Wolf's Music Weekly

Open Blues Jams

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Eugene Hideaway Bridges, one of the headliners for the DC Blues Festival, jamming w/Big Boy Little!

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Grammy Nominee Tab Benoit jamming with Wolf

Open Blues Jam Format
  • Wolf's been running open blues jams for years and knows how to keep things going and keep the musicians & audience happy.
  • The host band plays a set (first, in the middle, at the end, or some combination thereof).
  • Musicians should get there early and sign up.  Using the sign-up sheet, Wolf makes up groups of local talent.  Each group of jammers usually plays a set of about 3 songs.  Time permitting, the jammers will play again.
  • Great way to hear local blues talent, and you never know who's going to show up: sometimes out-of-towners and touring musicians.
  • Even prominent national acts have stopped by to jam including Guitar Shorty, Jimmy Carpenter, Memphis Gold, Bruce Ewan, Bobby Radcliff, Pierre Beauregard and Grammy Nominees Tab Benoit and Steve Riley!  Wolf likes to paraphrase Forest Gump, "a jam is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get or WHO'S going to show up!" 
  • Of course it's also a great way to connect with other blues-lovers and musicians.  Great way to meet potential bandmates.
  • Great listening/dance music - it's always a treat for the musicians to play for an appreciative audience and dancers! 
  • Tips for the house band are encouraged and greatly appreciated!  The house band usually provides the equipment for the jammers.  Most of the house band musicians drive a great distance and the tips really help them out.
***Support your local blues jams AND the establishments that host the jams; come hungry & thirsty to ensure the jams keep going.*** 
See below for links to articles about blues jams.
 
The following are the jams that Wolf's involved with.  To keep posted about these jams, schedule changes, and info about other local blues jams, sign up for "Wolf's Music Weekly Newsletter" which is emailed every Monday.  (See "Join" link on the side menu bar.) 
OPEN BLUES JAMS:
(for more info about venues, see "VENUES" link to the left)
  • 2nd Mondays  Open blues jam hosted by Wolf with Matt Kelley & Chip Clemmer, featuring a special guest each week at JVs Restaurant, 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA, 8:30 pm, 703-241-9504, www.jvsrestaurant.com

  • Wednesday Open Blues Jam hosted by Wolf with Hot Rods & Old Gas at newly reopened Beach Cove Restaurant, 8416 Bayside Rd., Chesapeake Beach, MD, 8 pm, 443-550-3342, www.myspace.com/beachcove1
 
  • Thursday Open Blues Jam hosted by Big Boy Little Band at Zoo Bar, 3000 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 8:30 pm – 12:30 am, 202-232-4225, www.zoobardc.com
 
  • 3rd Fridays Open Blues Jam hosted by Wolf with Hot Rods & Old Gas at Fat Boys Country Store, 41566 Medleys Neck Rd., Leonardtown, MD, 8 pm, 301-475-6820, www.fatboyscountrystore.com  (Beginning in March 2010, new date: 3rd Fridays!)

ARTICLES:

NEW! Click here for Washington Post article about Wolf's Hot Rods & Old Gas Blues Jam by Marianne Meyer

"Hosting a blues jam could be compared to herding cats, so why not put a wolf in charge to keep those cool musical cats under control?"

- Washington Post.

 

 

 

Click here for Maryland Life article about Wolf's Southern Maryland Blues Jams by Christine Basham

 

 "Blues Jam is a Sweet Spread" article, Maryland Independent, Feb. 15, 2008
http://www.somdnews.com/stories/02152008/weektop142540_32081.shtml

"The Blues is My Business, and Business is Good, For music lovers, moments worth seeking are happening at Beach Cove" article, Bay Weekly, Aug. 11, 2005
http://www.bayweekly.com/year05/issuexiii32/leadxiii32_2.html

 

 

LINKS:

www.dcblues.org

www.openmikes.org

www.openmic.us

Howlin' & prowlin' for good music!