JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The National Folk Festival team announced the first eight artists who will perform at the 82nd National Folk Festival in Jackson. The festival will take place November 7-9, 2025.

The eight artists announced include:

• The Campbell Brothers (Rochester, New York)
• Dale Ann Bradley (Middlesboro, Kentucky)
• E.U. featuring Sugar Bear (Washington, D.C.)
• Eileen Ivers (Bronx, New York)
• John Primer & the Real Deal Blues Band (Chicago, Illinois)
• LOS RICOS featuring Sonia & Ismael (New York, New York)
• Plena Libre (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
• Riyaaz Qawwali (Houston, Texas)

The National Folk Festival is the nation’s longest-running traditional arts event. It’s a free, three-day, outdoor multicultural celebration of the nation’s finest traditional artists.

The festival’s producing organization, the non-profit National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), works with a new local host community on a three-year cycle to present the National Folk Festival. Jackson was selected to host the traveling festival from 2025-2027.

“It’s exciting to finally unveil for the public these eight excellent artists, who highlight the dizzying array of sounds and traditions Jackson audiences can expect from the full Festival program this November,” said Blaine Waide, executive director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA). “Blues, gospel, Irish, South Asian qawwali, music from across the country—no matter what you enjoy, there’s going to be something for you at Jackson’s first National Folk Festival. And it’s all free!”

Three-hundred artists are expected to take part in this year’s event, with more than 30 different musical groups performing on as many as six outdoor performance venues throughout downtown Jackson.

More performers will be announced as they are confirmed.