September Blues News
The Shelby County Arts Council in Columbiana has two blues shows in September.
Friday September 13 at 7:30pm will be Jason Ricci & the Bad Kind. Jason is a very talented and energetic vocalist and harp player. Well worth seeing him. TICKETS
Friday September 20 at 7:30pm will be Earl "Guitar" Williams with guest Debbie Bond Blues Band. Tickets
SCAC is offering MCBS $10 off either show with the code BLUES10 when you buy your tickets online.
The Birmingham City Library at 2100 Park Place will is showcasing Blues during the month of September.
Friday September 13 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm is "Loud at the Library" with Earl "Guitar" Williams & The Juke Band! This blues show is all ages, free, & open to the public. Williams will be joined by vocalists' "Hurricane" Elaine Hudson, Elnora Spencer, & Jock Webb Sr. on blues harmonica. All of the showcased musicians played regularly at local juke joints Gip's Place & the Red Wolf. Williams & Spencer are both inductees in the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame. Please join the BPL to celebrate local blues & the Central Library's 40th birthday! There will be live music, games, light refreshments, birthday cake, & BBQ while supplies last. Check out the accompanying Art for Everyone: blues exhibits in the First Floor Gallery by Leanna Leithauser-Lesley & in the Fourth Floor Gallery by Roger Stephenson.
Saturday September 14 from 3pm-5pm there will be a reception for "Stop, Look & Listen" an exhibit of photographs of musicians by Roger Stephenson (do stop by and support your MCBS VP!!). The exhibit runs through October 25.
Wednesday September 18 at 7pm, Big Al & the Heavyweights will perform a special close and personal show at Jim's Juke Joint in Irondale. BYOB and a donation to the band. Food will be available. Jim built his little juke joint behind his Irondale home. The walls are covered in blues memorabilia. Well worth a visit. Register here to receive email with details. Register
Saturday October 5 Blues at the Ballpark will return to Rickwood Field with a great blues & soul lineup. Admission is FREE.
Gates open at noon, music 1pm - 6pm. Bring your chairs and rugs to settle down in comfort and enjoy the afternoons entertainment. Eugenes Hot Chicken will be there with their food truck and there will be a soft drink, beer & wine concession. Here is the lineup.
Ms. Johnnie & The Jammers
Kid Sly
Keith Johnson & the Big Muddyhttps://keithjohnsonenterprise.com/
Piper & the Hard Times piperwww.piperandthehardtimes.com
Johnny Rawlswww.johnnyrawlsblues.com
Thank you to Birmingham City council, Councilor Carol Clarke District 8 & the Friends of Rickwood for helping make this event possible.
Sunday October 13 @ 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 Blues2024 to receive member discounted $10 tickets.
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 2025 to compete in the International Blues challenge. See below for more information and registration.
Remember our monthly open jams:
Jam at Ranelli's September 6 @ 7pm-10pm
Third Thursday Jam at True Story Brewing September 19 @ 7pm-10pm
Do visit and support the Southern Music Research Center website www.southernmusicresearch.org Browse their collections where you will find lots of interesting music history of our area including live recordings from Gip's Place.