The 2019 Madison Blues Society board has decided that we will not organize a Blues Picnic this year. For 2019 we are planning multiple smaller-scale events to promote and educate about the Blues, and to strengthen links between the community and local musicians. Please contact Jack Frazee, Board President, for more information.
Author: Julie Ethridge
Join us at FLIX Brewhouse!
Free appetizers and beverages at FLIX Brewhouse for MBS members!
Flix Brewhouse Madison in East Towne Mall has graciously invited a limited number of Madison Blues Society members to attend a special showing of The Blues Brothers on Tuesday, September 25th, 2018.
The event will feature complimentary appetizers, beverages, and free admission to The Blues Brothers movie at 7:00 PM. The event will start at 5:30 PM. Members can bring one guest.
Space is limited. The first 14 MBS MEMBERS who RSVP to info@Madisonbluessociety.org can join us!
Come hang out with other Blues enthusiasts and join the fun! Please RSVP by this Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 5:00 PM.
Raffle Tickets Available at the Picnic!
Enjoy the music! But please don’t forget that the Blues Picnic is the annual fundraiser for the Madison Blues Society! We will have raffles tickets available!
Tickets are $5 for one or 5 for $20. (cash only)
Thank you to our raffle donors! Please visit their businesses and thank them for supporting the Madison Blues Society!
To date MBS Blues Picnic Raffle Prizes include:
Barrymore Theatre: Two tickets to Hot Tuna in December
Benvenuto’s Italian Grill: Two $20 gift cards for the Fitchburg location and 5 $10 gift cards for Fitchburg, Madison, & Oshkosh locations
Blue Moon Bar & Grill: $25 gift certificate
Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream: Ten gift coupons for 1 free single wafer cone, sugar cone, or dish
Crystal Corner Bar: Two $20 gift certificates
Daisy Cafe & Cupcakery: $25 gift certificate
Klinke Cleaners: $25 gift card
Orange Tree Imports: $25 gift certificate
Liliana’s Restaurant: $25 gift card
Charlie’s on Main: $25 gift card
Madison Mallards: Four grand stand tickets and 4 hats
The Shoe Box: $50 gift certificate
Drawings will be held at our Picnic on June 16 at Warner Park from noon to 9pm but winners need not be present to win.
Raffle License: R0019142A-70730
2018 Annual Picnic Line Up
Rain or Shine!
Blythe Gamble & the Rolling Dice – Noon
The Blues Kids – 1:35 pm
Altered Five Blues Band – 2:25 pm
Ivy Ford Band – 4:00 pm
Boom Boom Steve V and the Knockouts – 5:40 pm
Chris O’Leary Band – 7:30 pm
Food vendors, merchandise sales, raffles and craft beer too!
Award Winning Band at Annual Picnic!
Say hey to Milwaukee-based Al
tered Five Blues Band who’s fresh off a win for Best Blues Song at the The Independent Music Awards last weekend for “Cookin’ in Your Kitchen” on its Charmed and Dangerous CD on Blind Pig Records. They have also garnered a Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Award nomination as “Best Emerging Artist Album.” Soon they’re off on a tour to Germany, the Netherlands, and Iceland before returning stateside to grace our stage in beautiful Warner Park on June 16th. Mark your calendars!
tered Five Blues Band who’s fresh off a win for Best Blues Song at the The Independent Music Awards last weekend for “Cookin’ in Your Kitchen” on its Charmed and Dangerous CD on Blind Pig Records. They have also garnered a Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Award nomination as “Best Emerging Artist Album.” Soon they’re off on a tour to Germany, the Netherlands, and Iceland before returning stateside to grace our stage in beautiful Warner Park on June 16th. Mark your calendars!We’ve been awarded a Dane Arts Grant!
We’re proud to announce that we’ve been awarded a Dane Arts grant for our 16th Annual Blues Picnic. Thank you!
This project is supported by Dane Arts with additional funds from the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation, the Evjue Foundation, Inc., charitable arm of The Capital Times, the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation, and the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation.
Please consider joining us for this community-wide free event on June 16th at Warner Park!
Local Band Blythe Gamble and The Rollin’ Dice to Perform at Picnic
We’re delighted to announce the second of the two local bands who
will be performing at our 16th Annual Blues Picnic: please welcome !!! If you haven’t yet heard Blythe’s powerful and emotive vocals, you’re in for a treat. Blythe and Rollin’ Dice guitarist Bill Roberts are both up for MAMAs this year. Make your calendar for Sat., June 16th. We’ll see you at Warner Park in Madison for a great day of blues!
Announcing Ivy Ford Band for Annual Picnic!
Welcome the Ivy Ford Band from IL!
Ivy shines on lead guitar and vocal and the full band is super tight. We know you’ll love them! And in a special aligning of the stars, you can check them out at the Knuckle Down Saloon this Friday at 9pm! C’mon out and show them some Madison love! Ivy’s the real deal: jjust a couple of weeks ago, she graced the cover of Blues Blast Magazine in its article on Chicago Blues Guitar Women. You can read the article here: http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/issue-12-14-april-5-2018/
Annual Picnic Headliner Announced
Check it out! We’re thrilled to announce that all the way from New York, The Chris O’Leary Band will be headlining our 16th Annual 
Madison Blues Society Blues Picnic. Chris’s musical background includes duties as lead singer and front man for rock and roll hall of famer and Grammy award winner Levon Helm’s band, The Barnburners. During the 6 years that Chris and Levon played together they toured across the US and Canada lighting up stages everywhere they went. Chris has alsoappeared on stage with: Legendary Rolling Stones sideman Bobby Keys, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jimmy Vivino, Jeff Healy, Dan Aykroyd, Albert Lee, Dave Edmunds, Dave Maxwell and the great James Cotton to name just a few. Get it on your calendar: Sat. June 16th at Warner Park!
Membership Questions? Ask Dave.
As Membership Coordinator for the Madison Blues Society, my job is to receive and process new member applications and membership renewals. Member information is kept in a database which I maintain. I also manage the membership email list and periodically send out information such as meeting minutes from the Board of Directors and special event announcements. Interested in joining us? You can become a new member or renew online at www. MadisonBluesSociety.com/member.htm. Feel free to contact me via my email (members.mbs@gmail.com) or by phone (608-234-0358) if you have any questions about membership records or processes.
Peace and blues, Dave.