Okay, we all know I can’t sing. But I do enjoy listening to live music and especially the blues. A year ago around this time, I attended Lil’ Scotty’s birthday party (aka Button Man). The lineup of blues artists who performed to pay homage to Lil’ Scotty ran the gamut from the well-known to the unknown. Many of the artists who performed at his birthday party never made it professionally. But they are, and remain, extremely talented individuals.
The birthday party was in full swing, with many sitting around waiting for the next act to perform, when the security person announced it was time for all to leave. There wasn’t anyplace else to go, so we packed up all of our things and called it an evening.
Recently I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed that blues night and wondered why we didn’t have more blues sets on the West Side. Well I expressed my ideal to the right person because the response back was, why didn’t I put on a blues night.
So starting next Wednesday, March 30, and every Wednesday thereafter, I, along with several others, am sponsoring Blue Wednesdays at Chez Roue Banquet Hall, 5200 W. Chicago Ave. We’ll kick off at 6:30 p.m. and go from there.
So far the lineup includes Kjaz & the K-1 Band, a number of Spoken Words artists and a plethora of singers and comedians. I was passing out pluggers to the seniors at a local retirement home, and I jokingly told them if they come out, I’ll have several decks of cards waiting for them. Good, they told me, and if any of them young folks who think they know how to play cards are present, they will whip butt playing Spades or Bid Whist. If you notice, although the focus on Blue Wednesday is Blues, we want to offer a variety of entertainment.
So how much will an evening out socializing with old friends and meeting new ones cost? We’re asking for $10 at the door. But you can also use the promo code, “Arlene,” and you and a guest get in for that one admission fee. We’ll also have food (I will personally see that we have a couple of turkeys smoked on the grill), two-for-one cocktails and a number of raffles. One of the raffles is for luggage and a three-night stay in Vegas.
I’m also hoping many of the West Side politicians come out and support the venue. Chez Roue is another beautiful gem located right here in Austin. It is the kind of place that they should be showcasing to everyone as proof that right here in the middle of our neighborhood, a business flourishes that is as nice as any downtown establishment.
I’d also like to extend an invitation to young musicians to contact me about coming out to perform. I can be reached at 773-622-3863. Our music traditions must be passed down to the younger generations.
