The musical lineup for this year's Kitchener Blues Festival has been released and big names on the list include Eric Burdon and the Animals, Chilliwack, Big Sugar and Cowboy Junkies.

"We think we've put together a stellar lineup with blues and blues-rock legends, new and emerging acts, acts that will appeal to younger audiences," festival executive director Rob Deyman said.

"We're looking to expand our audiences and we're looking to expand our reach and attract more visitors to this community as a result of having the TD Kitchener Blues Festival occur."

First concert ticketed, the rest is free

The festival will kick off on Aug. 4 with the Thursday night ticketed show. The headliner is Eric Burdon and the Animals. The group is known for his album House of the Rising Sun and a long string of hits including Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Spill the Wine and I'm Crying.

They will be joined by Foghat – think Slow Ride and their cover of I Just Want to Make Love to You – as well as the country-blues-classic rock group Earl and the Agitators featuring Scott Holt.

Tickets for the kick-off concert will be available online at Ticketscene.ca, at Encore Records in Kitchener and Orange Monkey in Waterloo.

Thursday's concert is the only one where people will need a ticket because the rest of Blues Fest is free.

Over the course of the festival, which runs Aug. 4-7, music lovers will be able to see performances by:

Big Sugar

Pat Travers Band

Cowboy Junkies

Matt Minglewood

Chilliwack

Valdy

Jarekus Singleton

Moreland and Arbuckle

Ronnie Baker Brooks

Eric Sandinas and Big Motor

Harper and Midwest Kind

The Weber Brothers

Grady

Blackburn

Harry Manx

The Donkeys

Kenny Neal

Cedric Burnside Project

Paul James Band

Harrison Kennedy

Miss Angel and the Homewreckers

Third Coast Kings

Cheryl Lescom

Dylan Wickens and the Grand Naturals

The Baudelaires

Dione Taylor and the Backsliderz

Hwy 61 : The Music of Bob Dylan

Bill Durst Band

Jay Pollmann

GRBS Blues Camp (2016)

The Vaudevillian

John McKinley Band

The Michael Schatte Band

Sean Pinchin

Markus James

A Beautiful Noise (Gospel Breakfast)

Alysha Brilla

The Music of Nina Simone

The lineup was announced Saturday during the festival's official launch concert at Wax Nightclub in Kitchener.