by Cory Bryars
In 2023, KCBS published an article that I wrote about the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, and 3 years later, not much has changed. I assure you, that is a GOOD Thing!!! No need to improve on perfection! 2026 Picnic was FANTASTIC.
Before we get to 2026, though – I missed 2024 and was jonesin’ the whole time, so I went in 2025 with my brother-in-law who is a newbie to the festival scene. It was quite the introduction for him, and we couldn’t wait to go back in 2026.
Then, boom—2026 is here before we know it. I am again excited, and that excitement spreads to a friend who is an experienced music-goer who wants to see if all my hype was for real. He will assure you it is. So it’s bro-in-law on his #2 Picnic, newbie Steve on #1, me on #3, and we get blessed with a bonus fourth, none other than John “Junebug Stuerke” himself.
As shared in the 2023 article, unlike some festivals where the lineup is totally different every year, you can count on Picnic to feature many of the stalwarts of Hill Country Blues, such as Kenny Brown, several Burnsides and Kimbroughs, and the one and only Sharde, the granddaughter of Otha Turner (yep, Othar and Otha, same guy, look it up.)
And as was the case in 2023, my friends and I agreed that we all will attend more Picnics, and recommend that you add a Picnic to your list of festivals at least once. Sadly, we can’t do the music and the artists justice in an article, and the studio isn’t where they shine, either. But we can give you the tools to do your own research, and get excited about this niche genre of blues that will have you groovin’ for years once you find your vibe with it.
Even if you are familiar with Hill Country Blues and the artists I’ve mentioned, I encourage you to further explore this wonderful genre and the beautiful people who created it and work tirelessly to keep it alive. Click the links I’ve provided, google the artists and read their bios, and listen to them on your favorite streaming platform or youtube. Even better, go to the artists’ websites and social media pages and sample them and buy their music to support them.
For more background on what locals just call “Picnic,” including great photos and artist lineups, see the links I’ve provided earlier in this article and below.
Enjoy!
New York Times – Mississippi Blues Travelers (might require subscription—sorry)
Oxford Eagle – “Music fans, get ready for the famous North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic this weekend“
North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic website
North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic on Facebook
North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic on Instagram
The beat draws ya inI I think this was Rising Stars Fife & Drum, and it is calming and mesmerizing and enlivening all at once. For those of you who venture beyond the blues and love The Elders, the beat to me is similar—like a constant building crescendo that takes you on a ride with the musicians.
Representin’ KCBS: it’s easy to get a front row spot and it is the perfect distance from the artists with a great view. The sound is perfect throughout the facility; clear with rich bass but not overwhelmingly loud. As you can see, there is plenty of room to mingle, dance, or whatever else floats your boat.
Checking in on Kent Burnside — he was excellent as always.
Living Legend Charlie Musselwhite did a solo set Friday with a ton of guitar and vocals and then formed a power trio with Kenny Brown and Duwayne Burnside—I would guess over “200 years combined experience” and it was flat-out fantastic.
Tickets for next year’s Picnic were sold online but those are gone. You can now get tickets only at the gate. See you there!
