Souothern plantation blues music is a story of soul, a triumph of the human spirit over suffering when the slaves of the Seep South created a sound whose influence is still felt today. Eureka Springs loves the blues! Selwyn Birchwood, playing fiery guitar and lap steel, gets it started Friday with free music in Basin Park, followed on Saturday by Eureka’s own Brick Fields Band. Coco Montoya brings smoldering guitar to the Aud with award-winning Carolyn Wonderland, who has played with Bonnie Raitt and Kris Kristofferson, opening the show.
Grub N Pub is hosting the Barflies, an eclectic group of Dallas bluesmen that includes Mike Johnson on dual saxophones and flute, with guitarists Jackie Don Loe and Pete Barbeck. You can hear Earl & Them, Los Roscoes, Sister Lucille and even Big Mike Griffin.
Stop by the Barefoot Ballroom to hear John Nemeth, bet you can’t sit still when he sings “Get offa dat butt.” Turpentine Creek will take care of the finale with a Father’s Day Blues Picnic featuring Tony Redman, the Johnny Ricker Band and the harmonica workshop for kids, where the first 50 young’uns get a free Hohner and a lesson from blues harp master Tony Baker. The All Star Jam wraps things up, artists from all the venues are invited and that should be a jam session for the history books.
THURSDAY, JUNE 14
BALCONY RESTAURANT – Catherine Reed, Singer/Songwriter, 5 p.m.
CHELSEA’S – Shelly King Trio, Blues/Soul, 9 p.m.
GRANDE TAVERNE – Jackson Gibson & Kenny Jackson, Indie Folk, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
GRUB N PUB – Jukebox Jam, 9 p.m.
ROWDY BEAVER DEN – Coyote Claw, Outlaw Country, 7-11 p.m.
FRIDAY, JUNE 15
BALCONY RESTAURANT – Catherine Reed, Singer/Songwriter, 12 p.m., Dale Stokes, Singer/Songwriter, 6 p.m.
BAREFOOT BALLROOM in BASIN PARK HOTEL – John Nemeth, Blues, 7 & 9 p.m.
BASIN SPRING PARK – Selwyn Birchwood, Blues, 5 p.m.
BREWS – Chris Plowman, Alternative, 7 p.m.,
CATHOUSE LOUNGE – Shaw Davis & the Black Ties, Blues/Roots Rock, 8 p.m.
CHELSEA’S – Sister Lucille, Blues/Roots, 6 p.m., Patrick Sweany, Blues Rock, 9:30 p.m.
GRANDE TAVERNE – Catherine Reed, Singer/Songwriter, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
GRUB N PUB – Barflies, Blues, 9 p.m.
LEGENDS SALOON – DJ Karaoke , 9 p.m.
NEW DELHI – Brick Fields, Blues, 6 p.m.
ROWDY BEAVER – 2DOG2 Karaoke, 8 p.m.
ROWDY BEAVER DEN – Mark Shields & Good Company, Americana, 9 p.m.
UPSTAIRS AT THE GROTTO – The Cate Brothers, Rock, 8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 16
2 WHEELS ON THE PIG TRAIL – The Tone Kats, Rock-n-Roll, 2-5 p.m., Big Mike Griffin, Blues, 6:30 p.m. Fallen Rider Fund Raiser
BALCONY RESTAURANT – Michael Dimitri, Singer/Songwriter, 12 p.m., The Colliers, Indie Acoustic, 6 p.m.
BASIN SPRING PARK – Brick Fields Band, Blues, 3 p.m.
BREWS – Sad Daddy, Folk/Roots, 7 p.m.
CATHOUSE LOUNGE – Los Roscoes, Blues, 1 p.m., The Norman Jackson Band, Blues, 8:30 p.m.
CHELSEA’S – Shaw Davis & the Black Ties, Blues Roots Rock, 2-5 p.m., Earl & Them, Blues, 6-9 p.m., Patrick Sweany, Blues Rock, 9:30 p.m.
GRANDE TAVERNE – Jackson Gibson & Kenny Jackson, Indie Folk, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
GRUB N PUB – Barflies, Blues, 9 p.m.
LEGENDS SALOON – Trick Bag, Blues/ Classic Rock, 9 p.m.
NEW DELHI – Ray Richard, 12 p.m., Pete N Dave, Blues, 6 p.m.
ROWDY BEAVER – Coyote Claw, Outlaw Country, 12-4 p.m., Scott Garner & the Speedshift Band, Country/Rock, 8 p.m.
ROWDY BEAVER DEN – Blew Reed & the Flatheads, Blues, 1-5 p.m., Los Roscoes, Blues, 9 p.m.
THE AUD – Coco Montoya w/guest Carolyn Wonderland, Blues, 8 p.m.
UPSTAIRS AT THE GROTTO – Lost Bridge Trio, Classic Rock/Blues, 7 p.m.
SUNDAY, JUNE 17
BALCONY RESTAURANT – Jeff Lee, Singer/Songwriter, 12 p.m. & 5 p.m.
BREWS – Trivia Night, 7 p.m.
CHELSEA’S – Patrick Sweany, Blues Rock, 2-5 p.m., Sunday Jams w/Mike Hopper & friends, 8 p.m.
NEW DELHI – Sierra Star, Bluesy Country/Rock, 12 p.m.
ROWDY BEAVER DEN – Ryan Reichard, 1-5 p.m.
THE SKY BAR – High Time w/Jimmy Wayne Garrett, Blues, 4-8 p.m.
TURPENTINE CREEK – Father’s Day Picnic feat. Tony Redman, Johnny Ricker Band and Tom Baker’s Blues Harmonicas for Kids, 12 p.m.
MONDAY, JUNE 18
BREWS – Eureka Music Revival, Rockabilly, 6 p.m.
CHELSEA’S – Sprungbilly, Bluegrass, 9 p.m.
TUESDAY, JUNE 19
CATHOUSE LOUNGE – Los Roscoes, Blues, 5-7 p.m.
CHELSEA’S –Open Mic, 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20
GRUB N PUB – Open Mic, 8 p.m.