Rother Bluestage

Blues Festival with a Tradition Since 1993

The Rother Bluestage is one of the oldest and most renowned blues festivals in Bavaria. What began in 1993 as a small concert series in the newly opened Kulturfabrik Roth has developed over the years into a nine-day festival that draws blues fans from all over Southern Germany to Middle Franconia every spring. The Kulturfabrik – a converted industrial building on Stieberstraße – forms the heart of the event. It is complemented by the Schwanensaal in Roth's old town and the Glashaus, which traditionally hosts readings and acoustic sets.

2026 Under the Motto "Women of Blues"

The 33rd edition, from March 21 to 29, 2026, places a clear focus on female musicians. The festival opens on March 21 with a double bill: Joanna Connor, a US slide guitarist and companion of B.B. King, returns 30 years after her performance at the 3rd edition. On the same evening, the Middle Franconian soul and funk formation Ministry of Rhythm from Weißenburg will perform in the foyer of the Kulturfabrik. Further highlights include Judith Hill, Laura Cox, Ally Venable, Sarah Lesch, and the Krissy Matthews project "Women of Blues".

Three Venues in the Heart of Roth

The Kulturfabrik on Stieberstraße is the main stage and offers around 500 seats and standing room. The Schwanensaal is centrally located in the old town and hosts classic blues evenings. The Glashaus – a smaller venue – is the stage for more intimate formats, such as Bob Cremer's reading on the significance of blues lyrics on March 21 at 7:30 PM. All three venues are within walking distance.

Roth in the Franconian Lake District

Roth is a district town in the Middle Franconia region (Mittelfranken) on the edge of the Franconian Lake District, about 25 kilometers south of Nuremberg. The town is known for the DATEV Challenge Roth (triathlon) and its historic old town with Ratibor Castle. During the Bluestage, hotels, guesthouses, and inns in and around Roth fill up with festival guests from all over Germany.

Organizers and Advance Ticket Sales

The Rother Bluestage are organized by the city of Roth through its Kulturfabrik. Advance ticket sales are available via bluestage.de, kulturfabrik.de, and eventim.de, as well as through local bookstores (Bücher Genniges, Buchhandlung Feuerlein). Holders of a ZAC AboCard from Nürnberger Nachrichten receive discounts.