Often with good intentions, Blues Societies are formed to promote and support the blues art form in the community. However, it usually ends up with the leadership using it as a vehicle for personal agenda, promotion and profit. How good is your Blues Society?
2007-07-09 03:17:50 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music ➔ Blues
I did belong to one about 7 years ago.. A friend helped start it.. He died and I'm not sure whether it's still in operation.. Another friend is a DJ for a blues station and he's involved in a B.Society in the S.F. Bay Area.. Start one!
Regarding adequately promotiing the blues.. .Yes they did.. I know that some in the Bay Area do much more to preserve the music..
2007-07-09 06:50:07 · answer #1 · answered by xjaz1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been a member of 2 regional blues societies, and found they both do pretty good on promoting their respective upcoming events.
It's always easier to assign blame that your local society could be doing more to promote upcoming events. Sometimes it seems that they should be working together to hype upcoming summer festivals.
I've been following KVBA (Kalamazoo Valley Blues Assn) for the past 10 years, and without obvious help from the Detroit Blues Society, their summer bluesfest has continued to grow and get better talent every year......Big props for KVBA, who seem to be going it alone. Of course, no one has mentioned that the Kalamazoo Society benefits from being in a college town, and has the full approval of the college radio station.
The Detroit Blues Society, on the other hand, has to promote and negotiate with the Windsor/Detroit International Blues Festival, not to mention having a side interest it the Electronic Music Fest, and the Detroit Jazz (formerly Detroit/Montreaux) Festival.
I'd love to see them work together and produce ONE kickass Blues Festival instead of two (B+) decent shows, but time and distance seems to play a part in the outcome. There's only so much money to spread around, and friend's of mine, who are directly involved, decry that single fact year after year.
It just makes me wish for the days of 1970-1972, when the Ann Arbor Blues Festival was the hottest festival in blues, not to mention the most exciting festival happening. Too bad things have to change, but that's the nature of live bluesfests. Legendary times can't be recaptured, except on CD or vinyl.
2007-07-09 20:31:22 · answer #2 · answered by WhoMe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know there's one in my area / region, and i may go to an open jam sometime. I won't "Member up" though. The whole idea is kinda snobbish, no? I mean...a society (if you will..) of all blues, all the time....and nothing else. Funny though, i went to some where i was originally from, and though i'm more a hard rocker / shred kinda player, all the "Stinging blues cats" get me. LOL!
2007-07-12 14:55:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Memphis Blues Society does its best, but yes politics does interfere.
2007-07-10 17:29:39 · answer #4 · answered by burn out 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We just moved to Atlanta to have a better blues scene...we used to live in Clemson sc....When we first got here people told us there wasn't a blues scene, but once you get to know the area, you really get to discovery all the little clubs and places...I don't know what I'd do without my live blues!
2007-07-11 07:14:56 · answer #5 · answered by Absilicious 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I do, and I think for the most part it is doing a good job. Politics got in the way for awhile, but have since elected new board members and all is well.
2007-07-09 13:15:18 · answer #6 · answered by kaisergirl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