The Golden Gate Blues Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of The Blues Foundation, based in Memphis, Tennessee. The purpose of The Golden Gate Blues Society is to enhance the appreciation and understanding of the Blues in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area through:
Sponsorship and promotion of Blues performances.
Educational programs and publications on the performance, interpretation, preservation, and growth of the Blues as an American art form.
Financial and moral support of the Greater Bay Area Blues community.
Check out what's going on at The Golden Gate Blues Society!
TGGBS supports our community of fans, artists, and venues by sponsoring blues shows and concerts that feature the best of Bay Area and National Blues artists.
Golden Gate Grooves (our newsletter) is devoted to all things blues in the Bay Area: local concert & CD reviews, upcoming events, special reports from around the Bay, and much more.
International Blues Challenge (IBC): In 2011, TGGBS sent a band to the IBC in Memphis where they placed as semi-finalists! In 2012, we sent a duo entry and a band entry, with the latter winning third place overall! In 2013, we sent a band entry again, who again placed as semi-finalists! 2014 promises to be just as good!
Seminars for fans, musicians, and folks in the business of supporting Bay Area Blues in the Schools as an important part of our Blues legacy to our children.
Collaboration with other Blues Societies in northern California and beyond.
TGGBS Meetings: Where you can participate in the direction of your blues society while rubbing elbows with your Blues Buds and, of course, enjoying the Blues and a lot more!
Our goal is to be a comprehensive resource for all Bay Area blues lovers: fans, musicians, club owners, media, promoters, retailers, technical professionals, educators, you!!
BOARD ELECTION UPDATE
Thank you to everyone who voted in our April board member election and came to the 'after election' party at McGovern's. It was a blast! Changes to the By-Laws were approved and we have new board members, including our friend and music supporter Julie Jahns, and musician Pete Devine. We want to especially thank Dorothy Hill for her hard work over the last few years. We're happy she will continue to advise us and help with events and projects.
We're looking forward to a productive year, including many IBC events and other activities. If you'd like to learn how to help, please email us at info@tggbs.org or contact one of our board members via the CONTACT page (where you can also see who the board members are).
Bands who are interested in the International Blues Challenge (IBC), please download applications and rules at the IBC page. Thanks for your support !!
TGGBS Artist Spotlight, June 2013
Steve Studebaker & Blind to Reason
Steve has been playing guitar and singing since 1968 in his native Portland, Oregon. Steve’s a former disc jockey with an encyclopedic knowledge of blues and rock and roll. He’s the main singer and songwriter, and has created an eclectic set list unlike any other local band’s. You can find more info, including where they're playing at http://blindtoreason.com
TGGBS has a great newsletter! ... "The Golden Gate Grooves" ... Thanks to Deb Lubin and her colorful contributors, many of which are working musicians in the bay area. To visit the newsletter page, click the icon to your left.
Jack Cohen maintains one of the most comprehensive performance calendars in the SF Bay Area. You must join "Jack's Bay Area Blues Clues" in order to view the schedule, but it's worth it! Click the guitar to take a peak.
"Health Reform Hits Main Street" (Video)
An easy to understand video on the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (PPACA). Courtesy of Board Member, Karen Richards, The Golden Gate Blues Society's liaison on health care. Karen can be reached at 2karen4karen@gmail.com.
"Confused about how the new health care reform law really works? This short, animated movie -- featuring the "YouToons" -- explains the problems with the current health care system, the changes that are happening now, and the big changes coming in 2014. Written and produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Narrated by Cokie Roberts, a news commentator for ABC News and NPR and a member of Kaiser's Board of Trustees. Creative production and animation by Free Range Studios."
