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Blues Destination: Augusta, GA by Monica Yasher
The masters is the biggest sporting event of the year, and will take place April 5 through April 11. I imagine there will be a few of you attending this event. But, you know, you can only play golf in the day! So what does a blues fan do the rest of the time?
Here are some of the bigger blues concerts in Augusta for the month of April:
DEREK TRUCKS and SUSAN TEDESCHI April 1, 2010 Johnny Mercer Theatre.Savannah,GA
BILL FRISELL April 2, 2010 Savannah GA Savannah Music Festival Bill Frisell Trio featuring Tony Scherr and Kenny Wollesen Bassekou Kouyate
MAC ARNOLD Cornbread & Collard Greens Blues Festival Wed-Sat - April 28 - May 1, 2010 Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. www.macarnold.com 864-517-9558
If you want to know about the local blues scene, check out their blues society. The Augusta Blues Society PO Box 15721 Augusta,GA 30919
We also know that the best open mic in Augusta happens Thursday nights at The Playground Bar, located in Downtown, between 9th and 10th Streets. It is hosted by Woody, who also happens to front one of the best blues bands in town, Judge Wood and the Defendants!
Another great blues group to check out would be Riley Williams and Electric Voodoo. This is a very good blues oriented band. You’ll have to see it to believe it.
Some other local establishments that support blues are: The Loft, 1102 Back Bar, and the Surrey Tavern .
American Blues News does have blues news for you! Augusta is the home of the legendary James Brown. You could do a complete James Brown tour when you are in the area! Here are some things for you to see.
It should not be a surprise to you that James Brown has a background based heavily in gospel music. In Augusta, he worked at the Trinity CME Church at 818 8th Street. It is here where he honed his chops on keyboard. The Church still stands and is used as a community center today.
All of you can attest to James Brown being a unique dancer. As any craft, it takes practice. As a young man, one could find James Brown practicing his much acclaimed dance steps outside the radio station, WRDW, which is located at the 300 Block of 8th Street for money. Everyone gets a start somewhere, and it is here where James' first dancing steps were witnessed.
The city offers tribute to James Brown by placing a statue in honor of the man who was named as a 1983 Georgia Music Hall of Fame Inductee, 1986 Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, and 2003 Kennedy Center Honoree. If you want to take a picture of you and Mr. Brown, head to Broad Street between 8th & 9th Streets.
At Augusta on the Corner of James Brown Blvd. and Broad Street was a place that James Brown spent many hours. He would shine shoes and you could see him singing and dancing for change. James Brown also held true to the blues tradition of giving it back. At this location the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway driven by James Brown would be held. The children of James Brown continue to do this still today.
The Augusta Museum of History located at 560 Reynolds Street has a great library on the James Brown classic dance moves on DVD. You can listen to some of his all time hits and learn more about the life of Mr. Brown. The exhibit features performance attire, family photographs and much more.
Bell Auditorium, 712 Telfair Street, is where James Brown recorded much of his live album, Sex Machine. This was also a much attended concert hall for James Brown performances.
Please visit a blue's legend home located at 3056 Walton Way Extension. This was the James Brown family home in the 1970s. It is the first home Mr. James Brown lived in upon returning to Augusta as a star.
The Soul Bar on 984 Broad Street offers the patron many James Brown mementos and memorabilia to view. They do have live acts here, and are open Monday thru Saturday from 8 pm to 3 am. On April 3 they will be featuring The North Trolls, who is labeled as a powerpop group, which makes me blue!
It is claimed that one of Mr. Brown's favorite places to eat at was T-Bonz Restaurant at 2856 Washington Road. The restaurant offers a James Brown Corner and notes some of Mr. Brown's favorite dishes.
Copyright © 2010 Copyright Monica L. Yasher. All Rights Reserved.
