The soul-blues powerhouse Sugaray Rayford is coming to the Triangle for a special Sunday show – and he's promising a party. "A lot of musicians, the blues notwithstanding, have forgotten how to entertain people," he tells Blues Blast magazine. "Think about groups like Earth Wind and Fire. You loved the songs you heard on the radio, but when you went to see them live, they couldn't just play the song like the record. They needed to kick it up a bit and entertain. Otherwise, i

Howard Levy, a two-time Grammy Award-winning pianist, harmonica player and composer, is set for a May appearance in Durham, N.C., with his new band. He's been playing the diatonic harmonica since the age of 19, developing groundbreaking techniques that allowed him to play it as a fully chromatic instrument. The multi-instrumentalist was soon going far beyond the folk and blues music that the harmonica is usually associated with, as he explored jazz, classical and Middle East

Exactly what is the IBC experience? Worldwide affiliates of the Blues Foundation have their own annual blues challenges, and the winners of solo/duo and band categories head to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge – the largest gathering of blues musicians (and fans) on this planet! It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-timer (or an old-timer like me – this was my 22nd year to attend!), blues musicians and blues lovers from far and wide converge on Beale Str

Want to help make some blues dreams come true? Here's your chance! Each year, the Triangle Blues Society sponsors the Triangle Blues Challenge where local musicians compete to earn a spot at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, the largest gathering of blues musicians in the world. Sponsored by the Blues Foundation, the IBC lasts for almost a week. The signature element of the Triangle Blues Society's mission is to raise funds to support their trips to Tennessee. T

Greylan Hall and the Nasty Kings and E-Train were named winners Sunday of the Triangle Blues Society's 2023 Triangle Blues Challenge. They were part of a 10-act slate who competed at the Blue Note Grill in Durham for the chance to advance to January's 39th International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn. Proceeds from ticket sales on Sunday and your TBS membership fees help fund their trips. Greylan Hall emerged from the group category, which also featured Acisse Jay, beckwi

Join the Triangle Blues Society and a group of area hopefuls for the 2023 Triangle Blues Challenge. The competition kicks off at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, at the Blue Note Grill in Durham. The challenge is a local blues competition with two categories, for solo/duo and band. Winners earn the right to travel to Memphis, Tenn., to further compete next January in the 39th International Blues Challenge. This year's competing solo and duo acts are Cory Luetjen and the Traveli

The Triangle Blues Society's next monthly jam is set for Sept. 24, from 5-8 p.m. at the Speakeasy in Carrboro. Hosts are Scott Larid and Larry Myers. The application deadline is also fast approaching for the 2023 Triangle Blues Challenge, to be held in October at the Blue Note Grill in Durham. The challenge is a local blues competition with two categories, solo/duo and band. Winners earn the right to travel to Memphis, TN, to further compete next January in the 39th Internat

The Triangle Blues Society Blues Challenge is a regional competition to select acts who will represent TBS at the Blues Foundation’s next 39th International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. As many as 266 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street next January to perform as the music industry searches for new talent, with the chance to win recognition and prizes that include major festival performances and more. This year’s Triangle Blues Challenge is taking place at

We hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits.Ralph DeMasi President, The Triangle Blues Society P.O. Box 13208 Durham, N.C., 27709 triangleblues@gmail.com 5 July, 2023Subject: Re-Launching the Triangle Blues Society and Exciting Plans for 2023!Dear Triangle Blues Society Members, Greetings! As the newly appointed President of The Triangle Blues Society, I am delighted to announce that we are emerging from our dormant status and re-launching our organization

STAY TUNED FOR A NEW DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED.TBS Tailgate Jam & Membership DriveSunday, February 5, 2022 1-5PM FREE TICKETSThe Blue Note GrillDurham, NC FREE TICKETS <----Get your free tickets here. We’ll be grilling and TBS Members eat free! Burgers and Dogs with a side or two. Not a member yet? You can join anytime between now and then, even that very day. Memberships are only $10! We need to know if you're planning to join us so we can get a headcount for food so go ahead

