Community Projects
MBS develops and funds projects which bring a greater understanding and appreciation of blues music the the Madison WI area.
Blues Calendars Feature Local Performers and Venues
Madison Blues Society is a group of local blues fans that actively seeks to stimulate enthusiasm for blues music and musicians in general, and for local artists specifically. This mission led to the creation of our Blues Calendar project. Calendar production was interrupted in 1997 and resumed in 2021. We subsequently produced a 2022 calendar and are now working on the 2023 edition which will feature past and present blues venues each month.
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 will be reinvested to support blues awareness throughout our area.
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.
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.
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