July/August Blues News
Mark your calendars for our upcoming events at Elysian Gardens. August 3rd will be New Orleans band Big Al & the Heavyweights. Always a fun time with this great band.
July 18th @ 8pm, Stud Ford & Will Coppage will be at the Nick. Stud Ford is the grandson of blues legend T-Model Ford and has played drums foe Lightnin' Malcolm. It's going to be some good Hill Country blues.
Saturday July 19 @ 7pm the Southern Music Research Center has a fundraiser at the Woodlawn Theatre. The event will feature Hurricane Elaine Hudson and Sarah Lee & Will Langford Stewart. do come out and support this great non-profit. Woodlawn TICKETS Visit the Southern Music Research Center website & browse their collections where you will find lots of interesting music history of our area including live recordings from Gip's Place. www.southernmusicresearch.org
Jim's Juke Joint in Irondale. it is open on alternate Wednesdays and for special events. It will be open Wednesday July 23th. Open from 5pm - 9pm+. It is BYOB. So, stop by to listen and if you are a musician, plan on sitting in for a number or two. Address: 513 LaSalle Ln., Birmingham, 35210
Saturday August 9th the MCBS has teamed up with Sweet Home Spirits for a blues concert at Pelham Civic Complex. Bands will include KidSly, Clarence "Bluesman" Davis, Jock Webb and Earl "Guitar" Williams & band. More information to follow soon.
Sunday August 10th @ 8pm Lance Lopez will be at The Nick. Lance has been influenced by Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billy Gibbons and Johnny Winter. He is widely recognized as a "very exciting and intense blues guitarist", as he was described by British Guitar God, Jeff Beck. Critics often laud his "fire-breathing, post-SRV-meets-Hendrix blues-rock" style, noting his raw, technical, and soulful solos. Lopez has been mentored by legendary figures like Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) and Johnny Winter and has opened for blues and rock greats such as B.B. King, Steve Vai, Jeff Beck, Def Leppard, Rod Stewart, and ZZ Top. Lopez has also shared the stage and opened for many of his contemporaries as well, including Joe Bonamassa, Eric Gales, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jonny Lang. He's considered one of the best guitarists of his generation and an heir to the Texas blues tradition. Lance Lopez
Sunday September 21st, at 3pm - 6pm we have a BlueStages concert with Ryan Lee Crosby for some great Mississippi style blues. “Ryan Lee Crosby is one of the best up and coming blues players in the world.” - Ben Martin, The Blues Guitar Show. Ryan Lee Crosby YouTube
Sunday September 28th will be Blues at the Ballpark. Headliner is the award-winning bluesman, Bobby Rush. Bobby Rush
Tentative schedule:
Gates open at 2:00pm
MC - MZ Aretta
Hurricane Elaine Hudson 3:00PM 4:00PM
Garry Burnside Band 4:05PM 5:05PM
Mz. Lowe 5:15PM 6:00PM
Bobby Rush 6:00PM 7:00 PM
Sunday October 12 @ 2pm, is our Battle of the Blues Bands. Our host venue is the Woodlawn Theatre. This will be a great afternoon of blues music, so come out and support your local bands. Here is the link to purchase tickets BOBB Tickets. Use code Blues2025 to receive member advanced purchase discounted $10 tickets. $15 at the door.
All Alabama blues musicians and bands are welcome to enter. The winning band and solo/duo will receive a stipend to travel to Memphis in January 2026 to compete in the International Blues challenge. See below for more information and registration.
Remember our monthly open jams:
1st Friday Jam at Ranelli's - Friday August 1st @ 7:30pm
3rd Thursday Jam at True Story Brewing July 17th@ 7:30pm