TL;DR: If you’ve ever wanted to shotgun a craft beer while watching living legends melt their guitar frets into molten lava under a Sierra sunset—Bluesapalooza 2025 is calling.
In a world where music festivals are starting to feel like Instagram bait with $18 smoothies, Bluesapalooza stands tall, A real indie festival, in a killer mountain setting. It’s beer-soaked, unapologetic, and stacked with artists who aren’t just passing trends—they’re legends.
And this year? Holy hell. The lineup reps real American music.
Marcus King: The Next Generation
At 28, Marcus King has already played with the best—Billy Strings, the Zac Brown Band, and Post Malone. He’s recorded an album with Rick Rubin and made everyone from jam-band nerds to hardcore blues heads take notice. Marcus can rip a solo that sounds like Duane Allman reincarnated—but then turn around and break your heart with a slow-burn ballad that’s pure southern soul. He’s proof that real-deal, spine-tingling music is safe with the next generation.
Robert Cray: Defines Cool
If you don’t know Robert Cray, get your musical life together. The man is literal blues royalty, working with fellow legends John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. His guitar tone? Clean as a church suit. His voice? Smooth enough to seduce your soul without asking for permission.
Steve Earle: The Relentless Bard of American Folk
Steve Earle is a national treasure in our book. He’s worked with Johnny Cash. He’s survived personal apocalypse-level disasters. He’s won Grammys without giving a shit about Grammys. Songs like “Copperhead Road” and “Guitar Town” literally shaped county rock . We are super pumped for this set.
Bonus: Beer Like You’ve Actually Never Had Before
Bluesapalooza isn’t just about the music—it’s craft beer nirvana. Over 100 breweries will be pouring their best, weirdest, and most experimental brews. You’ll find everything from hazy IPAs so fresh they punch you in the mouth to small-batch saisons and sours that could pass for fine wine. Forget your basic beer garden vibes—this is a full-on field trip into America’s best brewing minds. Plus, it all goes down surrounded by pine trees and mountain air but remember the altitude will get you.
Pro tip: hydrate between pours. And maybe pace yourself unless you want to wake up in a hammock next to a banjo player named Kyle.
Festival Details: Bring Your Boots
🗓 Dates: August 1–4, 2025
📍 Location: Sam’s Wood Site, Mammoth Lakes, California
🎟 Get your tickets here
Sam’s Wood Site transforms into an alpine wonderland of sound, beer, dust, and absolutely no pretense. Whether you camp out for the whole weekend or roll up for a day of chaos, you’re guaranteed two things: an aching liver and a full heart.
