The Paris Blues Society Proudly Presents
BLUE THURSDAY BLUES JAMS
The Third Thursday of each month
7-10 PM
Jam schedule on the calendar page

The Juketones - The Paris Blues Society Jam Band.

Our blues jam goal is to provide a fun evening of playing and raising awareness of the blues.  Also, it is a chance for musicians to perform on stage that don't normally get a chance to play together.  We provide the musicians and the public with a place to try your/their skills before a live audience. We simply ask that you attempt to play in the vein of what is called by the host band or front guy.

We want everyone that can play to get a chance to play, so be courteous of fellow jammers and be ready to go when you are called up. This is really about playing together and growing in our knowledge of the blues idiom.

The blues jam host band, the Juketones, is a mix of two working bands brought together for the specific purpose of hosting the Paris Blues Society blues jams.  The Juketones features Chad Altenbaumer on lead guitar and vocals, Chris Lancaster on drums (both from the Triptones – Paris Blues Society’s representative in the International Blues Competition in 2008), GinBoy Reed on bass (and sometimes saxophone or guitar) and the Jukekings founder, and Paris Blues Society Jam Coordinator, Michael Huggins on second guitar…   all, playin', old school, down and dirty, butt rockin' blues for your pleasure!  Come join in the fun and play the BLUES with us. You'll have a swell time!

***Soon, we hope to offer a recording of the jams, free for player participants, and only $5.00 for audience members (available at the next blues jam).  A Musician Release Waiver signature will be required prior to recording your performance.  Check  back for details on when we will begin to record the Paris Blues Society’s Blue Thursday jams featuring the Juketones.

The Paris Blues Society and the Juketones appreciates your support!

Musician Guidelines:

Paris Blues Society Blues Jam Coordinator Michael Huggins will be coordinating the performance list and Hosting the blues jam. Please see him with any queries.

Jammers will sign up on a list available at the side of the stage.

Sign up order DOES NOT determine your order of performance.  Asking when you go on more than once is discouraged. Michael is very busy coordinating the jam so please cooperate with the scheduling.

If you're outside when we call you up, don't despair. We'll do our best to work you in later.

If  you are going to play, please don't drink to excess prior to going on stage.  It will reflect in your playing and you will be limited to one tune or less.

We will strive to put players up together that can compliment their band mates and provide entertainment for the paying audience. NO jam is successful that does not please its audience.

Don't worry if you have a clam.  It's happened to everybody more than once. Play on thru, don't stop. It will be fine. No one is on stage with you to judge you. This is not a competition, it's just good clean fun.

A jam is about playing as an ensemble. This IS NOT about your solo time. Please make eye contact and follow the queues given by the host band or front man. Everybody that wants a solo will have that chance. 

Please pay attention to stops and ending queues!

Players are expected to be tuned to an electronic tuner that is calibrated to A-440, PRIOR to going on stage. This assures that when you hit the stage, you'll be in pitch with the rest of the band.

Songs will be called by the host band unless you know a specific blues song, by name and know ALL the lyrics and can sing/play it in key.  If the host band knows a version of it, they be glad to back you. If you intend to count it off, the host band will be following that count.... not what you change to when you start the song, if different from your initial count.

Rock oriented blues, as some call it, is discouraged, as we are a BLUES SOCIETY and are carrying the torch of the original blues idiom. There are 1000s of songs that are blues tunes we can play, without having to resort to rock. There is nothing wrong with rock, mind you, please just not at our blues jams.  If it was originally recorded after about 1965, we probably won't be doing it. Modern versions of earlier original artists tunes that you KNOW ALL the lyrics to, will work. We'll be doing a cover of the original for backing, that'll sound fine.

Time constraints preclude taking requests from the audience. Thanks for your understanding.

If we don't know it, we'll tell you and choose another tune.

The Host band will always be the first to perform.

The second set will be a featured local, elder statesman of the blues idiom, vocal/guitar artist: Mr. Roosevelt Twitty (if present at the jam), with the host band backing him, or his band mates in attendance will do the honors. HE is the real deal.

Jammers will be called up to play with the host band members in their respective instrument positions.

Jammers will most likely be asked to play 3 to 4, less than five minute songs, to be determined by time constraints.  Michael will be running a tightly timed ship so the jam goes smoothly.

Amps are provided. If you have an instrument, bring it. If you can play blues but have no guitar with you (talk to Michael first), one of ours will be provided for your performance time use. Unfortunately, we cannot provide horns, harps, keyboards, etc. So it's best to BYOI.  Drummers please bring your own sticks.  Please respect others ownership and don't mistreat the gear. PLEASE! : DO NOT UNPLUG THE INSTRUMENT FROM THE AMP WHILE AMP IS ON (red light glowing is your hint). This can do extensive damage in several ways.   When your turn on stage is over, please turn the volume on the instrument completely down and leave the instrument leaning against amp. The host will announce your name and ask for applause for your performance. This is your queue (cue) to leave the stage in a timely fashion. We'll be  bringing up new players at that time.  **REMEMBER**: THIS IS NOT YOUR GEAR and is quite expensive to own and maintain.

The sound levels will be preset for proper EQ in the room. DO NOT CHANGE THE AMP SETTINGS, PERIOD. See Michael prior to plugging in. He will be there for your hookup. If more vocal volume is needed for a weaker singer, he will be monitoring this in the first song and make corrections.  Please cooperate with this rule. Overly loud will be turned down by Michael.  NO EXCEPTIONS, PLEASE! We're here to entertain the paying audience for the entire evening, not send them packing early, with ringing ears.  It's ensemble style, not your style.

Whole bands that may show up will need to see the Michael for play schedule. We generally do not surrender stage to whole bands as THIS JAM IS NOT A BAND SHOWCASE, NOR CLUB AUDITION NIGHT.  It's an INVITATIONAL BLUES JAM. We reserve the right to split full bands to play with the host band.  Michael has the final word on this topic.

In the event a person with a disability attends and wants to jam, see Michael early on. We will make provisions to accommodate you! 

Thank you all for your cooperation with these guidelines. We can all have a good time while following these simple rules. Failure to do so will result in a short set. No Exceptions.

Your continued attendance and support is greatly appreciated by the Paris Blues Society and the Juketones.