Looking to support the blues in your community? Try your local blues society.
Blues societies are dedicated to preserving and encouraging appreciation of the blues as a
living musical tradition; the majority are nonprofit, volunteer-driven organizations. Some
typical blues society activities include sponsoring blues concerts, open jams, and festivals;
working with music teachers and other educators; serving as open forums for the exchange of
musical ideas, discussion, and equipment; and maintaining and dispersing a current calendar
of blues-related events in the community.
The Year of the Blues (YOTB) advisory board has compiled and approved the following list of
blues societies. More will be added in the weeks to come.
Alabama
Magic City Blues Society
Birmingham, Alabama
Arizona
Phoenix Blues Society
Phoenix, Arizona
Tucson Blues Society
Tucson, Arizona
Arkansas
Arkansas River Blues Society
Little Rock, Arkansas
Ozark Blues Society
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Riverfront Blues Society
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Sonny Boy Blues Society
Helena, Arkansas
Spa City Blues Society
Hot Springs, Arkansas
California
Bay Area Blues Society
Oakland, California
Blues Lovers United of San Diego
San Diego, California
Sacramento Blues Society
Sacramento, California
Santa Barbara Blues Society
Santa Barbara, California
Shasta Blues Society
Redding, California
Sierra Blues Society
Grass Valley, California
Siskiyou Blues Society
Mt. Shasta, California
Sonoma County Blues Society
Santa Rosa, California
Southern California Blues Society
Los Alamitos, California
Colorado
Colorado Blues Society
Windsor, Colorado
Connecticut
Connecticut Blues Society
Higghaven, Connecticut
District of Columbia
D.C. Blues Society
Washington, District of Columbia
Florida
Apalachee Blues Society
Tallahassee, Florida
Blues Society of Northwest Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Downtown Blues Alliance
Fort Pierce, Florida
Orlando Blues Society
Orlando, Florida
South Florida Blues Society
Coral Springs, Florida
Springing the Blues Society
Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Suncoast Blues Society
Tampa, Florida
Georgia
Atlanta Blues Society
Atlanta, Georgia
Hawaii
Hawaii Blues Society
Honolulu, Hawaii
Idaho
Boise Blues Society
Boise, Idaho
Illinois
Fox Valley Blues Society
Oswego, Illinois
Illinois Central Blues Club
Springfield, Illinois
Mid-Mississippi Muddy Water Blues Society
Quincy, Illinois
River City Blues Society
Peoria, Illinois
The Blues Blowtorch Society
Bloomington, Illinois
Indiana
Crossroads Blues Society
Indianapolis, Indiana
Iowa
Central Iowa Blues Society
Des Moines, Iowa
Linn County Blues Society
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Lizard Creek Blues Society
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Mississippi Valley Blues Society
Davenport, Iowa
Kansas
Western Kansas Blues Society
Moscow, Kansas
Wichita Blues Society
Wichita, Kansas
Kentucky
Henderson Music Preservation Society
Henderson, Kentucky
Kentuckiana Blues Society
Louisville, Kentucky
Lexington Blues Society
Lexington, Kentucky
South Kentucky Blues Society
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Louisiana
Baton Rouge Blues Society
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Louisiana Blues Preservation Society
Lafayette, Louisiana
Maine
Maine Blues Society
Portland, Maine
Maryland
Baltimore Blues Society
Baltimore, Maryland
Frederick Blues Society
Frederick , Maryland
Potomac Blues Society
cumberland, Maryland
Massachusetts
Boston Blues Society
Boston, Massachusetts
New England Blues Society
Yarminthport, Massachusetts
Michigan
Capital Area Blues Society
Okemos, Michigan
Detroit Blues Society
Troy, Michigan
Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association
Kalamazoo , Michigan
West Michigan Blues Society
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Minnesota
Greater Twin Cities Blues Music Society
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mississippi
Howlin' Wolf Blues Society
West Point, Mississippi
Sunflower River Blues Association
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Missouri
Blues Society of the Ozarks
Springfield, Missouri
Kansas City Blues Society
Kansas City, Missouri
Lake of the Ozarks Blues Society
Camdenton, Missouri
MoBlues Association
Jefferson City, Missouri
Montana
Flathead Valley Blues Society
Somers, Montana
Nebraska
Omaha Blues Society
Omaha, Nebraska
Nevada
Reno Blues Society
Reno, Nevada
Southern Nevada Blues Association
Las Vegas, Nevada
New Hampshire
Blues Bank Collective
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
New Jersey
Blues Power Blues Society of New Jersey
South Orange, New Jersey
Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation
Belmar, New Jersey
New York
Blues Society of Western New York
Lewiston, New York
New York Blues & Jazz Society
Mt. Vernon, New York
Northeast Blues Society
Scotia, New York
Woodstock Blues
Oliverea, New York
North Carolina
Blues Society of Lower Cape Fear
Wilmingon, North Carolina
Charlotte Blues Society
Charlotte, North Carolina
Piedmont Blues Preservation Society
Grennsboro, North Carolina
Sandhills Blues Society
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Triangle Blues Society
Durham, North Carolina
Western North Carolina Blues Society
Weaverville, North Carolina
Ohio
Black Swamp Blues Society
Toledo, Ohio
Blues, Jazz and Folk Music Society
Marietta, Ohio
Columbus Blues Alliance
Columbus, Ohio
Greater Cincinnati Blues Society
Cincinnati, Ohio
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Blues Society
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Route 66 Blues Project
Edmond, Oklahoma
The Friends of Rentiesville Blues
Rentiesville, Oklahoma
The Friends of Rentiesville Blues
Rentiesville, Oklahoma
Tulsa Blues Club
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oregon
Cascade Blues Society
Portland, Oregon
Southern Oregon Blues Society
Grants Pass, Oregon
Pennsylvania
Billtown Blues Association Inc.
Hughesville, Pennsylvania
Bucks County Blues Society
Levittown, Pennsylvania
Lehigh Valley Blues Network
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society
Providence, Rhode Island
Tennesee
Music City Blues Society
Nashville, Tennesee
New Era Rhythm and Blues Society
Nashville, Tennesee
The Smoky Mountain Blues Society
(formerly the Knoxville Blues Society)
Knoxville, Tennesee
Yesterday and Today's Rhythm and Blues Society
Antioch, Tennesee
Texas
Blues Society of Austin
Austin, Texas
Houston Blues Society
Houston, Texas
San Antonio Blues Society
San Antonio, Texas
Virginia
Dan River Region Blues and Folk Society
Danville, Virginia
James River Blues Society
Lynchburg, Virginia
Natchel Blues Network
Norfolk, Virginia
River City Blues Society
Richmond, Virginia
Washington
Inland Empire Blues Society
Spokane, Washington
Walla Walla Blues Society
Walla Walla, Washington
Washington Blues Society
Seattle, Washington
West Virginia
John Henry Blues Society
Morgantown, West Virginia
Wisconsin
Great Northern Blues Society
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Madison Blues
Madison, Wisconsin
Canada
Canada South Blues Society
Windsor, ON, Canada
Ottawa Blues Society
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Thunder Bay Blues Society
Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
Toronto Blues Society
Toronto, ON, Canada
UK
European Blues Association
Cheltenham, UK
Australia
Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
