ABOUT 130 people from across the region celebrated the inaugural International Blues Music Day at the weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Live music venue Home Tavern hosted the event on Saturday afternoon, between 12.30pm and 9pm, which saw six blues bands hit the stage.
Organiser and founder of the Bidgee Blues Club Wayne Jenkins said the turnout was indicative of the emerging music scene in the city.
“Wagga is very much a sporty city,” Mr Jenkins said.
“But I think that’s evolving.”
About eight venues participated state-wide.
Mr Jenkins said while the event drew a “mature” crowd, he said the success of the Bidgee Blues Club has shown the genre has a bit of a cult following in the Riverina.
“The blues club has been going for six years,” Mr Jenkins said.
“And we average between 60 and 80 people at our open microphone afternoons (which are held once a month).”
Mr Jenkins partly credits the success to an open microphone policy.
“We encourage people to get up and have a go.
“To get up and give it a try.”
International Blues Music Day is the brainchild of US blues musician Johnny Childs. The event was created as a result of blues fans petitioning for it.
The petition reached 10,000 signatures after being launched in August 2011.
