Blues Jams Every 2nd & 4th Thursday!
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FREE ADMISSION, ALL AGES, PRO BLUES JAM SPONSORED BY THE OZARK BLUES SOCIETY, MUSIC MOVES, AND SPRINGHILL SUITES. DONATING AND/OR JOINING YOUR LOCAL BLUES SOCIETY HELPS US CONTINUE TO HOLD THESE FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE JAMS ARE FREE TO ALL AGES! ONLINE AT: www.ozarksbluessociety.org
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Blues Jam Was Off the Chain!
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- By Bruce Bennett -
First off, the Pro Jam hosted by the Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas
last night [Feb. 27th] at The Music Depot was off the chain, yo...
Had never met nor played with Rick Endel, and he was as great a player and guy as advertised, but ruined all of that by declaring his admiration for Rick Toops (jk).
Steven Brooks of the Livewires hit a lot of shiny stuff with sticks and made me sound real good...
I could go on, but I won't. I figure there will be video for a lot of it.
I moved to Arkansas from Indiana in 1988. I had graduated from IU and was dealing with a [really bad] music business experience and equally [really bad] relationship disintegration and had never planned on playing music again.
I landed at my parents' 'retirement home' in Clinton, to spend the summer there and just hang out, play softball, drink adult beverages ('untaxed spirits') and learn that seed ticks were a social disease in Van Buren County.
One afternoon, I wound up at a soirée near Greers Ferry Lake, in which a band was playing. Expecting the worst (after all, I was a jaded jerk musician from the North), I was blown away by some band called Razorback. Ridiculous name. And they played country, which I knew nothing about. But all involved were killer, especially
Lacey Schaffer-Thomas, whose performance I could not forget. (I later played some with Don Martin and became acquainted with Larry B and George Hughen) They went on to be 'on the verge of the 'Nashville golden ticket', but for whatever reason those planets did not align. I do recall seeing them on TV when Ralph Emery was a thing, and not everyone can say that.
Fast forward to last night - finally got to meet and back Miss Lacey. She still gots the goods, so go see her & band if you can...
[Ed. Note: Thank you, Bruce, for playing at the jam, and letting people know how much you enjoyed being part of it!]
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If you're a member of OBS, you can submit your own nomination(s) for board and officer positions, up until April 1st.
The Board of Directors will have its Annual Election of Officers at the end of April. The date and venue TBD. This year we will be nominating and voting on candidates for President and Treasurer. We will be accepting nominations from our Members up until April 1st. Meanwhile, look for updates on how to nominate persons who you know would be an excellent Board Member or Officer. Through the years, we have always enjoyed bringing on people with particular skills and experience on our mission to Keep The Blues Alive in NWA!
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Want to Join a Committee?
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OBS is planning a really big year of events, and we are inviting volunteers to help with promotion, marketing, production, and so much more. If you have a particular interest or experience and would like to enhance our efforts for having a GREAT year, please email ozarkbluessociety@gmail.com. We love and appreciate our volunteers (you know who you are), and we want to share the fun and good feelings with even more of you!
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Dawn Cate Band to Open for Shemekia Copeland 7/26/25 at the Momentary
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Tickets here:
If you're not already familiar with Dawn and her band, here's a bit of info for ya:
Born and raised in Springdale, AR, Dawn Cate comes from a rich musical lineage as the daughter of Arkansas music legend Earl Cate of the Cate Brothers Band and Earl and Them. Growing up immersed in the music world, Dawn developed a powerful, versatile voice that flawlessly blends influences from Gladys Knight and Etta James to Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples. She began her career with regional favorites Earl’s Garage, performing alongside her brother, Devin Cate, across venues from Tulsa, OK, to Beale Street. A founding member of the local supergroup Divas On Fire, Dawn now leads her own band, the Dawn Cate Band, showcasing a dynamic mix of soul, hard-rocking blues, and Americana. The Dawn Cate Trio acoustic/electric trio offers a more intimate version of the full band, delivering the same high-energy performances and carrying the Cate family legacy into a new generation.
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Enter to Win Full Studio Production of Your Original Music
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Entune is an exciting joint venture happening here in NWA, offering some incredible opportunities for interested artists. Entune is a community Initiative that bridges the gap between music artists and professional studio production, through an innovative prize draw. We empower local musicians by providing accessible studio opportunities, fostering a shared space where up-and-coming artists can turn their artistic dreams into tangible works.
Sign up to win, using this link below:
The monthly random drawings ignite creative momentum, blending musical craft, fresh ideas, and cultivation to amplify our dynamic Northwest Arkansas's music scene and beyond.
