Alabama Blues Project hosts an "Open House Blues Extravaganza" at the Bama Theatre The Alabama Blues Project will be celebrating its 10th Annual Blues Camp with an Open House Blues Extravaganza at the Bama Theatre in downtown Tuscaloosa, on Friday, May 23rd from 6 to 10 p.m.

The after-school Blues Camp brings Alabama’s rich blues heritage to the next generation of budding musicians and combines hands-on music instruction with a life-skills curriculum and blues music history. This year, over 50 Blues Camp students will be performing as a unique blues orchestra, followed by a performance from ten of the camp’s most advanced students.

This really will be a blues extravaganza, as following the Blues Camp students will be performing along with two internationally acclaimed blues bands: Homemade Jamz, an outstanding young family trio from Tupelo, Mississipi, plus the legendary veteran bluesman Sam Lay. To make the evening even more extravagant, Blues Camp music instructors Carroline Shines, Gary Edmonds, Debbie Bond, Doobie “Doghouse” Wilson and Rick Asherson will also throw down to end a jam-packed evening of blues.

Alabama Blues Project director Debbie Bond says, “I am amazed  at how much our young students have learned in such a short time and delighted that they will get a chance to perform with such great blues artists as Sam Lay and Homemade Jamz. It is an incredible opportunity for our Blues Camp kids and something that they will remember for the rest of their lives!” Admission to the event is $5 with all proceeds going to support the Alabama Blues Project.

The Alabama Blues Project after-school Blues Camp is an award-winning arts and education program that gives youth a positive way to express their emotions through blues music while passing along the rich tradition of Alabama blues. Students learn to play blues music on their choice of voice, guitar, drums or harmonica. By practicing and performing together, along with their musical and performance skills, Blues Camp students learn teamwork, social skills, discipline, and improve their self-confidence.

The Legendary Sam Lay

When the legendary Sam Lay – a Birmingham native – found out about the Alabama Blues Project he immediately fell in love with the children. Lay came to Tuscaloosa for the 2007 “Evening of Art & Blues,” an Alabama Blues Project benefit event, where he was presented with a “Blues Legend” award. Lay's unique style of drumming can be heard on over 40 recordings for the famed Chess Records label with the most prominent names in the world of blues. He has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis, the Jazz Hall of Fame in Los Angeles and the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. He was nominated eight times for the coveted W. C. Handy Award for "Best Instrumentalist" including a recent 2005 nomination. 

Homemade Jamz

Homemade Jamz have also become a valued supporter of the Alabama Blues Project after they adopted the ABP as their official charity last year. The group consists of two brothers and a sister, all 15 years of age and younger. They are the youngest blues band to sign with a major record label, Northern Blues Music. Homemade Jamz' blues band is the 3rd annual MS Delta Blues Society of Indianola Blues Challenge winner, 2006. They are also the youngest (total age) blues band to ever enter the International Blues Challenge, where they competed against 93 adult bands from all over the world and won 2nd place at the 23rd International Blues Challenge in 2007.

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