Blues is what the blues doctor prescribes for people who have the blues.
This sentiment, once uttered by a now-anonymous bluesman, is all too true for the many of us who have found ourselves feeling down. Whether it be from waking up on the wrong side of the bed, or experiencing a life-altering loss, music has a way of finding us in a dark room and leading us back out into the light. This phenomenon is one birthed from the soulful sounds of an original American genre: the blues.
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Last year, the National Blues Museum announced that its grand opening was scheduled for April 2. The museum definitely appeals to tourists (it was called out by The New York Times and National Geographic earlier this year as a reason to visit St. Louis). But the museum has also dedicated itself to engaging with the local community, with the goal of educating all visitors about one of America’s oldest and most influential arts. On Saturday, St. Louis will get a taste of what’s to come with the museum’s first-ever live public music event. In an effort to fulfill its mission of preserving and honoring the story of the blues, the museum has partnered with Ballpark Village to host a concert featuring live performances from three St. Louis-based artists: blues rock band Phi, guitarist Marquise Knox, and Big George Brock.
A legendary harmonica player, Brock has been around long enough to truly understand the impact that the blues has on American culture. He’s been playing since he was 8 years old, and has shared the stage with many great blues musicians, including Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Little Milton. For those who are new to the blues, all we need to know is that Big George knows what he’s doing. “I love the blues, I love my fans, and I will play for anyone,” he says. He has been serving up his deep blues sound for as long as he can remember, and traveled all around the country and even overseas to share his love of the msuic with anyone who will listen. Brock says he is excited for this performance because of his love of St. Louis, and although he is unsure whether he will play regularly at the museum, he appreciates what the National Blues Museum is doing for the city.
The concert will no doubt increase anticipation for the museum’s grand opening. The 23,000-square-foot site in downtown St. Louis, the heart of the “Blues Belt,” will include highly interactive technology and artifact-driven exhibits that will engage people of all ages and backgrounds. The museum will also house a theatre, an event space, and classrooms for public music performances, lectures, and films.
The National Blues Museum Showcase happens on Saturday, February 27 at 7 p.m., and is free and open to the public. Ballpark Village is located at 601 Clark. For more information, call 314-925-0016 ext. 439, or visit nationalbluesmuseum.org.
