Honoring the Cate Brothers
This year opening the Saturday night Auditorium show, the Eureka Springs Blues Party proudly honors the legendary Cate Brothers Band—a group whose story is deeply intertwined with the very fabric of this music-loving town. For decades, brothers Earl Cate and Ernie Cate have not only shaped the Arkansas music scene, but have helped define the sound and spirit of blues in Eureka Springs itself.
The Cate Brothers are more than performers here—they are part of the tradition. Having played well over a dozen Eureka Springs Blues Festivals and hundreds of shows throughout this uniquely creative community, their music has echoed through the hills, filled historic venues, and brought generations of fans together.
Their sound—rooted in Southern soul, blues, and rock—has always felt right at home in Eureka Springs, a town that celebrates authenticity, artistry, and musical storytelling. That connection runs even deeper through one of the town’s most iconic musical moments—when Levon Helm of The Band joined the Cate Brothers on stage in the historic ballroom of the Basin Park Hotel.
This tribute is more than recognition—it’s a heartfelt thank you. A thank you for the miles traveled, the songs shared, and the role they’ve played in building Eureka Springs into a true destination for live music. Their legacy is not only found in recordings or accolades, but in the memories made on stages across this town and in the countless musicians they’ve inspired along the way.
Celebrating the Cates from the stage with a 45-minute tribute will bring together family members, longtime bandmates, and friends, featuring Dawn Cate, Jessie Dean, John Davies, Dave Renko, Garrett Novatny, and Brad James—while the Blues Festival donates the front rows of the Auditorium to share with friends of the band.