The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 5:30 PM
34th Annual Giant National Capital BBQ Battle
555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
Pepsi World Music Stage
Brace yourself for the biggest, boldest, most immersive BBQ festival yet! This isn’t just any food fest—it’s a full-blown summer party with over 100+ free food samples, high-energy entertainment, legendary BBQ competitions, and non-stop music & dance zones spanning Pennsylvania Avenue, America’s Main Street.
Three-time BMA nominee's The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band are "the greatest front-porch blues band in the world". They are led by Reverend Peyton, who most consider to be the premier finger picker playing today. He has earned a reputation as both a singularly compelling performer and a persuasive evangelist for the rootsy, country blues styles that captured his imagination early in life and inspired him and his band to make pilgrimages to Clarksdale, Mississippi to study under such blues masters as T-Model Ford, Robert Belfour and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. Their last record Dance Songs For Hard Times went #1 on the Billboard, iTunes and Sirius XM Blues Charts and was produced by Grammy winner Vance Powell. The record was critically acclaimed by Rolling Stone, Relix, Popmatters, Guitar World, American Songwriter, No Depression, Glide, Wide Open Country, Paste, American Blues Scene and many more!
This is an absolutely must-see band anytime they come within reasonable distance of my location. I'd re-schedule my own wedding to avoid a conflict with one of their shows.
Reverend Peyton is a flat-out monster on guitar, and Breezy will burn up the washboard right before your eyes. Couple the amazingly unique sound with fast, pounding drums and you'll be on your feet and clapping to the rhythm right from the get-go. This is a high energy show, much more entertaining than just what the music has to offer, and you'll get an education on some musical roots and blues history along the way.
When I first saw the Big Damn Band, I was at Warped Tour. I have really never big a big country fan, and even less interested in blues music; that all changed. I knew this band was something magical when I saw a teen angst-filled crowd form a circle pit, dancing a jig or hoe down in what seemed like slow-motion compared to the usual scene of other punk/hardcore bands on that tour.