EJ Mathews Joins the 2026 Denton Blues Festival Lineup as Early Headliner
One Day. One Community. All Blues.
The 2026 Denton Blues Festival lineup is getting even bigger.
We're excited to announce EJ Mathews as an early headliner for the 28th Annual Denton Blues Festival, happening Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Quakertown Park.
As we bring the festival together for one high-energy day of music and community, EJ is exactly the kind of Texas blues artist we want on the stage.
Backwoods Blues Meets Texas Soul
Raised in the small East Texas community of Bivins near the Louisiana state line, EJ Mathews developed his sound from the music and stories of the rural South. His earliest influence came from his Georgia-born grandfather, whose porch-side slide guitar playing helped inspire EJ's commitment to creating music that is original, authentic, and unmistakably his own.
EJ describes his sound as "Backwoods Blues with a Shot of Country"—a distinctive mix of country blues, swamp boogie, funk and deep Texas roots. It's music made for moving, gathering and having a good time, making it a perfect fit for a day on the lawn at Bluesfest.
And he's earned plenty of attention along the way. EJ was named Living Blues Magazine's 2017 Breakout Artist of the Year, has performed throughout the U.S. and internationally, and represented North Texas at the International Blues Challenge after winning the Trinity River Blues Society's Solo/Duo competition.
A Big Year for EJ Mathews
The Denton appearance comes during an exciting chapter in EJ's career. In 2026, he officially signed with Delmark Records, the legendary Chicago blues and jazz label. The Trinity River Blues Society credits his performances representing North Texas at the International Blues Challenge as helping lead to that opportunity.
That makes us even more excited to have this Texas bluesman joining us in Denton.
One Day Means You Don't Have to Miss a Minute
This year's festival is built around a simple idea:
One Day. One Community. All Blues.
We're bringing the artists, fans, families, vendors and community together in Quakertown Park for one full day—and with artists like Mathias Lattin and EJ Mathews taking the stage, you're going to want to be there from the first note to the last.
Bring your lawn chair. Bring your friends. Bring the family.
Meet us on the lawn. We'll see you at the park.
Save the Date
28th Annual Denton Blues Festival
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Quakertown Park | Denton, Texas
FREE Admission
More artist announcements are coming soon.
One Day. One Community. All Blues.
