Even early birds can catch the blues

WHENEVER I end up at a Bluestown Session at Mercury Live, I sit there wondering why I don’t do it more often.

First of all, it’s a brilliant collaboration between guest musicians and the house band who provide a night of excellent blues, which usually ends up with a free-for-all finale with everybody on stage. Secondly, you can sit down.

This is important for me these days. I was going to refer to myself as a “mature” person, but that’s a blatant lie, so let’s call it what it is: I am older and like to be comfortable when I go out. For the Bluestown Sessions, as well as the regular Wednesday night Waxing Lyrical events which are also well worth seeing and hearing, the venue sets out chairs and tables. You can sip your Jack Daniel’s and smoke, which is how I’ve always believed the blues should be enjoyed.

Bluestown Sessions take place every second and last Thursday of the month. Founded by Charlie King in 2011, it’s now handled and tirelessly promoted by Riaan Smit, vocalist and guitarist for Crimson House, who has turned it into a popular destination night. The band, which used to be called Crimson House Blues, has two albums under its belt and are currently in the US where they’ll be playing a festival in Arizona next month, and touring from San Diego up through California, playing in Los Angeles and San Francisco along the way.

“The blues is an international language, and a great communicator of the human spirit,” says Smit. “The Bluestown Sessions are a meeting ground for musicians and audiences who share an appreciation for the music.”

While the line-up changes for each event, at the core is the Boulevard Blues Band, fronted by the legendary Doc John. You’ll know him by his hat and dark glasses, a true blues man if ever there was one.

The band will be headlining at next week’s session with guests Sven Blumer, Jess van der Merwe from Jellyfish, and the gorgeous Nhoza Sitsholwana ( from Black South Easter) whose rich soulful voice wowed the audience when I was there last month.

Another thing that might appeal to the older person is that Bluestown Sessions get going fairly early by Cape Town standards – the first musicians are usually on stage by 9pm. The end time, however, depends a lot on how much fun is being had. Plus, of course, there is the burlesque downstairs, which happens on the same night. Read more about that alongside.

● Bluestown Sessions at Mercury Live, 43 De Villiers Street, Zonnebloem ( telephone 021 465 2106). Cover charge R30 before 9pm, R40 after.