This article is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.
The Columbia Pike Blues Festival is back for its 28th year, bringing music, culture and community to one of Arlington’s most vibrant corridors. Set for Saturday, June 14, the free outdoor festival will showcase all DMV-based musical talent, food trucks, artisan vendors and family-friendly programming that celebrates the spirit and diversity of Columbia Pike.
Headlining this year’s event is Everyday Everybody, a high-energy D.C. band blending funk, soul, jazz and afrobeats. The lineup also includes Rick Franklin, Little Red & The Renegades, Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark, and Sol Roots.
Presented by the Columbia Pike Partnership in collaboration with Arlington Arts, the festival reflects the cultural richness of the Pike while spotlighting local talent. It’s more than a music festival — it’s a tribute to the people and stories that make Columbia Pike a uniquely dynamic destination.
In addition to curating the musical lineup, Arlington Arts will activate the Arlington Art Truck at the festival with “Exposing Life Cycles.” Participants can create sun prints using kits developed by Arlington artist Zofie King and Michelle Montalbano, turning found organic materials into cyanotype art. The activation is supported by the Solid Waste Bureau, which will be on site to share tips on composting and food scrap collection.
Festival Lineup
Everyday Everybody – 6:30 p.m.
Known for its genre-blending sound and vibrant performances, Everyday Everybody has shared stages with The Wailers, Burning Spear and Cory Henry, and has been featured in The Washington Post and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Tour.
More about Everyday Everybody
Sol Roots – 5:00 p.m.
The Sol Roots band fuses New Orleans funk, blues, soul and rock, with frontman Sol known for his ferocious guitar skills and work with blues legends like Beverly “Guitar” Watkins and Cool John Ferguson.
More about Sol Roots
Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark – 3:30 p.m.
Blending contemporary blues with a funk edge, Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark is a seasoned performer whose live shows span the East Coast and whose music has been featured on college and internet radio.
More about Swamp Dog
Little Red & The Renegades – 2:10 p.m.
A local favorite mixing Zydeco, blues and New Orleans R&B, Little Red & The Renegades deliver a danceable set powered by accordion, steel pan and soulful rhythm.
More about Little Red & The Renegades
Rick Franklin – 1:00 p.m.
An Arlington-based acoustic blues guitarist, Rick Franklin plays in the Piedmont blues tradition and has performed nationally and internationally since 1981.
More about Rick Franklin
Arlington Arts also is proud to present Courtney LeBlanc, the outgoing Arlington Poet Laureate who will read of a new poem composed specifically for the Blues Festival (reading at aprox: 3:25pm). The author of several full-length collections of poetry, LeBlanc is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Riot in Your Throat, an independent poetry press, and is a fellow at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. Preceded in the position by Katherine E. Young and Holly Karapetkova, the application process for the County’s fourth Poet Laureate closed this Spring, and LeBlanc’s successor will be announced in Fall, 2025. For announcements about the Arlington Poet Laureate, visit our Arlington Poet Laureate webpage.
The Columbia Pike Blues Festival exemplifies the creative energy and cultural richness that continue to make Arlington a top destination for residents, businesses and visitors alike.
For more details, visit the Columbia Pike Partnership or call 703-892-2776.
