Blues Societies and Clubs in North Carolina

North Carolina is considered one of the great areas with a concentration of the blues. Piedmont Blues practically originated in NC and other blues forms are alive and well around the state. Blues societies can be found from the Eastern to the Western parts of NC.

I live in North Carolina and am a professional blues musician. I have played on the stages of several of the clubs associated with the NC blues societies.

Cape Fear Blues Society

Cape Fear Blues Society is the NC east coast blues society. There is an annual blues fest every year in Wilmington. The society also promotes an annual blues challenge where area musicians and bands do battle along with several other state blues societies. The winner goes to the international challenge in Memphis, TN, to compete for prizes.

The first Saturday of each month and every Tuesday night at 8:00 there are blues jams at The Rusty Nail. The Rusty Nail is the associated club associated with the Cape Fear Blues Society.

Charlotte Blues Society

The Charlotte Blues Society is run out of a famous club called The Double Door Inn. The Double Doors is located about 45 minutes from where I live and I have played there several times. Many famous blues acts have moved through the doors. The acoustics of the room is perfect for playing blues and the walls are plastered with blues acts promotional pictures.

The Charlotte Blues Society also sponsors an annual blues challenge and have sent many blues musicians and bands to the international finals. A Charlotte local radio station, WRFX 99.7 features an award-winning three hour blues show every Sunday evening from 7:00 to 10:00. Rick Ballew is the host. The show is intended to tie in the blues with the classic rock theme the station is noted for.

Piedmont Blues Preservation Society

Piedmont Blues Preservation Society is another of the large NC blues societies that hosts an annual blues challenge. Their mission is to promote the blues in North Carolina by education and events. Many of the areas venues participate in the events.

Rowan Blues and Jazz Society

The Rowan Blues and Jazz Society is a smaller NC society that sponsors many blues and jazz related events in their immediate area in Salisbury. The Black Box Theater is an associated venue. The society also has a Rowan Blues and Jazz Festival every year in downtown Salisbury.

Southern Fried Blues Society

The Southern Fried Blues Society is another smaller NC blues outlet located in Asheville, NC. This society has been trying to get organized and may or may not make it. The link to their web page goes nowhere, but there could be some hope in the future for this society to develop.

Triangle Blues Society

Out of Durhan, NC comes the Triangle Blues Society. Located in the center of where Piedmont Blues developed, they are a large influence on the blues in North Carolina. Blind Boy Fuller came from the area along with many other famous blues acts. The society sponsors a blues challenge every year.

The society use to be connected to the famous Blue Bayou Club but it closed down recently. I played in the Blue Bayou Club several times and it will be sorely missed by area blues musicians and fans.

Sources: Personal Experience.