The 36th annual Fountain Blues Festival is just a week away. But for blues fanatics, there’s plenty more free-form jamming, harmonica solos and hard living to celebrate during “Blues Week,” which runs from this Sunday until the main event at Plaza de Cesar Chavez on June 24.
Bassist and producer Frank “Tebo” Thibeaux will be kicking everything off with a free show—Sun., June 18 at 2pm—at the San Pedro Square Market. He’ll be backed up by his band Tebo’s Howlin Wolf Revue, playing a combination of funky blues with a little zydeco thrown in for good measure.
Next up, vocalist and harpist John Németh will be celebrating the release of his new album Feelin’ Freaky with a release party at Poor House Bistro on Monday, June 19 at 7pm.
Those looking to get a taste of what’s to come at the festival proper can catch a sneak peek of Fountain Blues headliner and harmonica virtuoso Aki Kumar, who jams with his band at Poor House Bistro on Tuesday, June 20 at 5pm.
Blues lovers with a desire to learn how to play can get a crash course at Arena Green West, across Autumn Street from the SAP Center, at 8pm. June 21 is international Make Music Day and to celebrate, local musician and Fountain Blues Foundation board member Ned Craft will host a harmonica workshop. Kids are welcome.
Also on Wednesday, in Redwood City, British Blues Hall of Fame-inductee Matt Schofield and his band will be lighting up Club Fox with a good old-fashioned blues jam featuring Oakland blues and soul singer Terrie Odabi.
Chef Ramon will be hosting his annual Big Blues Week Jam at Poor House Bistro on Thursday starting at 6pm. It’s unclear which special guests Ramon has enlisted to play this year, but it’s safe to assume it’ll be a good time.
Jerry Miller, lead guitarist and founding member of Moby Grape, provides direct support to the festival with a Friday night pre-party at Poor House Bistro.
Finally, the festival will be capped by a midnight after-party performance from blues guitarist Daniel Castro at Poor House Bistro.
Blues Week
Jun 18-Jun 24
San Jose
.Tangled Up in Blues: The Fountain Fest Approaches
