Guitar, drums and harmonica take the stage, but no bass in the line-up. The Keith Dunn Blues Band returns to headline the central concert of the fourth Alicante International Blues Festival edition, scheduled for October 11. This performance spotlights the distinctive harmonica melodies and percussive accents that define Dunn’s sound, reminiscent of Mississippi juke-joints where the blues first found its heartbeat. The venue for this concert is the Teatro Principal, with an entry price of €15. The show promises a robust, down-home blues atmosphere that fans have come to expect from a band led by an American musician who also founded Deeton Records and helped shape a growing blues ecosystem in Europe.
Keith Dunn, a familiar presence from the festival’s previous year alongside guitarist John Primer, returns with a new edition titled “An Evening with the Blues.” His collaboration for this edition brings together a rich vocal contribution from Dorrey Lyles. Throughout his career Dunn has shared stages and studios with well-known names such as Oleta Adams, Barry Manilow, Natalie Cole and Kristian Rannerberg, underscoring the breadth of his musical network and his role in shaping contemporary blues.
Organized by the Alicante Blues Society in cooperation with Witness Tejada, the festival opens with a photography exhibition on Saturday, October 1, at the blues theater, a show that can be viewed at Forum Fnac. This opening sequence frames the festival as both a musical celebration and a cultural moment that invites festival-goers to explore the visual story of blues as much as its sound.
Pianist Lluis Coloma is featured in the visual and live program, a reminder of the depth of artistry spanning both traditional blues and modern interpretations. The festival’s program interweaves performance with education and community engagement, offering audiences a chance to experience the genre’s history while hearing fresh interpretations from contemporary players.
Following Keith Dunn Blues Band’s October 14 concert, Fran Moreno Saez will present a talk titled Mississippi Juke-Joints, offering a historical perspective on where blues musicians found their first audiences and how those early venues fostered the evolution of the music. The talk takes place at 19:30 in Forum Fnac and includes live music to enrich the storytelling with sound. The event underlines the festival’s commitment to merging narrative and sound in a way that resonates with both longtime fans and curious newcomers.
Another highlight unfolds at Las Cigarreras Cultural Center Casa de la Música with a concert at 21:00 on Friday, October 21. Luis Coloma will perform in a unique set that blends blues with other styles that naturally intersect with the blues tradition, performed at the piano with minimal accompaniment and no guitar or bass. Admission is free by invitation, reflecting the festival’s inclusive approach to audience participation and artistic discovery.
Chicago blues sounds in Alicante
The festival continues with a duo concert that showcases the blend of blues and blues-rock performed by Alicante-based acts. On Saturday, October 22 at 20:00, Las Cigarreras Cultural Center Casa de la Música hosts Sba Blues Ensemble with guests, joined by Empty Bottles for a show that blends high-energy performances with nuanced blues sensibilities. Tickets are priced at 10 euros, inviting a broad audience to experience an intimate, club-like atmosphere within a cultural venue.
Throughout its run, the Alicante Blues Festival collaborates with Teatro Principal de Alicante, Las Cigarreras Cultural Center, Fnac Alicante, Hotel Maya, Pulgar Producciones and Benny Drums. The Alicante Blues Association (SBA) operates as a non-profit provincial body dedicated to spreading blues music and culture across the province. Its mission includes supporting local musicians, nurturing community among blues enthusiasts, and creating connective tissue between performers and fans across the region.
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