Artist Line-up Announced for the 14th Mahindra Blues Festival

Indian original blues-rock pioneers, Blackstratblues, will perform at the two-day Mahindra Blues Festival (MBF) in Mumbai. Image courtesy: MBF

The festival will be held at the iconic Mehboob Studios, Mumbai, on February 14-15, 2026.

The artiste line-up for the 14th edition of the Mahindra Blues Festival (MBF) has been announced. The festival will be held at the iconic Mehboob Studios, Bandra, Mumbai on February 14 and 15, 2026.

According to a press release, the line-up this year spans generations and geographies. From multi-award-winning artists to homegrown acts, to young voices defining blues in the new era. Across both evenings, the audience will witness soul-stirring music, gritty basslines, soaring trumpets, and defiant pulsing through every performance.

Matt Schofield, one of the prominent names in the British blues scene, will perform on day one of the festival. He is the first guitarist inducted into the British Blues Awards Hall of Fame, marking his return after his first appearance in the first edition of the festival.

British blues artiste Matt Schofield. Image courtesy: MBF

The Altered Five Blues Band, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, has been ruling hearts since 2002. The collective is fronted by singer Jeff Taylor. The group has remained at the forefront of contemporary blues for over a decade, and will play on day one of the festival.

Multi-Grammy Award nominee, Shemekia Copeland, will grace the Mahindra Blues Festival’s stage again. Daughter of the legendary blues artist Johnny Copeland, Shemekia’s music is shaping the soundtrack of modern America. The Harlem-born artist established herself as a powerful blues and R&B artist at the age of 18 with debut album Turn The Heat Up.

India’s original blues-rock pioneers, Blackstratblues, returns to the festival. Founded by Warren Mendonsa, the collective made instrumental blues cool. Composed of drummer Jai Row Kavi, bassist Adil Mistry, and keyboardist Beven Fonseca, this quartet has seamlessly infused electronic and psychedelic influences, while also drawing heavily from ’60s and ’70s blues-based melodic rock.

Grammy-nominated Eric Gales, who has become a driving force in the new era with a unique style and a genre-defying grunge sound, returns to MBF after his first stint in 2017. Recently, he was featured on the soundtrack of Ryan Coogler’s globally acclaimed and smash-hit horror film Sinners.

American blues rock guitarist Eric Gales will perform at the 14th Mahindra Blues Festival in February 2026. Image courtesy: Mahindra Blues Festival

Like the past two editions, the Mahindra Blues Festival will continue its tradition of giving a platform to the young artists through the Kanakia Beatz Crew and Nanhi Kali Choir. The girls performing are part of one of the Mahindra Group’s many philanthropic endeavours called the Nanhi Kali Project, a programme helping the underprivileged girls to continue their education. While empowering young girls, the festival also nurtures and promotes young artists through The Big Blues Band Hunt competition. The winning band performs at the Garden Stage during the festival.