Chris “Bad News” Barnes

Chris “Bad News” Barnes
Chris “Bad News” Barnes has appeared on 4 previous Big Blues Bender lineups.
2025, 2024, 2023, 2022

This is Gulf Coast Recording Artist Chris Barnes, a former Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Carol Burnett and 30 Rock Television star. Not to mention a Five Time Independent Blues Award Nominee. Barnes is a Bender and Blues festival favorite.

In 2017 Barnes - under the moniker CHRIS ‘BADNEWS’ BARNES and backed by musicians featured on Saturday Night Live and Late Night with Conan O'Brien - he released his full-length 14 track masterpiece Hokum Blues. Two years later in 2019, Barnes collaborated with Grammy winning producer Tony Braunagel on his album LIVE which landed at #8 on the Billboard charts & #5 on Amazon. In 2021, Barnes released BadNews Rising produced by Nashville’s Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy..). Barnes has re-united with Hambridge for his forthcoming release, True Blues featuring special guests Jimmy Hall, Sugaray Rayford and Walter Trout.

Emcee & Artist at Large

The 2025 Big Blues Bender Lineup