DURHAM -- The Triangle Blues Society has chosen Jon Shain & FJ Ventre’s “Never Found a Way to Tame the Blues” as the "Best Self Produced CD" as part of its annual Triangle Blues Challenge. The Triangle Blues Society (TBS) will send the CD for consideration at the International Blues Challenge, to be held Jan. 18-22 in Memphis, Tenn.  Because of concerns about the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, The Triangle Blues Society postponed the competition portion of its annual Triangl

The Triangle Blues Society (TBS) Blues Challenge is a regional competition to select acts that will represent TBS in the Blues Foundation’s 37th International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. Up to 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before the music industry searching for new talent, with the chance to win recognition and prizes that include major festival performances and more. This year’s TBS Blues Challenge is taking place Sunday, September 1

Triangle Blues Society members: We hope all of you are well during this pandemic. Someday, we hope to return to the weekly and monthly blues jams. Until then, your board will keep the organization moving.  We need to elect new officers.  Here are some nominations for several of the offices: President: Ben Comfort Treasurer: Mike Conway Membership: Chuck Katz We would like the members to suggest nominations for the following vacancies: secretary, vice president, communicat

Triangle Blues Society regrets to announce that our regularly scheduled TBS 1st Sunday Blues Jam, Sunday, June 7, 2020 has been cancelled until further notice. We want you all to be safe so stay home, stay healthy, and respect the advice for social distancing as hard as it may seem. REMEMBER Be thoughtful and kind to one another. Pull out some music you haven't listened to in a while. Write a song or two or three or twenty. Write a letter. With a pen and a piece of paper. Or

Triangle Blues Society regrets to announce that our regularly scheduled TBS 1st Sunday Blues Jam, Sunday, April 5, 2020 has been cancelled until further notice. We want you all to be safe so stay home, stay healthy, and respect the advice for social distancing as hard as it may seem. Triangle artists, please feel free to post and stream! We're all in this together and promoting solidarity is something we know we can do. Be thoughtful and kind to one another. Pull out some mus

Triangle Blues Society members, Since you’ve heard us announce that TBS elections were to take place this spring, we wanted to give you an update on where we are with the process. In reading through our existing bylaws, we’ve discovered that they need updating to reflect who we’ve grown to be since they were last updated. In a few months, the members of the TBS board will send you a draft of the new bylaws. All members will have 30 days to comment on the bylaws. After the new

Sunday, January 5, 20205-8pm $10 suggested donationThe Blue Note GrillBUY TICKETS NOW Let's get these guys to Memphis in style! What a Sunday we've got in store for you. Our guest hosts are our two 2019 TBS Blues Challenge winners Cory Luetjen & the Traveling Blues Band (Band), Ruth Wyand & the Tribe of One (Solo/Duo), with special guest Jon Shain, 2019 IBC Solo/Duo Winner! We'll be holding a 50/50 Raffle, selling exclusive tickets to win a '95 Strat, showing off our new T

Sunday, December 1, 20195-8pm   NO CoverOur guest hosts:  Josh Preslar Band When it comes to showing the love our local music community doesn't miss a beat. So follow us in merry measure and share the Christmas spirit. Bring a toy to our TBS Toys for Tots Gift Drive and receive a free one-year TBS Membership or renewal (valued at $10). Your gift will help ensure that one or more Orange County NC kids have a gift to open on Christmas morning. Even the smallest gift can bring a

Sunday, July 7 * 5-8pm * NO COVER It’s 1st Sunday Blues again, so get your musical “fix” by playing, dancing, or just having a great time. Musicians from all over the Triangle and beyond show up to play. Our guest hosts this month: Drew Questell Band A North Carolina native, Drew Questell has been a part of the Triangle Blues scene since his teens. Drew holds the Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Industry Studies from Appalachian State University where he studied both Jazz

When: Aug. 4, 2019 Where: The Blue Note Grill, 709 Washington St., Durham, NC 27701 About: Each year The Blues Foundation sponsors a world-wide blues challenge. The largest gathering of blues musicians IN THE WORLD! Affiliates from all over the globe send their winning Band and Solo/Duo Challenge acts for the opportunity to participate in the International Blues Challenge (IBC), Memphis, TN. This year’s IBC will begin Tues., Jan. 28, 2020, with the actual competition (quarter