1st Random Drawing will be done March 1st Saturday, announced on Crisp’s channel. Submission deadline: Friday, February 28th end of day
Eligibility Requirements to be able to enter to win: 1) You must be at least 18 years of age; 2) your song choice must be an original song. (No covers or samples from other works.)
And here's what you can win, the Grand Prize, or the Runner-Up Prize:
Runner-Up Prize includes:
This series is brought to you in partnership with Crisp Recording Studios
and Aenimate Media Productions LLC
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The Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshop Is Now Taking Applicants
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Ozark Blues Society is pleased share application information to musicians of all ages, young and old, to attend the Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshop! The 4-day workshops are led by Grammy-winning Blues Artists for drums, guitar, bass, keys, and vocals. Scholarships are available. The workshops fill up fast, so don't hesitate to sign up as soon as you can. The sessions are held at the Hopson Commissary and Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and lodging is available on site. It's a party!
The sessions end on Saturday night with a performance at Ground Zero in Clarksdale, MS, with all students jamming with their instructors throughout the night. Soon we will send out a newsletter with a feature article about founder Pinetop Perkins and his dream of Keeping the Blues Alive through these annual workshops. Several of your Ozark Blues Society board members volunteer for events supporting the Pinetop Perkins Foundation as part of our mission for Blues Education. Here's the application, and you'll find more information about Pinetop and the organization there as well.
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Let Google Blues News Guide You
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Google has assembled a page dedicated to Blues news and articles. It's good stuff! It contains news about upcoming Blues festivals, and links to music journalists' blogs.
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Please enjoy the following listings comprised of bands, venues, and/or organizations that support Ozark Blues Society of NWA (and vice versa).
ALL BLUES ARTISTS - For an individual listing, provide us with your Events Page link, and/or submit upcoming gigs in time for the publication prep deadline every Wednesday to:
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VENUE and PUBLICATIONS LISTINGS, many featuring Blues and Jazz performances and jams:
The Free Weekly Events Listing
The Fayetteville Flyer Events Listing
Top Concerts Listing-NWA
Meteor Guitar Gallery, Bentonville
Music Depot, Rogers
George's Majestic Lounge, Fayetteville
Magnolia House Events
The Music Education Initiative
NWA Jazz Society Events
Railyard Live at Butterfield Stage, Rogers
Arkansas Music Pavilion (The AMP), Bentonville
The Momentary, Bentonville
Pub on the Bricks (FB page)
Club 509, Fayetteville
Blues Festival Guide
Please Submit Dates or Website Show Links for Regional Blues Artists and Group Events here: EVENT SUBMISSION EMAIL |
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Live Blues Videos on TV 24/7
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Just a reminder that you can watch some of your favorite Blues artists recorded in live performance on Blues Music Television. It's a great way to warm up when the cold wind is blowing! Blues Music TV on Facebook HERE .
Want more? Check out their all-Blues channel on ROKU and FIRESTICK HERE! |
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Watch Blues Rock Review on YouTube
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Visit our website to renew or join!
Annual membership levels begin at $20/year for a single membership. Family membership is $30. And there are many higher levels of support offered. Membership gives you so much in return, including meeting new friends while enjoying the best regional and national blues artists. Your membership support of Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas helps us pursue our mission to preserve the Original American Art Form known as The Blues, supports live blues performances, and provides educational programs for all ages. Thank You!
Membership Benefits Include:
Weekly E-newsletter
Opportunities to win tickets to events
VIP seating at events (when available)
Social networking – meeting other people who also love the blues
Opportunities to volunteer on OBS committees and at events
Ability to attend board meetings and vote on upcoming organizational issues and elections
Visit our website to renew or join!
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Enjoy these weekly radio, streaming, and written blues sources!
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Generic Blues Show on KUAF
Hosted by Paul Kelso
The Generic Blues Show has been airing since the early 90's, playing tunes of all types of blues... whether it be country, rock, jazz, R&B or soul... it all links back to the blues.
Hear the show Fridays at 9 p.m. on 91.3 FM and Sundays 6 p.m. on KUAF 93.1
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Presented by
Big Train and the
Loco Motives
Find these weekly videos and more when you visit Big Train and the Loco Motives YouTube Page HERE:
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Check these out!
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On this day in
Blues History
For a daily dose of blues history, check out the daily Bluesland podcast HERE:
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Blues Music Television!
 Blues Music TV on Facebook HERE Want more?
Check out their all Blues channel on ROKU and FIRESTICK HERE!
Hangnail's Hollers
Stories From the Blues
By Hangnail Slim
Blues lovers! Check out the new Substack newsletter written by Hangnail Slim. To read his weekly edition, or to subscribe, check out Hangnail Slim's page HERE.. |
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