Community Projects
MBS develops and funds projects which bring a greater understanding and appreciation of blues music in the Madison WI area. Below are projects that have enriched our community over the years.
Blues Calendars
Chicago Blues Fest Road Trip
Park Bench for Clyde Stubblefield
Luther Allison Memorial
Creation of our Blues Calendar has been an annual project for many years. Production was interrupted in 1997 and resumed in 2021. MBS published 2022 & 2023 Calendars and look forward to future calendar projects.
Our calendars feature performance photographs and biographical information for artists who are veteran musicians in the Madison area. The calendars also include the special dates of important blues artists. Proceeds from calendar sales are reinvested to support blues awareness throughout our area. See also Blues Calendar, 2023
Chicago Blues Fest Road Trip
In 2019, the Madison Blues Society organized a road trip to 36th Annual Chicago Blues Fest at Millenium Park in downtown Chicago. At a location many find intimidating to drive, an MBS rented bus delivered a large group to the edge of the park.
A great long day featured music featuring many great national acts including Bobby Rush, Jimmy Johnson Blues Band, Charlie Musselwhite with Billy Boy Arnold, Bettye LaVette, Don Bryant, Latimore, Ruthie Foster, The Connection: Mike Welch & Friends, Larkin Poe and many more all set on several stages by the beautiful Chicago lakefront.
Tired blues fans gathered at the bus at the end of the day for an easy ride back to Madison. Blues music and videos played on the bus ride home.
Dedication of Park Bench for Clyde Stubblefield
This event was held on Saturday, August 17, 2019, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at Brittingham Park Shelter, 829 West Washington Avenue, Madison WI, to celebrate and remember the life and accomplishments of amazing drummer, Clyde Stubblefield. We held a picnic-style gathering with a band and jam. Donations were appreciated to cover expenses. Attendees brought a dish to pass and their best Clyde stories.
- DVD “Soul of the Funky Drummers” with Clyde and Jabo
- Check out “everything about Clyde” here!
Dedication of the Luther Allison Memorial
Madison was Luther’s home for music and enjoying life
The Blues community lost Luther Allison in 1997. On August 14, 2004, MBS helped sponsor the Luther Allison Madison Memorial Dedication. The memorial is composed of 5 park benches and a plaque in Brittingham Park, one of Luther’s favorite fishing spots. Located in the S. Park Street corner of the park, the Memorial was erected to honor Luther & his connection to the Madison area community and music scene. A very special guest at the dedication was Bernard Allison, Luther’s son. Learn more about Luther Allison
Luther’s Memorial would not have been possible without the initial 1998 efforts of a dedicated group of family and friends, the Luther Allison Madison Memorial Project Committee including Vera Crowell, David Day, Tom Earley, Laura Gallagher, Pat Gallagher, Dave Leucinger, Andy Linderman, Mark Munz, Marc Pesselman, Chuck Prindeville, John Roussos, Tom Sobel, Steve Sperling and Rocky Brown. We are forever grateful for their initiation of this project.
Luther always gave his all, both on and off stage. The Madison Blues Society is pleased that we could help bring about the completion of this Memorial, to honor the man and his music.
“Leave Your Ego. Play the Music. Love the People.” – Luther Allison