bluesMusic.jpg

About Us

We are dedicated to providing the Central Coast with high-quality live blues music performances

Our all-volunteer, non-profit organization was founded in 1980.

We are the third-oldest blues society in the United States.

The San Luis Obispo Blues Society typically produces two to three shows per year.

We use the proceeds from our shows to fund future shows.

In order to continue to provide the same quality of music, our rates have slightly increased.

A Short History of Blues Music in San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo has a rich history of blues music that dates back to the early 1900s. The town's location between Los Angeles and San Francisco made it an ideal spot for traveling blues musicians to stop and perform.

In the 1920s and 1930s, juke joints and roadhouses around San Luis Obispo hosted some of the most famous blues musicians of the time, including Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson, and Lead Belly.

The popularity of blues music in the area continued to grow throughout the 20th century, with local clubs and bars offering regular blues performances.

The SLO Blues Society was founded in 1980 with the goal of preserving and promoting the blues tradition in the area, and has since become an integral part of the San Luis Obispo music scene.

We encourage people to get up, move with the music, and dance!

It’s not unusual to see half our audience out on the dance floor at any given time.

It is this interaction that makes these events enjoyable for both the audience and our performers.