Bowlful of Blues Festival 2026
Maytag Park
Newton, Iowa
September 6, 2026

By Phillip Smith; September 7, 2026

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

It’s always a wonderful time at the Bowlful of Blues Festival in Newton, Iowa. This annual event marks its thirty-fourth presentation by the South Skunk Blues Society. This year the lineup on the main stage featured acts 3By3 Crew, John Primer, Wayne Baker Brooks, and Dirty Red & the Soul Shakers. Brody Buster performed as a one-man-band between the mainstage acts.

Kicking things off were 3By3 Crew. Comprised of Maurice John Vaughn, Freddie Dixon (the second son of Willie Dixon), and John Watkins (Willie Dixon, James Cotton, Jimmy Johnson), this was an absolutely fabulous band to ignite the festival with. John Primer and the Real Deal Band kept the Chicago blues flowing. It’s always great to see Primer on stage. I’ve caught him several times this year already: at the Bratgirl Allstar Showcase at Rum Boogie Café in Memphis, Tennessee, the Pinetop Perkins Boogie & Crawfish Boil in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth, Minnesota, and with Bowlful of Blues Festival in Newton, Iowa, making for four shows in four different states. Wayne Baker Brooks followed next and played an amazing set. Closing the show was Dirty Red and the Soul Shakers from the Oklahoma City area with a high-energy show to bring the evening to a close with. It was great to see Brody Buster playing between sets too. He’s such a great songwriter and entertainer.