Blind Willie McTell Music Festival heats up Thomson, Georgia in September
The 2025 Blind Willie McTell Music Festival heats up Thomson, Georgia, September 6 for one of the best music festivals of the fall season.
Tickets are still available for the September 6, 2025, event in Thomson, Georgia. Known as one of the best music festivals in the South, Blind Willie McTell Music Festival features iconic acts that will get you out of your lawn chair and onto the dance ‘field.’
Gates open at 11 a.m. and the first artist takes the stage at noon. Food trucks and vendors will be onsite and ready to serve. Beer and wine are available. Outside food/beverages are not allowed. Free parking is adjacent to the stage. Shuttle services are available from various local hotels.
Can’t make it Saturday? Catch the FREE Friday night concert in downtown Thomson featuring blues artist Skyler Saufley. Saufley is “a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and recent inductee into the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame. He opened the weekend last year and was electric, he’s back with a mix of electrifying blues and boogie-woogie standards. The concert is held in front of the Historic Depot in downtown Thomson from 7-9 pm on Friday, September 5.
Location: 965 Stagecoach Rd NE Thomson, GA 30824
Blind Willie McTell was an influential American blues musician born in 1901 in Thomson, Georgia, and he passed away in 1959. Despite being blind from a young age, McTell became renowned for his exceptional guitar playing and unique voice. He was known for his proficiency in a style of blues that often incorporated elements of folk and ragtime. His music often featured intricate fingerpicking guitar techniques and a deep, soulful voice. McTell's songs, such as "Statesboro Blues" and "Delia," have had a significant impact on the development of blues music. His work influenced many later artists, and his recordings have been celebrated for their authenticity and depth. Although he wasn't widely known during his lifetime, McTell's legacy has grown over the years, and he is now considered a seminal figure in the history of American blues.
Chuck Leavell
He is simply one of the most prominent session artists in the music industry. He’s worked with a laundry list of musicians through the years, including the Allman Brothers Band, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Train, John Mayer, Blues Traveller, and many more. His musical “day job” for the last few decades has been manning the keys for the Rolling Stones.
Like Willie McTell, Chuck is a member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame (2004) and a recipient of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Travelin’ McCourys
We’ve long admired the way The Travelin’ McCourys present their spin on string band/bluegrass music—rooted, but revolutionary at the same time. As they dig through a setlist, you may hear a traditional bluegrass favorite followed by a stretched out cover of a Jerry Garcia or a Waterboys tune. Ronnie (mandolin) and Rob McCoury (banjo) are the sons of bluegrass legend Del, and they are joined by guitar phenom Cody Kilby, bassist Alan Bartram, and new on the fiddle, Christian Ward.
Chris Smither
With over 20 albums of original music, Chris Smither’s vast repertoire has been covered by the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Peter Case, Tim O’Brien, and many more. In addition to his recorded output, Chris has been touring annually for decades.
Randall Bramblett
Athens’ Randall Bramblett doesn’t need much of an introduction to Southern folks. He’ll be playing tunes from his deep well of originals, culled from his 14 albums. He’s a Georgia treasure.
Monster Mike Welch
With over three decades of touring and recording under his belt, Boston-based blues guitarist Monster Mike Welch is a seasoned veteran of the international blues scene. Given the nickname “Monster Mike” by actor/Ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd at the tender age of 13, Welch has since carved out a niche as a highly accomplished and in-demand guitarist.
The 30th year (2024) of the festival featured Wynton Marsallis and Blair Crimmons and the Hookers on stage. Just a reminder of its WOW factor.
Wynton Marsalis and Blair Crimmons at The Blind Willie McTell Music Festival in Thomson, Georgia
The 30th year of the festival proved to be one of the best on record, featuring the world’s greatest trumpeter alongside many of the well-known artists and musicians that are defining 21st century music.
Wynton Marsalis is a world-renowned trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and a leading advocate of American culture.
Shinyribs defies genres as a sonic melting pot of Texas Blues, New Orleans R&B funk, horn-driven Memphis Soul, country twang, border music, big band swing, and roots-rock.
McTell Fest has had a great history of presenting Cajun music; this category is represented this year by The Revelers, headquartered in Lafayette LA, and dedicated to the holy trinity of Cajun Culture
Smithsonian Folkways artist Jerron Paxton is making his third trip to McTell Fest and is an absolute audience favorite. A multi-instrumentalist and great vocalist, Paxton's style draws from blues and jazz music from the early 20th Century.
Atlanta’s Blair Crimmins and The Hookers are making their second appearance at McTell Fest. Crimmins and his band offer an incredible blast of high energy Ragtime and Dixieland music, filtered through a lens of Crimmins originals and rollicking covers from the early 20th century.
