Sunday afternoon, June 7, 2026, we have set aside for a new edition of Blues at the neighbors’. You can already prepare your living room and/or blues act. bij ons aanmelden.
Blues at the nieghbors’ is an annual blues festival that has been organized since 2016 by BluesinWijk at Wijk bij Duurstede, Cothen and Langbroek. The aim is to connect neighbors through live blues music in living rooms, which are transformed into intimate concert venues (juke joints) for one day. Between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., visitors can attend free performances by blues musicians, who play three 45-minute sets.
The artists perform without payment. We pass the hat, and you can pay digitally via a QR code. Anyone with a connection to blues music and sufficient skill can apply, even from outside the region, although preference is given to regional acts. Performances are preferably acoustic or semi-acoustic, and musicians provide their own equipment. The organization matches artists with living rooms and provides promotion through various channels.
When am I eligible to participate in Blues bij de Buren? Blues bij de Buren is open to all musicians with a clear link to blues music; all blues music styles are welcome. However, you do need to have a certain level of skill. After all, it should be enjoyable for everyone to listen to you.
What time and how often will I perform? You will perform three shows of approximately 45 minutes each, with a half-hour break between each show. 1:30–2:15 p.m. / 2:45–3:30 p.m. / 4:00–4:45 p.m.
Can I also play in my own living room? Yes, you can. The most important thing is that there are at least two other people besides you who can take on the role of host and/or hostess.
I have arranged a living room myself, is that allowed? Yes, if you know someone who would like you to play at their place, that’s more than fine. That living room must first register. Please indicate this clearly in the email.
Do I have to play acoustically to participate in Blues bij de Buren? Not necessarily, although it is easier to find a living room for an acoustic performance than for an amplified blues concert. Indicate in the email what you can do, and who knows, we may find a living room where you can (perhaps) play at full strength as a band.
What about the technology? You take care of the technology yourself.
Will I be paid for performing? No, as much as we believe that musicians deserve to be appreciated, you can imagine that paying fees to, say, 20 groups of Blues bij de Buren would be unaffordable. However, you can claim your travel expenses. We will pass the hat around in each living room for the blues artist. We will, of course, include you in all our publicity and will also highlight a number of artists in the run-up to the festival.
What happens after I register? You will receive notification within two weeks as to whether you have been selected. In the spring of 2026, we will make the match with the living rooms. Only then will we know whether your participation is final.
Is a website or Facebook page a requirement? No, but we do want to get a good idea of who you are and what kind of music you make. That way, we can find a good match for you. Without a link to your music, we cannot assess you. You can also send us a CD.