park so visitors and local people can travel to/from the festival on Friday & Saturday night. 

GALLERY:
BEST OF THE BLUES