Port City Blues Society

06/17/2026

Join us for the Port City Blues Society weekly blues jam….tonight in downtown Pine Bluff at RJ’s! Doors open at 7 PM, music begins at 8 PM! Free!

06/14/2026

Last Saturday, Deuce 'n a Quarter delivered an outstanding performance to a packed house for the Blues By Budweiser Concert Series at RJ's in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. A big thanks to Brian Peters and the Deuce 'n a Quarter crew for putting on a great show!

As always, Jay Hiatt captured the spirit of the evening in amazing images!

Thank you to the sponsor, MK Distributors for helping us bring talent like this to the community!

06/12/2026

Great article by Richard Ledbetter in the Pine Bluff Commercial on the Arkansas River Delta Blues Trail marker dedication for Bobby Rush in Sherrill last Saturday.

https://www.pbcommercial.com/first-delta-blues-trail-marker-honors-bobby-rush

SHERRILL — Beginning mid-morning June 6, crowds began gathering beneath the pleasant shade of spreading oaks in the field next to the Sherrill Fire Station and City Hall. A town with a population of 53 swelled to well over 600 while blues lovers and locals turned out to recognize a true musical ....

06/11/2026

Great jam last night at RJ’s in Pine Bluff! Here’s part of the crew that made it happen, including Blues Society Of Oklahoma President Jim Madsen standing beside Port City Blues Society President Roscoe Willis. A great time was had by all as always! Thanks, everyone! See ya next Wednesday!

06/10/2026

Tonight! Wednesday night blues jam in historic downtown Pine bluff at RJ's! Free! 8-11 See you there!

06/08/2026

Put this date on your calendar now…a special Saturday, July 4th edition of Blues By Budweiser at RJ's in Pine Bluff, Arkansas!

Chicago native, DENISE LA GRASSA is bringing her band that stands at the crossroads of reverence and rebellion. Their sound carries the DNA of blues giants, from Howlin’ Wolf’s growl and R.L. Burnside’s hypnotic Hill Country pulse to Albert King’s molten soul, the groove of Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and the sharp edge of Memphis Minnie. The band approaches that lineage with focus and intent, shaping it into something that moves with the present.

That approach places them alongside artists who continue to stretch the blues in personal directions, including Tedeschi Trucks Band, Eric Johanson, Shemekia Copeland, Adia Victoria, The Black Keys, and Beth Hart. La Grassa describes the band’s sound as “a blend of swamp heat, Chicago muscle, and spiritual mystique.” The music carries weight and feel, with room for tension, release, and the unexpected turn.

The band has a brand new release out- “A Crossroads Communion”. Here’s what is being said about it:

Chicago-born Denise La Grassa is the ticket. She has the pipes, but isn’t like any of the well-known high-octane female belters of the past. There’s a quirky, deep-throated, polished hell-bent tonality to Ms. La Grassa that stands out like lightning between dark clouds
- John Apice, Americana Highways

A Crossroads Communion proves she is not merely preserving the blues, but revitalizing it with imagination, authority, and soul-stirring originality for a new generation of listeners everywhere
- Colin Campbell, Blues Matters! (UK)

This is not a religious themed CD, but Denise shows us that her brand of blues is a homage to the traditional, yet with a modern twist. It's the old, yet it's new, it's a message, it's on fire, yet it's cool, very cool. And most of all, it's real. Pick this one up
- Peter "Bluewzzman" Lauro, Blue Monday Monthly

Join us on July 4th at RJ's Grill & Bar for the DENISE LA GRASSA Band! Sponsored by M K Distributors.

06/08/2026

A short clip of "Fred T And The Band" from today at the Chicago Blues Festival! Repping Mississippi and Arkansas quite well!

Don't forget we've got "Fred T And The Band" coming back to RJ's in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on November 7th for the Midtown Blues concert series....mark your calendars!

06/08/2026

Pine Bluff, Arkansas earned its moniker as the "Gateway to the Delta" by serving as a critical musical and cultural crossroads. Positioned where flat farmlands meet the Mississippi Delta, the city was a major stop on the historic blues "Chitlin’ Circuit," acting as a launching pad for musicians traveling between the rural South and urban centers like Chicago.

Local clubs like Jitterbugs in downtown Pine Bluff and venues throughout Jefferson County hosted an array of legendary blues artists who lived in, traveled through, or honed their crafts in the area. The culturally vibrant center shaped some of the most influential voices in blues and other genres.

06/07/2026

Tonight at RJ’s in Pine Bluff! Come on out! Will be a great show! Starts at 8 PM.

06/06/2026

Tonight! "Deuce 'n a Quarter"....it's Blues By Budweiser at RJ's in Pine Bluff, Arkansas! Here's a bit of "All She Wrote" by "Deuce 'n a Quarter". See you there!! Sponsored by MK Distributors!